Outdoor Enthusiast Expo coming to Maryville College campus Sept. 19 and 20
Sept. 3, 2025
As an institution that prides itself on being “of and for the region,” it only makes sense that Maryville College serve as the host campus for the upcoming Outdoor Enthusiast Expo, scheduled for Sept. 19 and 20.
The free, family-friendly two-day event is designed to bring “together conservation organizations, outdoor businesses and the public to celebrate Tennessee’s incredible outdoor opportunities,” according to organizers.
Sponsored in part by the University of Tennessee Institute for Agriculture, it represents a collaborative effort between UTK and MC that germinated from a casual conversation on the front porch of Crawford House on the MC campus between Ronnie Cowan, an outdoor recreation extension specialist in hunting, fishing and recreational shooting for the UT School of Natural Resources, and Bruce Guillaume ’76, the founder of Mountain Challenge, which operates out of Crawford House.
“I was telling Ronnie that though people recreated outdoors differently — fishing, hunting, hiking, paddling, running and on and on — they often did not understand or even like each other, but at the end of the day, they all want the very same thing — clean air, clean water and a healthy slice of nature to do our sport,” said Guillaume, an outdoor enthusiast who turned his love of hiking, paddling and climbing into an organization that now organizes team-building exercises through outdoor excursions.
“If you look at the numbers, that puts outdoor enthusiasts at around 50-plus million people of all stripes,” Guillaume added. “That is a huge tent. Imagine what could happen if we all got together … maybe at a small college. That was the idea, and Ronnie jumped on it with enthusiasm, took the ball and started running. He and his UT colleagues have done the lion’s share of the work, and now Mountain Challenge is one of the sponsors.”
And Maryville College will be the site where both new and experienced nature activists come together to “highlight the power of conservation and celebrate the passion that fuels our outdoor lifestyle,” Cowan said in a press release. The idea is to encourage the two distinct groups of outdoor enthusiasts — those who enjoy hunting or fishing, and those who love more sedate experiences in the wild like camping or hiking — not only to come together, but to try some of the activities enjoyed by the other group.
“Outdoor folks tend to think and operate within their given sports or hobby communities,” said Tyson Murphy ’03, director of Mountain Challenge. “I think we often may be guilty of judging the outdoor hobbies of others if they don’t fit our worldview, understanding or comfort. I’m excited to be a part of this event as a way to share our common love for the outdoors. The more we love the areas we recreate in, the more we can pass on responsible and sustainable usage practices. We might even get someone excited about our recreational passion or pick up a new one from fellow expo enthusiasts.”
Excursions for all
The event is free and open to the public, but pre-registration (via the website) is required. Exhibits, demonstrations and activities will be augmented by hands-on excursions “designed to help participants build new skills and experiences,” according to Cowan. The featured excursions include a wide variety of outdoor recreational activities, including:
- “Habitat Rx,” during which participants will learn practical land management strategies for their own properties to improve wildlife habitats for hunting, birdwatching or biodiversity. It will be taught by Dr. Jay Clark ’96, MC’s director of environmental and sustainability initiatives, and according to the schedule, those who sign up “will leave with actionable steps and tools to create thriving habitats.”
- “Waterfowl Hunting Poly Tech,” in which participants learn about the tradition and skill of waterfowl hunting, from identifying and scouting to calling, decoys, firearm safety and conservation ethics;
- “Hunting & Fishing Academy,” in partnership with the Tennessee Wildlife Federation, which will focus on deer hunting and its various aspects, from scouting, stand placement, ethical harvest practices and more;
- “Outdoor Meat Cookery,” in which participants will prepare wild game and locally sourced meats over open flames, grills and smokers;
- “Kayak and Canoe Course,” designed to build confidence in paddling through an off-site boating trip;
- “Fly Fishing,” in which participants will learn about casting, fly selection, knot tying and aquatic ecology on a guided fishing expedition;
- “Backcountry Hiking,” which will introduce participants to trip planning, navigation, safety and “Leave No Trace” practices through demonstrations and a guided hike;
- “Mountain Biking,” which will teach the fundamentals of trail riding, bike handling and safety … along with a “supportive group ride” along local trails; and
- “Being Mindful in Nature,” in which participants will be introduced to “Forest Bathing,” a guided mindfulness practice in the wilderness designed to deepen connections to the natural world.
Other events include introductions to sponsors, conservation partners and outdoor professionals, all-day shooting sports and youth programs that will feature interactive wildlife education booths and lessons on everything from archery to hog hunting.
Students will provide support
However, participants and Maryville College residents alike needn’t worry about the hunting and shooting activities and excursions, said Dr. Jennifer Oody, associate professor of exercise science and chair of the Division of Health Sciences and Outdoor Studies. There will be no hunting in the MC Woods, or shooting events on College grounds.
“Think about these types of events more about learning transferable skills — things that can be taught in a classroom setting with hands-on activities, with the understanding that people will then take those skills with them if/when they decide to hunt or fish,” said Oody, who’s a part of the planning committee for the event alongside Murphy, and whose undergrads in the College’s Outdoor Studies and Tourism major will provide student support during the expo.
“We’re really excited about the Outdoor Enthusiast Expo, as it reflects the mission and values of the Division of Health Sciences and Outdoor Studies and presents a great opportunity for not only our students in Outdoor Studies and Tourism, but across all the majors and minors that emphasize human and environmental health here at the College,” Oody continued. “Uniquely, the Outdoor Studies and Tourism major prepares students for careers that emphasize the importance of the natural world, how humans can respectfully interact with nature to promote environmental health, and the value of active, safe outdoor recreation for human health.
“And at the end of the day, this expo serves as a real-world expression of the major itself, with the goal of building a community that values diverse outdoor activities, fosters understanding, and encourages conservation. This is at the heart of the work we do in the major, educating students as practitioners who will work across fields such as tourism and park management, environmental education, recreation/hunting/fishing guides and conservation-centered professions.
“We are excited about the event and confident it will foster life-long learning and fun, meaningful connections among students, community members, and outdoor enthusiasts from across the region,” she added.
Students will actively participate in the set-up for the event, Murphy said, and some of those who work for Mountain Challenge will assist with the paddling excursion. Most of the activities will take place at Crawford House and on Lloyd Beach, although some of the programming will take place in the Maryville College Woods. It’ll be a busy weekend, with a Friday night social summit (complete with live music) at the Crawford House, and a separate event — the Pumpkin Run 5K, sponsored by the MC “Exercise is Medicine” campaign and benefitting the Friends of the Maryville College Woods — will bring even more visitors to campus on Sept. 20, when a 7:30 a.m. start will send runners and walkers from Crawford House, into and through the Maryville College Woods.
“Bringing the community to the campus is just one more way we can physically promote all of the great work of the College,” Oody said. “Here at Maryville College, we speak often about being ‘of and for the region,’ and part of that means understanding the hobbies and passions of the people who live here. Every opportunity we get to connect our students with the broader community is a win, let alone an opportunity that allows for us to learn from each other and share in all the things we love about being outside and engaging with the natural world.”
For more information or to register for the Outdoor Enthusiast Expo, visit the website at https://naturalresources.tennessee.edu/outdoor-enthusiast-expo/.