Forest Families of Chattanooga

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East Ridge, TN
Forest Families of Chattanooga

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Our mission is to improve the well-being of local youth and their families through increased exposure to nature and time spent playing freely outside.

With education, opportunities, and better access, we bring the benefits of nature to our community. Forest Families of Chattanooga is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization serving the city of Chattanooga, TN and surrounding areas. Our mission is to improve the well-being of our local youth and their families through increased exposure to nature and time spent playing freely outside. We understand the many physical, mental, emotional, social, and environmental benefits of time outdoors and we believe that all people, especially children, have the right to a consistent and frequent connection to nature. We aim to accomplish our goals by providing education, improving access, and creating various opportunities within our community.

11/01/2026

Would you like to get some updated family photos or a great holiday card shot while also supporting a local nonprofit dedicated to getting kids outside and into nature?

Join us this Saturday (November 7th) at Heritage Park for our Fall Mini Photo Sessions, a special fundraiser for Forest Families of Chattanooga!

📸 Details:
✨ 15-minute session – Perfect for busy families!
✨ $50 per session – Affordable and stress-free.
✨ 5-8 professionally edited images – Delivered within 3 weeks.
✨ Limited spots available!

This year we'll have the very talented Kayla Crider of Root & Grow generously donating her services to capture special moments you will cherish for a lifetime.
https://rootandgrow.co/home

⏳ Registration is open now. Secure your session at https://www.forestfamilieschatt.org/fall-mini-photo-sessions

10/28/2026

More time to simply be children🍂💛

10/24/2026

Due to an emergency, the Too Cute To Spook Nature Walk has been moved to 2:30.

10/24/2026

It was a beautiful day for some Free Play Friday fun!☀️

www.forestfamilieschatt.org/event-calendar

10/18/2026

🍂⛺We had an absolutely amazing fall camping trip this past week! The weather was perfect and we were blessed to have so many awesome friends to hang out with. We hiked, crafted, chilled by the fire, played to our hearts content, made new connections, and soaked up every bit of the nature that surrounded us.

🧡 Thank you all so much for joining us! We hope y'all had fun!

10/18/2026

The benefits of nature exposure start earlier than you think. 🍂

In our latest Research Digest, we dive into the emerging evidence on the role of nature from the prenatal period through the first three years of life — a critical window of rapid brain development when exposure to nature can support healthy growth, learning and development.

Did you know that studies show prenatal nature exposure is linked to healthier birth outcomes? Benefits can include healthier birth weights and lower risks of preterm birth and neurodevelopmental disorders in their children.

Research also highlights that when compared with conventional programs, children attending nature-based childcare centers and preschools tend to show improvements in attention, executive function, self-regulation and early literacy skills.

Explore this Research Digest focused on nature in early childhood to learn more about the data and discover practical guidance for designing nature-rich outdoor environments for infants and toddlers.
https://www.childrenandnature.org/resources/research-digest-early-childhood/

🌱Help us keep sharing the latest research about children and nature. Support us at bit.ly/forchildrenandnature. 🐣

10/11/2026

We're a day late, but this is still such an important post to share with a great list of resources. All people, especially children, deserve a frequent and consistent connection with nature.💚🌿

Today is World Mental Health Day. 💚 Each year, World Mental Health Day is celebrated to raise awareness of mental health issues around the world and to mobilize efforts in support of mental health.

Evidence shows that nature acts as a natural buffer against stress, supporting mental health and emotional resilience.

Mental health isn’t just about clinical care — it starts in the environments where people live, learn and grow. This can be especially important for children’s mental health and well-being, making nature more than just a “nice to have.”

We’ve pulled together a suite of resources highlighting the importance of nature access for the mental health and well-being of children — the evidence and stories behind its value, as well as strategies and tips for integrating nature into the everyday. Check it out here: https://www.childrenandnature.org/resources/fnn-mental-health-awareness-month/

World Federation for Mental Health

10/10/2026

Lots of Free Play Friday fun!
Thanks for joining us!🌿

10/03/2026

We had a big, wonderful group for Free Play Friday yesterday! The big kids worked together to build a raft while the little ones splashed around and caught beautiful fall leaves with the net.🍁

10/01/2026

🦉We had lots of kids making tons of fascinating discoveries today as they dissected their owl pellets and worked to identify and reassemble the bones they found inside. We discussed how and why these pellets are formed and learned some cool facts about owls along the way.

Thanks for joining us!

www.forestfamilieschatt.org/event-calendar

Address

831 Summit Avenue
East Ridge, TN
37412

Website

http://www.forestfamilieschatt.org/

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