WHAT:  Hundreds of Boy Scouts volunteer, learn skills at Ijams during 2022 National Order of the Arrow Conference in Knoxville
WHEN:  July 26, 27, and 28, 2022, from ~9 a.m.-5 p.m.
WHO:  Up to 400+ Boy Scouts per day
WHY:  To learn, give back and build ties of brotherhood
CONTACT:  Cindy Hassil chassil@ijams.org; work: 865-577-4717, ext. 1007; mobile: 865-201-8336

The Boy Scouts of America’s 2022 National Order of the Arrow Conference (NOAC) will be held in Knoxville July 25-30, and that means A LOT of extra hands at Ijams Nature Center!

The annual event will bring thousands of Arrowmen from across the country to The University of Tennessee-Knoxville.

Hundreds of Boy Scouts will learn trail building and maintenance techniques and put these new skills to work at Ijams on Tuesday, Wednesday and Thursday from around 9 a.m.-5 p.m. Participation should be at its highest on Tuesday and Thursday (potentially 400+ Scouts per day).

Ijams Natural Resource Manager Ben Nanny and Assistant Natural Resource Manager Joseph Bailey will be working with Scout leaders on various projects, which will include:

  • Building a new trail from Ijams main overflow lot (across from the Visitor Center’s main parking lot) to the Ijams Dunn St. property.
  • Rebuilding stairs on Discovery Trail.
  • Regrading Discovery Trail and addressing drainage concerns.
  • Work at the Peg Beute Education and Propagation Site at the top of the hill on Universal Trail.