Outdoor Chattanooga, suffered a blow to their OutVenture kayak programming when an early morning fire on Saturday, April 26, completely destroyed their sea and recreational kayak fleet.


The fire burned a barn, which housed the majority of OutVenture's equipment, to the ground. Inspectors are working on determining the cause of the fire, but firefighters present at the scene believe the blaze started at an electrical box. The barn was completely engulfed by the time firefighters got to the scene.


Among the items lost in the fire were 20 sea kayaks, five recreational kayaks, six recently-purchased Jackson whitewater kayaks, a heavy-duty kayak trailer, paddles and related gear, camping and safety gear, and a cache of trail-building equipment that was donated by OIA two years ago after their public service project on downtown Chattanooga's Maclellan Island.


“We use a lot of the gear for multiple programs, and losing something as big as a trailer affects our programming as a whole,” says Marcus Hulsey, director of OutVenture, a division of the City of Chattanooga's Division of Recreation.


OutVenture and Outdoor Chattanooga use the kayaks, trailer and gear for kids' summer camps, free public kayak events at local parks and guided kayak trips throughout the Tennessee River watershed, including several river gorge overnight trips scheduled beginning in mid-May.


Hulsey and Outdoor Chattanooga executive director Philip Grymes are currently soliciting donations and loans of gear to keep programs going.


“We have already received phone calls from various outfitters, retailers and other Chattanooga outdoor organizations, offering loans of equipment to keep our programs running,” says Grymes.


However, permanent donations of money and equipment will be needed to help keep OutVenture programs running, which annually serve 5,000 adults and children in the Chattanooga area.


“It's very important that we keep our kayaking programs going,” says Grymes. “They are a vital part of our mission to get people outdoors and active.”


Any assistance is greatly appreciated. Organizations or individuals who are interested in making donations of money or equipment to help with OutVenture and Outdoor Chattanooga programs this summer may call Philip Grymes at 423.643.6881 or via email at Philip@outdoorchattanooga.com.