This Framework for the Future creates an inclusive and equitable vision for Reflection Riding that will: impress a sense of awe for the natural and cultural heritage of the 300-acre campus; catalyze active restoration and conservation of regional ecological communities; and educate generations of future ecological stewards.
The plan carefully considers the relationship between the campus and Lookout Creek, the National Park Service and Reflection Riding’s larger social context. For more than 65 years, the people who love this land have been hard at work restoring the vital connection between people and nature. This Plan develops a path for the organization to anticipate future growth while becoming a hub for environmental learning, community outreach and stewardship for the greater Chattanooga region. The Plan was developed through a seven-month long planning process from the fall of 2020 to the Spring of 2021, and includes input from Reflection Riding staff, board members, volunteers, partners, and community members.
The team took great care to consider not only existing stakeholders, but also a broader group of people who live and work close by, but have not yet had the opportunity to engage with the organization. We believe that everyone should have the opportunity to experience nature, regardless of where they live or their economic status. We believe that when the benefits of the outdoors are accessible to everyone, Chattanooga becomes stronger and more connected. We believe that young people deserve opportunities to learn in and appreciate the outdoors, so they become lifelong champions for the natural world.