Blue Ridge Country September/October 2022 - 64
HOW TO KEEP BOYHOOD OUTSIDE PLAY ALIVE
Eye on the Sky,
Foot in
the Water
Eliot Berz studies migratory birds while protecting a unique Tennessee river system.
By NANCY HENDERSON | Photos courtesy ELIOT BERZ
he more he talks about the Louisiana
waterthrush-a small migratory
songbird few people have
even heard of-the more excited
Eliot Berz becomes about the species
that returns from Guatemala
each spring, often to the exact
same place in the Tennessee River Gorge
near his hometown of Chattanooga.
T
64 BLUERIDGECOUNTRY.COM
" I can think of one bird that we've
caught three years in a row within a couple
feet of the same spot, " he says. " It's
pretty incredible the navigational skills
that these birds have. How many people
have to use Google Maps or Apple Maps
on their phone to get around the city,
and these birds are traveling without any
of that, thousands of miles? "
Since 2020, Berz, 28, has served as director
of conservation and access for the
Tennessee River Gorge Trust (TGRT), a
nonprofit that strives to safeguard 17,000
acres of steep river canyon punctuated
by twisting streams and towering forests.
It is the only such tract located next to a
mid-size city.
Equally fascinated by the forests,
ELIOT BERZ'S 3 FAVORITE THINGS ABOUT
THE TENNESSEE RIVER GORGE
The creeks. " After it rains a lot, I like to whitewater kayak down them, and then
once they dry up in the summer, I like to go swim in them. And there are some
really cool blue holes. "
The wildness. " Because of the fact that it has steep mountainsides leading
down to the river, many places are inaccessible. They can't be developed and
it's difficult for people to get there, period. So we've seen everything: black
bears, bobcats, coyotes, incredible migratory birds and clean creeks with interesting
salamander and fish species in them. "
The views. " Because of the topography and geological anomaly that the river
gorge is, it offers up some of the most breathtaking viewsheds that I've ever
seen-scenic overlooks throughout the gorge. " -NH
creeks and streams surrounding his boyhood
home, Berz often played outside
" until I heard the whistle from my parents
to come in for dinner. I was always
wandering away from home a lot further
than I think they realized on the weekends
and after school. ... I think the
fact that, day after day after day, I had
the opportunity to wander around with
my buddies in the woods and figure out
what was happening for ourselves, rather
than being taught by textbook or in a
classroom, really sparked my interest in
all this and got the ball rolling. "
By the time he was 12, Berz was proficient
in whitewater kayaking and,
through a program at his high school,
http://www.BLUERIDGECOUNTRY.COM
Blue Ridge Country September/October 2022
Table of Contents for the Digital Edition of Blue Ridge Country September/October 2022
Blue Ridge Country September/October 2022 - Cover1
Blue Ridge Country September/October 2022 - Cover2
Blue Ridge Country September/October 2022 - 3
Blue Ridge Country September/October 2022 - 4
Blue Ridge Country September/October 2022 - 5
Blue Ridge Country September/October 2022 - 6
Blue Ridge Country September/October 2022 - 7
Blue Ridge Country September/October 2022 - 8
Blue Ridge Country September/October 2022 - 9
Blue Ridge Country September/October 2022 - 10
Blue Ridge Country September/October 2022 - 11
Blue Ridge Country September/October 2022 - 12
Blue Ridge Country September/October 2022 - 13
Blue Ridge Country September/October 2022 - 14
Blue Ridge Country September/October 2022 - 15
Blue Ridge Country September/October 2022 - 16
Blue Ridge Country September/October 2022 - 17
Blue Ridge Country September/October 2022 - 18
Blue Ridge Country September/October 2022 - 19
Blue Ridge Country September/October 2022 - 20
Blue Ridge Country September/October 2022 - 21
Blue Ridge Country September/October 2022 - 22
Blue Ridge Country September/October 2022 - 23
Blue Ridge Country September/October 2022 - 24
Blue Ridge Country September/October 2022 - 25
Blue Ridge Country September/October 2022 - 26
Blue Ridge Country September/October 2022 - 27
Blue Ridge Country September/October 2022 - 28
Blue Ridge Country September/October 2022 - 29
Blue Ridge Country September/October 2022 - 30
Blue Ridge Country September/October 2022 - 31
Blue Ridge Country September/October 2022 - 32
Blue Ridge Country September/October 2022 - 33
Blue Ridge Country September/October 2022 - 34
Blue Ridge Country September/October 2022 - 35
Blue Ridge Country September/October 2022 - 36
Blue Ridge Country September/October 2022 - 37
Blue Ridge Country September/October 2022 - 38
Blue Ridge Country September/October 2022 - 39
Blue Ridge Country September/October 2022 - 40
Blue Ridge Country September/October 2022 - 41
Blue Ridge Country September/October 2022 - 42
Blue Ridge Country September/October 2022 - 43
Blue Ridge Country September/October 2022 - 44
Blue Ridge Country September/October 2022 - 45
Blue Ridge Country September/October 2022 - 46
Blue Ridge Country September/October 2022 - 47
Blue Ridge Country September/October 2022 - 48
Blue Ridge Country September/October 2022 - 49
Blue Ridge Country September/October 2022 - 50
Blue Ridge Country September/October 2022 - 51
Blue Ridge Country September/October 2022 - 52
Blue Ridge Country September/October 2022 - 53
Blue Ridge Country September/October 2022 - 54
Blue Ridge Country September/October 2022 - 55
Blue Ridge Country September/October 2022 - 56
Blue Ridge Country September/October 2022 - 57
Blue Ridge Country September/October 2022 - 58
Blue Ridge Country September/October 2022 - 59
Blue Ridge Country September/October 2022 - 60
Blue Ridge Country September/October 2022 - 61
Blue Ridge Country September/October 2022 - 62
Blue Ridge Country September/October 2022 - 63
Blue Ridge Country September/October 2022 - 64
Blue Ridge Country September/October 2022 - 65
Blue Ridge Country September/October 2022 - 66
Blue Ridge Country September/October 2022 - 67
Blue Ridge Country September/October 2022 - 68
Blue Ridge Country September/October 2022 - 69
Blue Ridge Country September/October 2022 - 70
Blue Ridge Country September/October 2022 - 71
Blue Ridge Country September/October 2022 - 72
Blue Ridge Country September/October 2022 - 73
Blue Ridge Country September/October 2022 - 74
Blue Ridge Country September/October 2022 - 75
Blue Ridge Country September/October 2022 - 76
Blue Ridge Country September/October 2022 - 77
Blue Ridge Country September/October 2022 - 78
Blue Ridge Country September/October 2022 - 79
Blue Ridge Country September/October 2022 - 80
Blue Ridge Country September/October 2022 - 81
Blue Ridge Country September/October 2022 - 82
Blue Ridge Country September/October 2022 - 83
Blue Ridge Country September/October 2022 - 84
Blue Ridge Country September/October 2022 - 85
Blue Ridge Country September/October 2022 - 86
Blue Ridge Country September/October 2022 - 87
Blue Ridge Country September/October 2022 - 88
Blue Ridge Country September/October 2022 - 89
Blue Ridge Country September/October 2022 - 90
Blue Ridge Country September/October 2022 - Cover3
Blue Ridge Country September/October 2022 - Cover4
https://www.nxtbook.com/leisuremedia360/leisure/blue-ridge-country-nov-dec-2024
https://www.nxtbook.com/leisuremedia360/leisure/blue-ridge-country-sept-oct-2024
https://www.nxtbook.com/leisuremedia360/leisure/blue-ridge-country-july-august-2024
https://www.nxtbook.com/leisuremedia360/leisure/blue-ridge-country-may-june-2024
https://www.nxtbook.com/leisuremedia360/leisure/blue-ridge-country-march-april-2024
https://www.nxtbook.com/leisuremedia360/leisure/blue-ridge-country-january-february-2024
https://www.nxtbook.com/leisuremedia360/leisure/blue-ridge-country-november-december-2023
https://www.nxtbook.com/leisuremedia360/leisure/blue-ridge-country-sept-oct-2023
https://www.nxtbook.com/leisuremedia360/leisure/blue-ridge-country-july-august-2023
https://www.nxtbook.com/leisuremedia360/leisure/blue-ridge-country-may-june-2023
https://www.nxtbook.com/leisuremedia360/leisure/blue-ridge-country-march-april-2023
https://www.nxtbook.com/leisuremedia360/leisure/blue-ridge-country-january-february-2023
https://www.nxtbook.com/leisuremedia360/leisure/blue-ridge-country-november-december-2022
https://www.nxtbook.com/leisuremedia360/leisure/blue-ridge-country-september-october-2022
https://www.nxtbook.com/leisuremedia360/leisure/blue-ridge-country-july-august-2022
https://www.nxtbook.com/leisuremedia360/leisure/blue-ridge-country-may-june-2022
https://www.nxtbook.com/leisuremedia360/leisure/BlueRidgeCountryMarchApril2022
https://www.nxtbook.com/leisuremedia360/leisure/blue-ridge-country-january-february-2022
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/leisure/BRCND21
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/leisure/BRCSO21
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/leisure/brcja21
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/leisure/brc_2021_0506
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/leisure/brc_2021_0304
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/leisure/brc_2021_0102
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/leisure/brc_2020_11_12
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/leisure/brc_2020_0910
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/leisure/brc_2020_0708
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/leisure/brc_2020_0506
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/leisure/brc_2020_0304
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/leisure/brc_2020_0102
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/leisure/brc_2019_1112
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/leisure/brc_2019_0910
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/leisure/brc_2019_0708
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/leisure/brc_2019_0506
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/leisure/brc_2019_0304
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/leisure/brc_2019_0102
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/leisure/brc_2018_1112
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/leisure/brc_2018_0910
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/leisure/brc_2018_0708
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/leisure/brc_2018_0506
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/leisure/brc_2018_0304
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/leisure/brc_2018_0102
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/leisure/brc_2017_1112
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/leisure/brc_2017_0910
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/leisure/brc_2017_0708
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/leisure/brc_2017_0506
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/leisure/brc_2017_0304
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/leisure/brc_20170102
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/leisure/brc_201612
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/leisure/brc_20160910
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/leisure/brc_20160708
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/leisure/brc_20160506
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/leisure/brc_20160304
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/leisure/brc_20160102
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/leisure/brc_20151112
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/leisure/brc_20150910
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/leisure/brc_20150708
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/leisure/brc_20150506
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/leisure/brc_20150304
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/leisure/brc_20150102
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/leisure/brc_20141112
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/leisure/brc_20140910
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/leisure/brc_20140708
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/leisure/brc_20140506
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/leisure/brc_20140304
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/leisure/brc_20140102
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/leisure/brc_20131112
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/leisure/brc_20130910
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/leisure/brc_20130708
https://www.nxtbookmedia.com