Urban Campout in Renaissance Park features catered meal, treehouse accommodations

photo Scout Chapin makes a dirt mound for a fire that will not leave behind remains during the Urban Campout event held Saturday at Renaissance Park. Campers spent the night in the park housed in tents hung from trees, which are known for leaving no ecological footprint.

Nancy Parker and her teenage daughter, Scout, live just blocks away from Renaissance Park, and on Saturday night they traded their comfortable beds for sleeping bags and a "treehouse" tent.

"I thought it would be a fun idea to spend the night in the park," Nancy said. "You don't get to do something like this all of the time."

The event was the inaugural Urban Campout in Renaissance Park, hosted by Chattanooga Presents.

Designed for outdoor enthusiasts and experienced campers as well as those more accustomed to urban landscapes and the indoors., the Urban Campout included a packed evening of activities including music, food and fun.

Carla Pritchard, owner of Chattanooga Presents, said "I love when we can use public spaces like this in fun and creative ways for the community."

Ten colorful tents were hung between trees -- off the ground -- along the Riverwalk. Each tent held two or three people, who climbed up a small ladder and through a zippered door to get inside.

The tents were provided by TentsileUSA, a Chattanooga startup, which specializes in providing a distinct outdoor experience with no ecological footprint or environmental impact. The company says it provides all of the needed gear for a comfortable camping trip, allowing people to camp in creative, nontraditional locations.

Daniel Lucas, one of the founders of TentsileUSA, said "These treehouse tents really give people a fun imagination."

Lucas said the company is specifically geared toward people who are not naturally outdoors, as they offer an all-inclusive camping experience that only requires people to show up and enjoy.

The event's activities were geared for a broad family-friendly audience before the park closed at 10 p.m. to everyone but those registered for overnight camping.

People gathered in the park for a brief educational presentation on Leave No Trace camping practices, presented by Outdoor Chattanooga. They enjoyed a grilled chicken dinner and a variety of sides and dessert by GQR Catering and Events of Chattanooga, along with iced tea, lemonade, Fat Tire beer or wine.

The night's music was provided by Packway Handle Band from Athens, Ga., which played alternative-bluegrass music as a fragrant fire burned herbs and aromatic wood nearby.

Near the end of the evening, Lookout Wild Film Festival showed a short film titled "Seasons of the Smokies."

Scout said she did not know what to expect when her mom pitched the idea of camping in the park to her, but hoped that she would be able to at least get some sleep in the tent.

"Either way, it's worth sharing this adventure with my mom," she said.

Contact staff writer Kendi Anderson at kendi.anderson@timesfreepress.com or 423-757-6592.

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