Tennessee teenagers interested in spending time outdoors and in nature are in luck, as there are many state parks and hiking trails spread across the state. The mountains around Chattanooga feature sections of the Appalachian Trail, whereas trails in the center of Tennessee are usually a bit flatter and easier to complete. The Tennessee River provides teenagers with possibilities of fishing, while forests in Northeast Tennessee near Bristol are sometimes used for deer and duck hunting.
Many high schools throughout the state of Tennessee offer teenagers opportunities to practice the craft of acting or the various technical aspects of theatre, such as carpentry, lighting and stage design. The Tennessee Theatre Association (TTA), in operation since 1968, also provides opportunities for young people to see and take part in theatre. An example is the Secondary School Division One-Act Play Festival. TTA sponsors the winner of this statewide high school play competition to represent the state at the annual Southeastern Theatre Conference (SETC). There also exist numerous community theaters across Tennessee that cast teenagers.
The Tennessee Secondary School Athletic Association (TSSAA) is one of Tennessee's sports programs for teenagers that organizes and runs sports such as football, tennis, soccer, bowling, baseball, track and golf. Each year TSSAA runs state championships for these sports, as well as middle school competitions in basketball, cheerleading and dance. Athletes must check TSSAA eligibility rules before attempting to compete in the division. There are plenty of local teams and clubs across the state that teenagers may participate in if they are not as interested in the competitive nature of the larger divisions.
Many high schools in Tennessee provide speech and debate opportunities for teenagers and students. These programs are usually organized by the Tennessee High School Speech and Debate League (THSSDL), a "professional association for speech and theatre educators throughout Tennessee," according to the THSSDL website. High schools like Battle Ground Academy and John Overton High School boast success in recent debate competitions with many representatives attending national competitions. Students who win state competitions are eligible for monetary scholarships.