Paris Landing State Park and the Tennessee National Wildlife Refuge have announced that registration is now open for the next Tennessee Naturalist program course.
Classes will begin Sept. 2, meeting usually once a month until June 2024.
This makes the widely recognized Naturalist Course available to area residents who wish to study nature during all four seasons.
Paris Landing and the refuge among 11 chapters of the Tennessee Naturalist Program located throughout the state.
“When I signed up for Tennessee Naturalists, I expected to learn about the plants and animals of Tennessee. What I didn’t expect was how invested everyone would be — both instructors and students. Everyone really wanted to explore our natural areas and help our wildlife. I was truly inspired to become more active in my community environmental activities. I also made some really great
friends with similar interests. I can’t wait to take more classes,” said recent graduate of the program Aprele Griffin.
“If you love nature, if you love learning, if you love Tennessee and you love meeting new people, join this class. You won’t be disappointed,” explained TNP graduate Laura Quirk.
“I enrolled in the Tennessee Naturalist Program because I had recently moved here and wanted to learn more about the nature in my new home state.”
“I was impressed with the content of the classes as well as the presenters. You really learn so much. I have developed friendships with some of my classmates and other TNP graduates as I often run into them on volunteer projects.”
The course includes 40 hours of instruction and 40 hours of volunteer service in natural resources.
Professionals that use the state park and refuge as an outdoor classroom teach the classes.
Some classes are also taught at Land Between the Lakes and Hancock Biological Station.
Class topics include: birds, mammals, amphibians/reptiles, insects/invertebrates, forests, plants/fungi, geology, aquatic species, nocturnal species and astronomy.
The Tennessee Naturalist Program (TNP) is a 501(c)(3) educational training course designed to introduce the natural history of Tennessee to interested adults.
Graduates join a corps of Tennessee Naturalist volunteers providing education, outreach and service dedicated to the appreciation, understanding and beneficial management of natural resources and natural areas within their communities.
Classes are hosted by area Tennessee Naturalist Program chapters and taught by experts in their fields.
The mission of the program is to teach Tennesseans about their natural world, inspire the desire to learn more, instill an appreciation of responsible environmental stewardship, and channel volunteer efforts toward education of the general public and toward conservation of Tennessee’s natural resources.
The 10-month course has a fee of $300.
Classes are not intended to be taken individually, but as a full course.
For a course schedule or for more information on regis-
tering for the Naturalist program, visit tnnaturalist.org/chapters/paris-landing-sp-nwr/.