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Date/Time: Varies: April 10 – Sept. 22, 2012
Cost: $225 – Members; $250 – Non-Members (Program fees include tuition, field guides and other materials.)
Registration deadline: Friday, March 30, 2012
The Tennessee Naturalist Program (TNP) is an education training course designed to introduce the natural history of Tennessee to interested adults. Graduates join a critical 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.
The Tennessee Naturalist Program Mission
“Inspiring the desire to learn and share Tennessee’s nature.”
What is a Tennessee Naturalist?
Graduates of the program are called Tennessee Naturalists and have received 40 hours of instruction on various aspects of the state’s natural history -- geology, flora, wildlife, watersheds -- as well as exposure to ecological concepts and conservation issues. In addition, they must complete 40 hours of volunteer service to earn certification. Through their volunteer efforts, Tennessee Naturalists help state and local government agencies monitor and maintain the quality of our native ecosystems in a variety of citizen science projects, work with nonprofit organizations in preserving and maintaining our natural heritage, and assist with public interpretive programs reaching school children and others across the state.
What do Tennessee Naturalists do?
Individuals who participate in the program combine their diverse interests, skills, and experiences with the TNP instruction to contribute time, energy, and ideas toward the understanding and preservation of native ecosystems throughout the state. After training, Tennessee Naturalists may participate in many different types of volunteer activities, such as helping a nature outreach program at a park, museum, nature center or school, assisting the collection of scientific data for a bird census, water quality assessment, rare plant monitoring, and working with trail maintenance or habitat restoration projects.
How Do I Become a Tennessee Naturalist?
To become a Tennessee Naturalist, a person must complete a minimum of 40 hours instruction through the TNP training course plus perform a minimum of 40 hours volunteer service.
Classes:
Session 1: Becoming a Naturalist, Soils, Climate, Weather, Geology, and Ecology
Tues. April 10: 7 – 9 pm - classroom
Session 2: Birds
Tues. April 24: 7 – 9 pm - classroom
Session 3: Field work for Sessions #1 & #2
Sat. April 28: 7:30 am – Noon (7:30 am – 9:30 am birding walk; 10:00 am – Noon – Geology hike and nature journaling)
Session 4: Invertebrates
Tues. May 8: 7 – 9 pm – classroom
Session 5 - Field work for “Invertebrates”
TBD – Butterfly count with North American Butterfly Association
Session 6: Herps: Amphibians & Reptiles
Tues. May 22: 7 – 9 pm - classroom
Session 7: Nocturnal Naturalist & Field Work for “Herps”
Fri. May 25: 7 – 11 pm
Astronomy classroom workshop (Nocturnal Naturalist) 7 – 8 pm – Humphreys House
Frog Walk (Herps) 8 – 9 pm
Owl Prowl (Nocturnal Naturalist) 9 – 10 pm
Night Sky viewing (Nocturnal Naturalist) 10 – 11 pm
Session 8: Bat Watch
Fri. June 8: 7:15-9:30 pm Nature Center classroom / drive to Nickajack Cave. (Nocturnal Naturalist)
Session 9: Mammals
Tues. June 12: 7 – 9 pm - classroom
Session 10: Tennessee’s Forests
Tues. June 26: 7 – 9 pm - classroom
Session 11: Field work for “Mammals & Forest”
Sat. June 30: 9 am – 2 pm (Mammals 9 – 11 am; Trees 12 – 2 pm)
Session 12: Future Focus, part 1
Tues. July 10: 7 – 9 pm (Volunteer opportunities: 7 – 8 pm; Interpretation 8 – 9 pm)
Session 13: Future Focus, part 2
Tues. July 24: 7 – 9 pm - “Enjoying the Outdoors – Important Considerations”
Session 14: TN Living Waters: GA Pocket Wilderness Field Trip
Sat. Aug. 25: 9 am – 3 pm. (9 – 11 water quality, 12 – 2 pm field work, 2 – 3 pm salamander search at the pocket (Herps))
Session 15: Forbs, Ferns, Fungi & More
Sat. Sept. 22: 9 am – 2 pm (9 – 11 am – Plants; 12 – 2 pm – Fungi)
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