The Friends of South Cumberland State Parks is proud to offer the Tennessee Naturalist Program to its friends and neighbors. TNP is a series of ten four-hour classes designed to introduce adult learners to the natural history of Tennessee. Graduates join a state-wide 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 South Cumberland Park was split into three different parks and currently includes – Savage Gulf State Park, South Cumberland State Park, and Head of Crow State Park.
The classwork is divided between lectures, hands-on activities and many hours of outdoor immersion. Topics include geology, forests, plants, mammals, birds, reptiles and amphibians, aquatic ecosystems, trail building and interpretation. The fieldwork portion of the course can be physically demanding, with off-trail hikes on steep hills and rough terrain, and some night activities.
Among those who have served as volunteer instructors are Tennessee State Naturalist Randy Hedgepath; Sewanee professors Bran Potter, Ken Smith, Scott Torreano and Kirk Zigler; Sewanee Herbarium Curators Mary Priestley and Yolande Gottfried; Chattanooga State professor Richard Clements, TWRA certified animal rehabilitator Margaret Matens; Tennessee State Park Rangers Jessie McNeel, Jason Reynolds, Philip Hylen and Mark Taylor; and former St. Andrews-Sewanee instructor Ron Ramsey. This outstanding group of educators and naturalists makes each session lively and memorable.
