Discovery Park of America is a 100,000-square-foot museum sitting on a 50-acre heritage park. The nearby Reelfoot Lake is a unique ecosystem that is incomparable to any other found in Tennessee. It is the largest natural lake in the state and was formed during the 1811-12 New Madrid earthquakes. The lake is 15,000 acres of flooded forests with a mix of cultivated fields, early successional forests, bottomland hardwood forests, cypress swamps, and freshwater sloughs, bayous and marshes surrounding it. It is one of the best locations in Tennessee for bald eagle viewing and visitors can also see golden eagles, pelicans and numerous woodland, wading, and shore birds. During the winter months over 750,000 waterfowl birds can sometimes be seen at one time! The lake ecosystem is also abundant in mammals, amphibians and reptiles including some water snakes that can only be found at Reelfoot Lake.

The inaugural core TNP course held at our newest chapter, Murfreesboro Parks Chapter at Barfield Crescent Park, will begin on September 2nd, 2021. The 275-acre natural area has approximately 5 miles of hiking trails and 9 miles of mountain bike trails. Beginning from the Wilderness Station, the paved path cuts through a hardwood forest that rises above limestone outcrops. This eventually leads to the River Overlook and backcountry campground. Here the trail turns into a dirt path that skirts along the West Fork of the Stones River. Climbing higher towards the peak, there are limestone sinks and a long stone fence that is thought to be Civil War-era. The natural area here is a beautiful example of the Oak/Hickory forest and Karst topography that is so prevalent in Middle Tennessee.

South Cumberland State Park is located within four different Tennessee counties: Grundy, Franklin, Marion and Sequatchie. The park is composed of approximately 30,845 acres in nine separate areas and boasts some of the best hiking and backcountry camping in the region.

Event Phone: 615.370.4672

Beginning in August, 2021 the Tennessee Naturalist Program core course will be offered at our Owls Hill chapter. Owl’s Hill Nature Sanctuary is a 300-acre wildlife sanctuary in northwestern Williamson County, Tennessee. Fossil traces in Ordovician limestone and 300-year-old giant trees, vestiges of the great eastern deciduous forest that once covered Tennessee, are important collections on the site, as are pioneer trees and seasonal wildflowers. The ponds and wetlands provide valuable amphibian habitat, home to more than a dozen species. 125 species of birds have been recorded on site through population surveys performed by the National Audubon Society. Nearly all mammals native to Middle Tennessee are in residence at Owl’s Hill.

Event Phone: 615.370.4672

Beginning in August, 2021 the Tennessee Naturalist Program core course will be offered at our Owls Hill chapter. Owl’s Hill Nature Sanctuary is a 300-acre wildlife sanctuary in northwestern Williamson County, Tennessee. Fossil traces in Ordovician limestone and 300-year-old giant trees, vestiges of the great eastern deciduous forest that once covered Tennessee, are important collections on the site, as are pioneer trees and seasonal wildflowers. The ponds and wetlands provide valuable amphibian habitat, home to more than a dozen species. 125 species of birds have been recorded on site through population surveys performed by the National Audubon Society. Nearly all mammals native to Middle Tennessee are in residence at Owl’s Hill.

Beginning August 21st, 2021 the Tennessee Naturalist Program core course will be offered at our Audubon Acres Chapter. This beautiful sanctuary serves as the headquarters of the Chattanooga Audubon Society and features a Visitor’s Center, gift shop, multiple exhibits, including and a timeline museum tracing the human habitation of the property and the Avian Jewels Egg Collection.

Let’s “Mussel Up” to the Tennessee National Wildlife Refuge for this brand  new TNP Continuing Education course teaming the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service with the Tennessee Wildlife Resources Agency to provide instruction on the life, ecology and conservation efforts of these amazing aquatic species.

Beginning August 6th, 2021 the Tennessee Naturalist Program core course will be offered at our Bays Mountain Park chapter. Located in Kingsport, Tennessee, Bays Mountain Park & Planetarium is one of the nation’s largest city-owned parks. A 3,550-acre nature preserve featuring a Nature Center with a state-of-the-art planetarium, Bays Mountain Park also offers a 44-acre lake, 40 miles of trails approved for hiking and mountain biking, native animal habitats, adventure ropes course facility with a 300-ft. zip line, gift shop and much more!

We are pleased to host Empowering Environmental Advocacy, a continuing education workshop. The workshop will be hosted via Zoom and will count as 1.5 CE Credits for TNP students. The workshop will focus on effective strategies for conservation advocates to influence government policy.

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