Register for Tennessee Naturalist Program
Only a few slots remain in this year’s Tennessee Naturalist Program at South Cumberland State Park. Classes are set to begin on Sept. 11.
Tennessee Naturalist Bruce Blohm, now an active board member of the Friends of South Cumberland, encourages anyone interested in learning more about the natural world to register.
“The Tennessee Naturalist Program was one of the best and most memorable courses I’ve ever taken,” Blohm said. “I learned so many fascinating things about our natural world in those few short weeks. My learning continues today. Each 3-or 4-hour, hands-on session was just enough time to get in depth on one core element of being a naturalist. Knowledgeable instructors and subject matter experts captured my attention with intriguing insight and answered questions I had often pondered. If you want a satisfying way to nurture your interest in the natural world and join a group of like-minded seekers, sign up for the 2021 State Naturalist Program. I commuted from Chattanooga for each and every session, and I was glad I did.”
Classes are scheduled in two semesters, from September to November and February to May, and are usually held on Saturday mornings. 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. Andrew’s-Sewanee instructor Ron Ramsey.
For more information, email coordinator Rhonda Saylor at <rhonda.saylor@gmail.com>. To register, visit the Friends of South Cumberland website at <www.friendsofsouthcumberland.org>.