Deadline to register for this year's Tennessee Naturalist Program is Friday. The adult education workshops will be held April 8-9, 15-16, 22-23 at Cumberland Mountain State Park in Crossville, Tenn.
Participants will gain a contemporary understanding of native ecosystems through firsthand field experience and classroom work. Since field observations are essential for a practical understanding of the environment, at least half the instructional training will be outdoors. Topics covered in the accelerated 40 hours of coursework will include ecology, geology, plants, fungi, invertebrates, mammals, amphibians and reptiles.
Upon completion of the coursework, participants will complete the certification by volunteering 40 hours to a variety of projects, such as outreach at parks, nature centers, museums, schools and wildlife refuges.
Registration is $200. Meals and lodging are not included in the fee.
To register, contact Monica Johnson at monica.johnson@tn.gov or Randy Hedgepath at randy.hedgepath@tn.gov. For more information on the Tennessee Naturalist Program, visit tnnaturalist.com.