In Chattanooga, there is almost no reason to ask someone if he likes the outdoors – it’s almost a requirement.
Audubon Acres is offering a program this fall that will back that love of the outdoors with some credentials.
The Tennessee Naturalist Program kicks off Aug. 20. It will include 10 four-hour sessions that cover everything from geography, birding and plants to herpetology and insects for a fee of $250 that goes to cover the program costs.
Lynn Grabowski, Audubon Acres’ education director, will be the main instructor for almost every session, but each will also include one, sometimes two, guest instructors to help teach the fascinating world of the outdoors to participants.
“We have incredible diversity as far as our bird population, reptile population,” said Grabowski. “And our plants, our trees – it’s really pretty incredible what we have here. And it’s kind of unique because we have this great mountain environment, but we’re in the South, so we get tons of the best of both worlds.”
Grabowski said she is excited to bring the program, which was formerly hosted by Reflection Riding and the Tennessee Aquarium, to Chattanooga’s oldest wildlife sanctuary.
“The Tennessee Naturalist program asked us if we were interested, and it just made sense,” Grabowski said. “We have this great facility with over 130 acres and five miles of trail and we can really almost cover everything on-site.”
The community seems thrilled with the news of the program arriving as well. Grabowski said she has been receiving excited emails and phone calls since word got out.
The program will cover a little bit of everything, she added, and all right at Audubon Acres. It will include a total of 40 hours of instruction, with an additional 40 hours of volunteer service in the community, a requirement in order to become certified.
“It’s just so great to see people who want to put their efforts back into a community that gives back to them,” she said. “It’s kind of a twofold thing. You get knowledge, and you get that opportunity to give back as well.
“If you want a really well-rounded education in being a naturalist, this is a fantastic program for that.”
To find out more about the naturalist program or to sign up, contact Grabowski at lgrabowski@chattaudubon.org or visit chattanoogaaudubon.org.
Contact Ashley Arnold at 757-6439.