TN Naturalists@Ijams second class was blooming

The 2017 edition of TN Naturalists@Ijams held its second class last Saturday.  

Amber Parker

This class was devoted to wildflowers and it was the first class at Ijams lead by our new executive director Amber Parker. Before she came to the nature center, Amber was executive director of the Chincoteague Bay Field Station at Wallops Island, Va. But her background is solidly rooted in environmental education. Before she jumped into the administrative side she was once the education director at the Great Smokies Institute at Tremont. Assisting Amber was former TN Naturalists@Ijams graduate and flower aficionado Lynne Davis.

"I didn't think I would like the wildflower class," said naturalist student Stephanie Grayson, "But it was absolutely great. I learned so much." 

This is the fifth year the statewide program has been taught at Ijams. In all, it's 12 classes held once or twice a month until November. After students finish the 40 hours of classes and the required 40 hours of volunteer work, they become certified Tennessee Naturalists.

The classes always include hours of outdoor learning, in this case the group ventured down the Discovery Trail to the River Trail and boardwalk.

April's next class covers trees.

- Supplied photos by naturalist student and commercial photographer Kristy Keel-Blackmon.