10 Month Certified Tennessee Naturalist Program

Tennessee National Wildlife Refuge and Paris Landing State Park announce that beginning September, 2020 – June 2021 they will be offering the Tennessee Naturalist Program Certification Course. This makes the widely recognized Naturalist Course available to local residents. Paris Landing SP and TN National Wildlife Refuge are the newest Chapter of the Tennessee Naturalist Program to offer the course. “We are so excited about the high caliber of our instructors in this course!” says Joan Howe, who works as a ranger at the refuge. “We feel there was a need in this area to offer a more in depth course for those wanting to spend some time studying our natural world.  We also felt like we have the perfect classroom using our local public conservation areas on and adjacent to Kentucky Lake.  Some classes will be at the refuge or state park, but we will also hold classes at Land Between the Lakes and Hancock Biological Station using many teaching resources available.” The Tennessee Naturalist Program (TNP) is a 501c3 educational training course designed to introduce the natural history of Tennessee to interested adults. Graduates join a corps of Tennessee Naturalist volunteers providing education, outreach, and service dedicated to the appreciation, understanding, and beneficial management of Tennessee’s natural resources and natural areas. Classes are hosted by ten TNP Chapters and taught by experts in their fields.  Each class is held once a month on a Saturday at various local locations. The mission of Tennessee Naturalist Program is to teach Tennesseans about our natural world, inspire the desire to learn more,  and instill an appreciation of responsible environmental stewardship. For more information on classes or registering for the TN Naturalist Program, visit