Living Clean & Green!
Living Clean & Green! is a series of programs and workshops designed to inform the public and improve the local environment. Programs vary in length and can be presented to your organization, club or gathering. Programs marked with the 
are available for presentation to middle or high school classes as well!
Click for our 
Living Clean and Green Brochure in PDF.
Currently there are 15 program topics. Each program outlines environmental issues facing our community; how we impact these issues and what we can do to lighten the load we place on the environment. Informational materials and give-away items like free trees are also available. Living Clean & Green! is presented by Ijams Nature Center, Alcoa Foundation and Knox County.
Please see a list of the program topics and a short description of each below. For more information or to schedule a program for your group, call Kara at 577-4717, ext. 15.
Let's Take a Walk - Greenways Connecting Our Community
Using maps of the current Knoxville City and County Greenway system we'll take you on a virtual tour and then an actual walk to experience our extensive greenway system. We'll demonstrate pedometer use and introduce you to the idea of a walking log (not related to a tree).
Wetlands - Why They Are Important
Ponds, marshes, swamps, bogs and fens all are considered to be wetlands. This program will help you understand the differences. Learn about how urban runoff affects wetlands and what lives in a healthy wetland. We'll also talk history and current issues and even take a metaphorical quiz.
Recycling/Trash to Treasure Workshop
Recycling makes a difference! Get up to date information on area recycling efforts and turn that trash into treasure with this hands-on program. Make useful household items and crafts out of things you would usually throw away. Also, learn why we need to reduce the amount of solid waste we produce.
The Air We Breathe
We'll talk about the basics of air pollution and how it affects young and old alike. See alternative energy sources at work and check out our hybrid electric car. We also will be showing the prize winning documentary Kilowatt Ours at Ijams this fall and winter (2006-07). When we reduce our energy consumption we improve our air quality. This program helps you do just that. In depth discussion of the topics below are also available for middle and high school students.
- The Basics of Air Pollution - Learn why East Tennessee has problems with air quality and how it affects human health and community. Learn how to read an AQI.
- Alternative Energy Sources - Learn about sources of alternative energy and how they work. Also learn which technologies may be the most effective in the future.
- Kilowatt Ours - Watch the film and learn what it casts to maintain our energy consumption in the US and how you can help. Discussion will follow the movie.
Trees - Creating the Air We Breathe
Trees, the lungs of our community, provide oxygen and clean the pollutants from the air at the same time. Shade, fruits, nuts, habitat, wind protection, the benefits are incredibly important. You can make a difference by planting more trees. This seminar demonstrates tree-planting techniques and we can often provide you with some trees to plant.
Can You Hear the Frogs?
The sounds of spring and summer are familiar to all of us. Learn about our local frog species and why amphibians, and in particular frogs, are like canaries in the coal mine. You'll see a slide show of local frogs and their vocalizations and learn details about environmental problems that have caused populations to decline over the past 40 years.
What Makes a Healthy Creek?
The critters that live in your neighborhood creek have a story to tell. This program gives you some simple tools for assessing your creek. Learn about soil erosion and storm drains, look at the creatures that live in creeks and check some physical characteristics of the creek itself. You'll also learn some things that you can do to improve local water quality.
Butterflies Are Free
A new program offering in the Living Clean and Green series. Learn what attracts butterflies, how to improve your butterfly habitat and what butterflies you might expect to see. It's all related and what you do makes a difference!
Creating a Green Household
We all use chemicals in our homes. Sometimes we are aware of their potential toxicity and sometimes not. This program helps define some of the water and indoor air quality problems associated with chemical use and some naturally occurring problems like radon. Learn alternative cleaning methods and how you can improve the air you breathe in your home and the water quality in your area.
The Bird Friendly Yard
Backyard bird watching is the number one hobby in America. This program provides practical tips on how to improve your backyard bird habitat and attract a wider variety of birds. You'll also get some tips on what to do about squirrels that think they are birds.
Organic Gardening - The Basics
A recent study published in the journal Science found that organic gardening makes good sense. Organic gardening costs less, yields the same and does not fill our soils and waterways with excess fertilizers, pesticides and herbicides. There are many benefits to reducing our lawn area and increasing your gardening area and this program will help you decide if organic gardening is right for you.
Urban Wildlife - Precious Things or Pests?
The state of local wildlife may surprise you. Are humans having more wildlife encounters because their populations are increasing or because their habitat is decreasing? We'll take a close look at specimens of common urban wildlife. You'll also learn what to do when you encounter wildlife, how to identify the creatures of the night and what we can do to reduce problems.
Wildscaping
Habitat loss is the number one reason for declines in animal and plant populations. Each year the state of Tennessee loses wildlife habitat the size of Hamblen County. This program presents landscaping ideas based on the use of native plants to create natural areas that will benefit wildlife, reduce the amount of care and upkeep for the landowner and beautify and soften the surrounding landscape.
Know Your Watershed
What are watersheds? This program details what a watershed is and where you are located in it. Topics include maps of each major creek and the watershed surrounding it, how we impact the watershed and the resources available to reduce our impact. We'll also talk about the Adopt-a-Stream and Adopt-a-Watershed programs.
Gathering Seeds
Starting your own natural landscape doesn't have to be costly. You will learn seed gathering methods and some propagating techniques that will have your thumb turning green before the end of the program.
For more information on these programs or to schedule one for your group, please call Kara at 577-4717, ext 15.
