Ijams Public Programs
EDUCATION • RECREATION • EXPLORATION
Ijams' Public Programs combine science, art, and experiential environmental education to instill a sense of wonder in both adults and children alike! Ijams naturalists meet participants at their level, ensuring that everyone comes away from a program with the knowledge, understanding, and fun they desire.
From caving and kayaking, to bird banding and guided workshops, each season brings new experiences and natural phenomena to explore.
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Carve and Create: Block Printing for Beginners
Ages: 14+ | 1.5 hrs.
Come out an explore the art of block printing!
Carving your own design allows you to print your art as many times as you desire!
During this class, you'll get to make one 4x6 inch design, carve it, ink it up with various colors, and hand-press your masterpiece onto paper or fabric.
September:
Date Start End
09-06-2026 12:30 PM 2:00 PM
Fall Fungi ID
Ages: 14+ | 1.5 hrs.
Out in the field, fungi identification doesn’t leave mush-room for guessing!
Join an Ijams fun-guide (naturalist) for this immersive workshop where you’ll learn the basics of fungi and lichen anatomy, identification, and their pivotal role in our ecosystems. This program is best for beginner foragers and mushroom enthusiasts.
September:
Date Start End
09-11-2026 5:30 PM 7:00 PM
09-20-2026 2:00 PM 3:30 PM
09-27-2026 3:00 PM 4:30 PM
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Nature's Neighborhoods
Ages: 6-12 | 1.5 hrs.
Come on out to Ijams Nature Center and get the chance to explore our thriving ecosystem and the animals living here!
Each animal works hard and exercises incredible care to create their unique home in the wild.
This program is perfect for Brownie Girl Scouts working on the Eco Friend Badge and Junior Girl Scouts focusing on the Animal Habitats Badge.
September:
Date Start End
09-10-2026 5:30 PM 7:00 PM
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Playing 'Possum: Animal Ambassador Meet & Greet
Ages: 5+ | 1 hr
Come on out to learn all about Ijams' newest animal ambassador: an opossum! These misunderstood marsupials enrich our ecosystem and utilize lots of cool adaptations to survive in their environment. Along with an animal presentation, participants will learn the basics of nature journaling and make their own opossum masterpiece to take home with them!
September:
Date Start End
09-26-2026 3:00 PM 4:00 PM
Fall Wildflower Walk
Ages: 16+ | 1.5 hrs.
While Spring may stand out in most people's minds as the season for incredible wildflowers, Fall flowers are just as amazing!
During this Fall Wildflower Walk, join an Ijams naturalist to bask in the beauty of Fall wildflowers, witnessing their unbelievable color and finding a deeper understanding of their important role in our ecosystem.
September:
Date Start End
09-24-2026 5:30 PM 7:00 PM
09-27-2026 3:00 PM 4:30 PM
All About Bats
Ages: 10+ | 1.5 hrs.
Have you ever wondered what life would be like as a bat?
Here's your chance to find out!
Join Ijams for a night of fun and exploration as you take a deep-dive into one of the world’s most misunderstood animals.
You’ll learn about their history, behaviors, and adaptations, and play some bat-themed games while out on the trail in search of these mesmerizing creatures.
September:
Date Start End
09-03-2026 8:00 PM 9:30 PM
09-11-2026 8:00 PM 9:30 PM
09-24-2026 8:00 PM 9:30 PM
Kayak Programs
Ages: 14+ | 2 hrs.
Looking for a unique adventure on the water?
Join an Ijams naturalist for a guided paddle on the Tennessee River!
Look out for a variety of paddles throughout the season.
September:
Date Start End
09-18-2026 6:30 PM 8:30 PM
09-26-2026 7:30 PM 9:30 PM - Full Moon!
Caving Trips
Ages: 18+ | 2.5 hrs.
Experience a morning of underground exploration in Ijams’ cave system! Join a team of Ijams naturalists to navigate this unique ecosystem as you search for creatures that call the caverns home.
Caving at Ijams is a very rewarding activity, but also physically and mentally demanding. Participants must expect to navigate slippery, muddy hills, knee-deep water, and cool temperatures during a majority of the program.
September:
Date Start End
09-19-2026 2:00 PM 4:30 PM
BIRD BANDING AT IJAMS NATURE CENTER
Ages: All I 1.5 hrs.
Join the Ijams Community Science team for a day of bird banding, getting an intimate look at migratory and resident songbirds as they're safely captured, banded, and released after the banding team collects necessary data to help better understand the health and productivity of birds in our vicinity.
Participants will have the opportunity to see these birds up close, release them after banding, and join the team on net runs to see what birds have been caught before being brought to the banding table.
September:
Date Start End
09-20-2026 6:45 AM 11:00 AM
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IJAMS WEED WARRIORS NATIVE LANDSCAPE CERTIFICATION
Ages: 18+ | Ongoing
Fight invasive species foes where you live and work as part of this new Ijams Weed Warriors program for homes and businesses!