Family and
Children's Programs
Family fun awaits at Ijams! From regularly scheduled programs to seasonal offerings, there's something for all ages. Visit the Calendar of Events to see what's happening each week!
Family programs at Ijams Nature Center are designed for 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.
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BIRD BANDING AT IJAMS NATURE CENTER
Ages: All I 1.5 hrs.
It's salamander season! Enjoy an evening exploring the Ijams trails and searching for the salamanders, frogs, and other amphibians that are waking up from their sleepy winter state as the weather warms.
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September
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9/21, 9/28: 8:30 - 10:00 AM
October
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10/12, 10/26: 8:30 - 10:00 AM
November
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11/09: 8:30 - 10:00 AM
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11/23: 9:00 - 10:30 AM
KAYAKING 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, including:
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Evening Paddles
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Nighttime Paddles​
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Full Moon Paddles
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Early Morning Paddles
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BIKE WITH A NATURALIST
Ages: 16+ | 2 hrs.
Experience the natural wonders of Knoxville's Will Skelton Greenway by biking through Ijams Nature Center, Island Home Park, and Forks of the River WMA. Through various stopping points, you'll learn the history of Island Home, the Tennessee River, and observe various forms of flora and fauna that call the Greenway home!
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October
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10/03: 6:00 - 8:00 PM
November
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11/02: 4:00 - 6:00 PM
FALL FUNGI ID
Ages: 14+ | 2 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 the earth's ecosystems.
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September
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9/20: 4:00 - 6:00 PM
October
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10/04: 2:00 - 4:00 PM
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10/18: 10:00 AM - 12:00 PM
November
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11/15: 1:00 - 3:00 PM
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11/22: 3:30 - 5:30 PM
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11/30: 12:00 - 2:00 PM
FALL WILDFLOWER WALK
Ages: 14+ | 1.5 hrs.
Marvel at the fleeting flashes of color that line the trails at Ijams during fall! Join and Ijams naturalist to bask in the beauty of fall wildflowers, witnessing their ephemeral elegance in the woodlands before they retreat until next year.
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September
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9/18: 6:30 - 8:00 PM
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9/27: 2:00 - 3:30 PM
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BATS & MOTHS: IJAMS AFTER DARK
Ages: 6+ | 1.5 hrs.
Discover Ijams after dark during this experiential adventure! Bat and moths have been intricately linked in our culture, and especially in evolutionary history. Join an Ijams naturalist to learn how to identify various bat species as they fly overhead, and witness the moths and other critters attracted to our blacklight stations!
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September
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9/19, 9/20, 9/24: 7:30 - 9:00 PM
EARLY MORNING BIRDING: FALL MIGRATION
Ages: 14+ | 2 hrs.
Take your first (or tenth) flight out of the nest and into the world of birding! You’ll learn how to bird during an approachable, fun-filled morning hiking on the trails, identifying myriad bird species by sight and sound. This program is great for complete beginners and bird enthusiasts alike!
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September
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9/20: 8:00 - 10:00 AM
October
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10/11: 8:00 - 10:00 AM
Ijams Nature Center's public children's programs are designed to instill a sense of place and connection in younger learners.
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IJAMS JUNIOR NATURALIST
Ages: Middle School | Monthly, Oct.- Dec. 2025
The Ijams Junior Naturalist Program brings together experiential nature education and scientific environmental concepts to create an immersive opportunity for middle and high schoolers to gain a deeper understanding of the world around them. Through fun-filled 3-hour sessions, students will get to explore various disciplines in ecology while finding a sense of place and connection to East Tennessee.