Ijams Junior Naturalist
Looking for a middle school program that delves deep into nature? Ijams Junior Naturalist is for you!
Ijams Junior Naturalist
The Ijams Junior Naturalist Program brings together experiential nature education and scientific environmental concepts to create an immersive opportunity for middle 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.
Take a look below to see the entire program schedule!
Who can sign up for Ijams Junior Naturalist?
Ijams Junior Naturalist is designed for Middle School (Grades 5-8) students!
TUITION AND POLICIES
Tuition for Ijams Junior Naturalist is $200 per student. This encompasses 6 classes, each spanning 3-hours of fun-filled experiential learning. An installment plan is available for tuition costs.
Price adjustments or refunds are not available for missed sessions due to scheduling conflicts or illness of participants. If Ijams cancels a session for any reason, that session will be rescheduled for a later date and refunded for those that cannot make that new date.
Tuition is non-transferable.
PROGRAM TIMES
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Ijams Junior Naturalist is a program run on Saturdays twice a month from September to December. Most sessions are 3-hours long.
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This program is designed to include a total of 6 sessions, building on concepts throughout the school year. Participants cannot sign up for individual sessions.
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Each session is detailed below, along with the session date and time.
SESSION TIME AND INFORMATION
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Canoeing and Critters
September 27, 2025 I 9:00 AM - 12:00 PM
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The Junior Naturalist Programs starts off with a splash this year as students have the opportunity to practice naturalizing at two Ijams locations: Mead's Quarry and Toll Creek. Participants will canoe through the beautiful Quarry landscape, practicing making observations about the natural world around them. They will then get their feet wet on a stomp through Toll Creek dipnetting for cool critters such as salamanders, fish, macroinvertebrates, and more! By the end of this class, students will have learned the connection between aquatic critters and the health of the ecosystem.
Plants & Fungi
October 4, 2025 I 9:00 AM - 12:00 PM
Identifying plants and fungi out on the trail doesn’t leave mush-room for guessing! The relationship between fungi and plants is closely intertwined, providing a foundation for all life to thrive on Earth. Students will make their own nature journal using plant components, press and dissect flowers, and hunt for secret mushroom colonies! They’ll come away with newfound knowledge to identify various plant families and fungi that call East Tennessee home as well as the medicinal and cultural significance of various species.
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The Secret to Survival
October 18 I 9:00 AM - 12:00 PM
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It's a jungle out there! Exploring our beautiful environment can seem intimidating when you don't know the rules of the road. In this session, participants will learn a variety of practical outdoor skills needed to survive in the wilderness of East Tennessee. Between shelter making, fire building, navigation, and so much "s'more", the Junior Naturalists will be well-equipped to brave the great outdoors with confidence after this course.
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Cave Adventures
November 1, 2024 I 9:00 AM - 12:00 PM
Ready to get muddy? Students will explore the twists and turns of one of the Ijams cave systems, spotting various geological formations, salamander species, and perhaps one nibbling crawfish! On the journey, junior naturalists will rock out (pun intended) to lessons all about the landscape of East Tennessee, focusing on rock formations, identifying rock types, and how the landscape formed to create the Tennessee River Valley.
Birds and Banding
November 15, 2025 I 8:00 - 11:00 AM
Calling all bird brains, it’s your time to fly! November is a great time to get out of the nest and learn to identify resident bird species by sight and sound. Participants will be given binoculars to use as we explore varying habitat types and understand what birds need to thrive in their environment. We’ll explore the process of bird banding, nesting habits, and dive deep into the lives of our feathered friends. Students will also meet Auggie, Ijams Nature Center’s American Kestrel!
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Into the Dark
December 13, 2024 I 6:00 - 9:00 PM
Did somebody say meteor shower? Set during the Geminids Meteor Shower, this class will cover all things night sky. Students will identify various constellations and learn the myths and legends behind them. They’ll head on an owl prowl to find different species in the area (and meet one of the Ijams’ Eastern screech owls!) to understand their amazing nocturnal adaptations. Armed with blacklights, we’ll find fluorescent fungi and other organisms otherwise unseen to the naked eye. ​
Please email publicprograms@ijams.org with any questions about this program.