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.
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From caving and kayaking, to bird banding and guided workshops, each season brings new experiences and natural phenomena to explore.
SPRING 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 our ecosystems. This program is best for beginner foragers and mushroom enthusiasts.
May
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5/30: 3:00 - 5:00 PM
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MOSS MEANDER
Ages: 16+ | 1.5 hrs.
Whimsy and wild, moss to many of us as children meant fairies were afoot. Moss, however, is a gateway to much more than childhood fantasy; it's an extremely important organism that holds the story of the forest within its structure. Join an Ijams naturalist to rediscover the wonders of moss, learn how to identify different species, and understand its importance within the vast ecosystem.
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May
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5/30: 12:00 - 2:30 PM
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SUMMER TREE ID
Ages: 12+ | 1.5 hrs.
Having trouble identifying local trees? With a little guidance, you won't be-leaf how easy it can be! Join an Ijams naturalist for this immersive workshop where you'll learn the basics of tree identification, species histories, and leave with a larger understanding of tree phenology.
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June
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6/21: 4:00 - 6:00 PM
August
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8/1: 9:30 - 11:30 AM
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BUTTERFLIES, BEES, & BEETLES
Ages: 14+ | 2 hrs.
What's all the buzz about? Come grab a butterfly net and find out! Join an Ijams naturalist for a fun-filled afternoon catching beetles, butterflies, bees, and so many more insects that call Ijams home! You'll learn respectful bug catching practices, un-bee-leivable species facts, and how these amazing arthropods benefit our environment.
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June
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6/6: 4:00 - 6:00 PM
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FULL MOON HIKE
Ages: 10+ | 1.5 hrs.
Get ready for a beautiful evening out on the trails under the full moon! Join Ijams naturalists for a 1.5 hour, guided walk to uncover the secrets of Ijams Nature Center after dark and learn about the beautiful night sky, all while searching for unique plants, animals, and geologic features along the way. Blacklights and headlamps will be provided!
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August
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8/29: 8:30 - 10:30 PM
PHENOMENAL FIREFLIES
Ages: 16+ | 1.5 hrs.
Experience the dazzling display of fireflies this June and explore Ijams' trails as they light up with the glow of these incredible beetles! With an Ijams naturalist, you'll learn about how and why lightning bugs use their bioluminescence to communicate, and gain a larger understanding of these phenomenal fireflies.
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June
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6/10: 9:00 - 10:30 PM
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6/11: 9:00 - 10:30 PM
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6/17: 9:00 - 10:30 PM
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6/18: 9:00 - 10:30 PM
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6/19: 9:00 - 10:30 PM
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6/20: 9:00 - 10:30 PM
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WILDERNESS BASICS: BEGINNER OUTDOOR SKILLS
Ages: 14+ | 3 hrs.
Outside can be a scary place! With unknown critters, bears, winter storms, and mountains to face, it can be hard to jump right in to outdoor adventures. In this introductory course, you will learn how to prioritize your needs in a survival scenario, build a shelter, build and maintain a fire, acquire and store food, use a compass, and other necessary skills to survive in the wild!
June
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6/27: 3:00 - 6:00 PM
July
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7/25: 3:00 - 6:00 PM
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FOLKS IN NATURE HIKING CLUB
Ages: 18+ | 2026 Registration Now Open
The Folks in Nature Hiking Club is a welcoming and inclusive space where everyone is empowered to show up as their authentic, unfiltered selves while exploring the joy that nature has to offer. We welcome those who have been historically excluded or discouraged from finding community in and with natural spaces, as well as their friends, to gather together on monthly hikes throughout Knoxville’s Urban Wilderness.​
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.
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May
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5/10: Early Morning Paddle 8:30 - 10:30 AM
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5/15: Evening Paddle 7:00 - 9:00 PM
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5/17: Sunrise Paddle 7:30 - 9:30 AM
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5/22: Evening Paddle 7:00 - 9:00 PM
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5/23: Evening Paddle 7:00 - 9:00 PM
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5/29: Evening Paddle 7:30 - 9:30 PM
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5/31: Early Morning Paddle 8:30 - 10:30 AM
June
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6/6: Evening Paddle 7:30 - 9:30 PM
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6/12: Evening Paddle 7:30 - 9:30 PM
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6/26: Evening Paddle 7:30 - 9:30 PM
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6/27: Evening Paddle 7:30 - 9:30 PM
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6/28: Full Moon Paddle 8:00 - 10:00 PM
July
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7/3: Evening Paddle 7:30 - 9:30 PM
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7/10: Evening Paddle 7:30 - 9:30 PM
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7/11: Sunrise Paddle 6:30 - 8:30 AM
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7/17: Evening Paddle 7:30 - 9:30 PM
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7/24: Evening Paddle 7:30 - 9:30 PM
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7/25: Evening Paddle 7:30 - 9:30 PM
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7/29: Full Moon Paddle 8:30 - 10:30 PM
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7/31: Evening Paddle 7:30 - 9:30 PM
August
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8/1: Evening Paddle 7:30 - 9:30 PM
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8/7: Evening Paddle 7:30 - 9:30 PM
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8/28: Full Moon Paddle 8:30 - 10:30 PM
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8/29: Full Moon Paddle 8:30 - 10:30 PM
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.
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May
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5/30: 5:30 - 8:00 PM
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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.
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May
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5/3: 8:30 - 10:00 AM
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5/24: 8:30 - 10:00 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!
TENNESSEE NATURALIST PROGRAM
Ages: 18+ | 2x a month, March - July
Ijams is proud to offer a chapter of the Tennessee Naturalist Program (TNP) to East Tennessee! Over 10, 4-hour courses taught by naturalist, professors, and local experts, participants learn about the plants and animals that live in this region from local experts to become better naturalists and stewards for the environment.
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2026 Registration opens on January 11, 9AM EST.
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Future participants can learn more and register for the Ijams chapter through the Tennessee Naturalist Program website. This program typically fills on the first day of registration. Filling out an interest form does not guarantee a spot in the program.
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​Cost: The 2026 TNP fee is $400
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IJAMS JUNIOR NATURALIST
Grades: 5-8 | 6 sessions, 3 hrs each
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.​
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*Fall Registration Opens in June 2026
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Young Birders Club
Ages: 11-14 | 8 sessions
The East Tennessee Young Birders Club was created in partnership with Seven Islands State Birding Park and Ijams Nature Center. This club is designed for children ages 11-14 and their families to enjoy the outdoors with a focus on birding. Through typical bird walks, bird banding sessions, art workshops,. and more, the East TN Young Birders Club is designed to have something for every bird lover out there! Children will come away with new naturalist skills, a deeper understanding of birds and the ecosystem, and look at the birding world through new artistic lenses.