Ijams Nature Center, Knoxville, TN - Center

When you want to take a look at many wonderful things in the world of nature or about protecting the environment, the Ijams Nature Center in Knoxville, TN, is just what you are looking for. This Center is designed to provide many memorable experiences for people of all ages and help them to have fun while doing so.

The Ijams Nature Center is a wildlife sanctuary that is on 175 acres. It offers many programs, activities, and experiences for the community that helps to inform people about their environmental stewardship. It uses education and recreational activities to do so.

The Center provides many different environments or types of natural habitats, including forests, wetlands, caves, various creeks and streams, and meadows. In addition, a quarry has been restored and now features a 25-acre lake with rocky bluffs and some protected caves.

There are plenty of opportunities for walking through the Ijam's park and seeing many of the natural sights and beauty, along with a number of living creatures. To start with, there is a long boardwalk right along the edge of the Tennessee River. Altogether, there are more than five miles of paths through the Park, some paved and some are natural. As you walk, you have opportunity to see many of the different floras, and various forms of wildlife, too, such as herons, turtles, bullfrogs, and many more.

The Park offers a number of classes and exhibits in their main building - the nature center. Several different exhibits are in the building which can be seen for free. This includes the Lost Species Exhibit, the Snapping Turtle Exhibit, the Forest Exhibit, and a couple of exhibits showing how homes can use more earth-friendly materials.

There is also a raptor enclosure which has a red-tailed hawk and a turkey vulture in it. The exhibit also serves as a classroom to show how their habitat is declining.

The Center also offers many different programs at different times to introduce children to the many wonders of nature. Their program, called First Child in the Woods, starts with two and three year olds, and works up to programs for the Junior Naturalists. Each age level has activities and goals that are age appropriate. Junior Naturalists, for instance, learn to develop tracking skills, identification of wildlife, hiking safety, and wild animal care.

Special activities provide a focus on a particular creature or type of creature. These sessions can be held during the day, or at night. Some of them that you and the young ones might greatly enjoy include, Owl Prowls, Night Lights, Nature's Yuckiest, Bug Nights, and more. A Summer Camp program is also held each summer in order to help kids have a lot of fun and learn more about nature, animals, plants, and more.

Many tips are available on their Website, too, about how to Go Green. This includes tips for businesses, as well as how to make your yard more green on purpose.

Throughout the year, the Center holds various sales and other functions in order to raise money for their purpose of increasing awareness of conservation and stewardship of nature. Activities such as operas, art sales, plant sales, and more, are held in the Center.

The Ijams Nature Center in Knoxville, TN, has membership levels and fees that will enable members to enjoy special privileges. They also have special facilities for weddings, and they will rent out their Education building for businesses and groups to hold their special meetings.