Friends of South Cumberland State Parks, Inc.

08/21/2026

Calling all educators! Interested in becoming a Tennessee Naturalist?

Registration is now open for the upcoming Tennessee Naturalist Program at South Cumberland State Park, and full scholarships are available for educators!

The Tennessee Naturalist Program is an opportunity to deepen your knowledge of Tennessee’s natural history, ecology and conservation while learning alongside local experts and fellow nature enthusiasts.

Space is filling quickly, so educators interested in a scholarship are encouraged to inquire as soon as possible.

Learn more about the program and registration: https://tnnaturalist.org/register/

Interested in an educator scholarship? Contact Ned Murray ([email protected]) for details.

08/08/2026

REGISTRATION IS NOW OPEN for the 2026 TNP core course at the Friends of South Cumberland State Parks in Monteagle, TN. Classes will be held from September 12, 2026 through May 15, 2027. Visit tnnaturalist.org/register to sign up and view the full course schedule online.

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What is the Tennessee Naturalist Program (TNP)?
The Tennessee Naturalist Program (TNP) is a 501c3 education course designed to introduce the natural history of Tennessee to interested adults. Our mission is to inspire the desire to learn and share Tennessee’s nature.

To become a Certified Tennessee Naturalist, students must complete 10 naturalist core course classes (40 hours) and 40 hours of approved volunteer work. Each class in the course features both classroom lecture and outdoor field components. Class topics include naturalist skills, geology and ecology, aquatic environments, nocturnal environment, reptiles and amphibians, birds, mammals, invertebrates, forests, and plants.

More classes will be held this fall. You can visit tnnaturalist.org/chapters to see a full list of chapters and their typical schedule. Please reach out to [email protected] with questions.

Friends of South Cumberland State Parks, Inc.

08/05/2026

Three wonderful FSC Board Members - Deb Tucker, Mary Priestley, and Iva Michelle Russell - chatting about the Every Child in the Parks initiative, which serves elementary schools in Grundy, Monteagle, and Sewanee.

07/20/2026

What a night! Thank you to everyone who came out for Something to Crow About! From the great conversations and delicious food to live music from Upper Level who had everyone up and dancing, the whole evening was a blast and all for a great cause supporting our parks.

And a huge thank you to our volunteers and sponsors, whose time and support made this event possible, and to all the attendees who showed up and made it such a fun night. We're so grateful for this community.

07/10/2026

We are one week out for our first ever Something to Crow About celebration and we have good news! 🎉

Thanks to the generosity of our sponsors, early bird pricing on Something to Crow About has been extended. More time to save, more reason to celebrate.

Friday, July 17 | Cravens Hall, University of the South

Food, drinks, live music by Upper Level, and a guided hike on Saturday the 18th included with every ticket. Childcare is available ages 5+ ($25/child)!

Use code EARLYBIRD at checkout.

https://friendsofscsra.app.neoncrm.com/nx/portal/neonevents/events?path=%2Fportal%2Fevents%2F46376%3Fsource%3Dsocial

07/03/2026

It's time to celebrate Head of the Crow State Park!

Join us for Something to Crow About on Friday, July 17
Cravens Hall | University of the South

An evening of food, drinks, live music (Upper Level!), and good people who love great parks. Browse maps and displays, hear what's coming next, and hit the dance floor.

Ticket includes a guided hike or adventure on Saturday, July 18.

Kids welcome | Childcare available ages 5+ ($25/child)

Early bird pricing ends July 7 — code EARLYBIRD

https://friendsofscsra.app.neoncrm.com/nx/portal/neonevents/events?path=%2Fportal%2Fevents%2F46376%3Fsource%3Dsocial

06/25/2026

Tickets are on sale NOW for Something to Crow About and you won't want to miss this one!

Friday, July 17 | Cravens
Hosted by Friends of the Parks

Join us for a night of heavy hors d'oeuvres, beer, wine, and live music by Upper Level plus everything you want to know about one of our newest state parks.

Your ticket includes:
🍷 Food, beer & wine
🎶 Live music + dancing under the stars (8–10pm)
🌲 A guided hike or adventure in the park on Saturday
🗺️ Insider info on the new park and future plans

Kids are welcome! Child care for ages 5+ available at checkout through Cumberland Forest School ($25/child).

EARLY BIRD DEAL: Use code EARLYBIRD at checkout by July 7 for discounted pricing. Don't wait!

Grab your tickets here:
https://friendsofscsra.app.neoncrm.com/nx/portal/neonevents/events?path=%2Fportal%2Fevents%2F46376%3Fsource%3Dsocial

04/20/2026

🥾 Join Ranger Jamie on National Trails Day for an approximate 4-mile guided hike to Rattlesnake Point Overlook via the Savage Day Loop Trail. We will meet at the Savage Gulf East Trailhead (3157 SR 399, Palmer, TN) at 1:30 p.m. to begin the hike. This hike will be approximately 4 miles in total and is considered moderate, however the trail can be strenuous in certain areas- please be prepared for a challenging hike.

Please make sure you have sturdy hiking shoes, plenty of water and snacks, and are capable of completing the entire hike. We will take short breaks as needed but will also be walking for extended periods of time during the hike.

We will observe a beautiful overlook and we will chat about the park and/or what we see along the way. Accessory items to help you enjoy the hike such as cameras and binoculars are encouraged but not required.

🌿 To register, please visit our official park events page at:
https://tnstateparks.com/parks/events/savage-gulf/ #/?park=savage-gulf

04/17/2026

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04/09/2026