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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IJAMS JUNIOR NATURALIST
Ages: Middle School | Monthly, Oct. 2025 - May 2026 |
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.
KAYAK 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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Meteor Shower Paddles
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Full Moon Paddles
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Evening Paddles
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Early Morning Paddles
BEGINNER FUNGI ID
Ages: 14+ | 1.5 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.
WILDFLOWER WALKS
Ages: 14+ | 1.5 hrs.
Marvel at the fleeting flashes of color that line the trails at Ijams during spring! Join and Ijams naturalist to bask in the beauty of spring wildflowers, witnessing their ephemeral elegance in the woodlands before they retreat until next year.
POND EXPLORATION
Ages: 6+ | 1.5 hrs.
What remarkable creatures are living underneath the surface of Ijams' ponds? Come grab a net and find out! In this hands-on program, you'll successfully catch and identify all sorts of aquatic invertebrates and amphibians while learning about their life cycles and unique adaptations that enable them to lead a life in the water.
BIG NIGHT HIKE
Ages: 12+ I 2 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.
IJAMS AFTER DARK
Ages: 6+ | 1.5 hrs.
Discover Ijams after dark during this experiential adventure! You'll meet some of Ijams' nocturnal animal ambassadors, witness the not-so-creepy critters that inhabit the dark, and take a fun-filled, guided night hike on the trails.
EARLY MORNING BIRDING: SPRING MGIRATION
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!
BEHIND-THE-SCENES TOURS WITH ANIMAL AMBASSADORS
Ages: 6+ | 1-1.5 hrs.
Behind-the-scenes animal tours provide an intimate experience with Ijams' non-releasable animals. Guests spend one hour with the animal care coordinator, meet the animals, and learn about their individual stories and care.
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The cost for a tour is $50 per person; up to four may attend a tour. Please contact Savannah Blackman at sblackman@ijams.org for more information.
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Ijams Nature Center's public children's programs are designed to instill a sense of place and connection in younger learners.
NATURE OF KNOXVILLE - AFTERSCHOOL ANIMAL PROGRAM
Ages: 7-10 | Currently on hold
Discover the nature of Knoxville through science and art! Students will meet a different Ijams animal ambassador each week, creating observations and uncovering the adaptations that make them unique. Through immersive art projects, students will better understand the world around them, bringing home tools to further their own exploration of nature.
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This program is currently on hold. Check back for more details.
NATURE NUGGETS
Ages: 2-4 | Currently on hold
Children ages 2-4 and their caregivers can join Ijams on the third Thursday of each month from 10-11 am to dipnet in ponds, hike the trails, and discover natural treasures. You'll practice exploring nature with confidence and have lots of fun!​
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This program is currently on hold. Check back for more details.