FRIENDS’ most-important education endeavor is environmental education.
The group provided funding for the construction and expansion of the Warner Parks Nature Center campus, which gives more than 10,000 school children a year a connection to nature. The Nature Center’s specially designed program meshes with the Nashville public schools' core science curriculum.
The Center’s professional naturalists also provide teacher training and leadership for all of Metro Nashville's nature centers. Area high schools and universities use the Warner Parks Field Station for biology research.
In addition to capital support, FRIENDS provides salary supplements and pays for educational materials for the Nature Center.
More than 300 children from Metro’s inner-city community centers participate in the PENPal program.
Every summer, these 9- to 11-year-olds enjoy campouts where they learn how to set up a tent, cook dinner over the campfire, catch crawdads in the creek, and have a hayride. For many, it’s their first encounter with nature.
FRIENDS has sponsored PENPals since 1988. The program is made possible by the generous support of the Joyce Foundation and Suntrust Bank.
Young adults trade sweat equity for environmental education in this summer program.
SWEAT members make improvements to the Warner Parks’ hiking trails, organic gardens, landscaping and facilities.
In return, they gain valuable knowledge and experience in organic gardening methods, trail maintenance techniques, use of landscaping tools, natural history of native plants and animals, impact of invasive species, and natural area management.