Wildlife Research and Education

the exploration of nature and environmental science

Experiencing the Great Outdoors Through Education, Research, and Recreation

In partnership with Warner Park Nature Center, Metro Parks, and others, Friends of Warner Parks provides funding for environmental education programs for students of all ages as well as Annual Programs that have a profound impact on the lives of thousands in Middle Tennessee each year, each with something unique to offer.

Summer Naturalist Camps
Explore the Nature Center

Three FOWP-Funded Programs at WPNC

Thanks to the committment and generosity of Warner Parks members, donors, and corporate partners, we offer three key programs that benefit our Parks and nuture relationships within our Nashville community.

SWEAT—Special Work Education and Trails

Team members trade SWEAT for environmental education in this work/learn/earn summer and winter program. Attendees gain valuable experience in organic gardening, trail maintenance, and landscaping, as well as learn about native plants and animals, the impact of invasive species, and nature management. 

Bluebird sitting on a bird box

BIRD—Bird Information, Data, and Research

Our team of BIRD Researchers upholds decades of ornithological research in addition to providing essential public education through bird banding programs, bird hikes, and citizen science projects.

Nature Discovery Program

This unique program gets youth from Metro Parks Community Centers outside and excited about the natural world, helps them develop a level of comfort being in the outdoors, promotes a connection to and appreciation of nature, and fosters a feeling of responsibility in caring for and protecting the environment.

Did You Know?

Some Butterflies Can Hibernate for the Winter

Butterfly species such as the Question Mark, Comma, and Mourning Cloak actually hibernate. Their bodies produce a type of antifreeze called Glycerol, and they enter a state of suspended animation called ‘diapause’ to survive the winter.

Did You Know?

The Nature Center Is Amazing!

On any given day, you’ll find home school cohorts convening on the patio, bird watchers aplenty, elated mud-clad children, and friends of all ages relaxing in the joys and wonders of nature, oft receiving an impromptu lesson from Nature Center Naturalists who generously share their wisdom—whether or not it blows them off course of their task at hand!

Frog Fact

Chorus Frogs and Spring Peepers Sing in the Coldest Months of the Year

In January and February, when the weather is right (42 degrees or warmer), volunteers venture out into the night to listen for the love songs of frogs. Males gather at ponds, wetlands, and ephemeral puddles to increase their chances of finding a female. They then begin to sing, with hopes that a female will find their song most attractive and choose them to mate.

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