KNOXVILLE, Tenn. (UT INSTITUTE OF AGRICULTURE) — Maintaining natural resources is critical to protecting the environment, and for some students, it could also become a rewarding career path. The University of Tennessee’s Herbert College of Agriculture introduced a new area of study called Outdoor Recreation and Park Management.
Charles Denney with the UT Institute of Agriculture recently visited a class at Ijams Nature Center in Knoxville, where students in the School of Natural Resources traded traditional classrooms for hands-on outdoor learning.
Students develop challenging skills and deepen their appreciation for the outdoors. They also learn leadership and how natural areas are managed through stewardship.
Anna Hunnius says opportunities like this are part of what drew her to the Herbert College: “That’s kind of why I went into Herbert in the first place. I knew there were going to be experiences like this, where our classroom is going to look a little different. It’s not going to be desks and a chair, but rather a rock wall that we get to climb.”
The new program prepares students for careers ranging from park ranger and conservation officer to naturalist and outdoor business owner.
Graduating senior Cody Baumgardner hopes to work for the National Parks Service someday and says climbing challenges students mentally as much as it does physically.
“Climbing itself can be challenging at first, especially physically,” Baumgardner says. “Mentally is where it’s most challenging because you’ve got to mentally get up the rock.”
Matt Hudson, from UTIA’s School of Natural Resources and a former park ranger who teaches the course, says the curriculum appeals to students passionate about conserving natural areas and guiding others to enjoy them responsibly. He also highlights how the training focuses on making outdoor recreation more accessible, including teaching students how to assist people with disabilities who may want to try activities like rock climbing.
“Somebody who might be interested in rock climbing who has a limb difference or maybe is in a wheelchair, we want to be able to extend those opportunities as widely as possible,” Hudson explains.
As part of their education, many students who participate in UT’s School of Natural Resources training program are also invited to intern with Tennessee State Parks.
