Photo by Dasia Glenn
Georgia Beloved Naturalist Program
February through October, 2023
Cost: $500 (A limited number of scholarships will be awarded for this program. Please see below to apply.)
The Georgia Beloved Naturalist Program (GBN) is a 9-month program that facilitates a unique and exciting nature-based learning experience for people representing diverse ages, cultures, racial, and ethnic backgrounds. Formerly called the DeKalb Beloved Naturalist Program, the group approached Georgia Audubon about serving as fiscal sponsor and helping administer the program going forward.
Other partners include the Amphibian Foundation, Arabia Mountain Heritage Area Alliance, Awali Agricultural Center, Chattahoochee Nature Center, DeKalb County Recreation, Parks & Cultural Affairs, South Fork Conservancy, West Atlanta Watershed Alliance, and public and private universities.
The Georgia Beloved Naturalist program (GBN) is committed to nurturing deep connections between naturalists and ecological systems within Georgia while exploring issues regarding environmental justice. GBN introduces sound scientific information in a hands-on, fun, and interactive manner that increases awareness of the disproportionate environmental risks faced by diverse segments of society.
GBN engages a diverse team of educators and encourages participants of all abilities to learn strategies and resources for effective natural resources advocacy and stewardship. They also provide resources that support the dreams of those who seek lifetime opportunities as naturalists.
If program fee or membership cost is a burden, please apply for our Georgia Beloved Naturalist Scholarship.
For more information or if you have questions, please email GeorgiaNaturalists@gmail.com.
February through October, 2023
Cost: $500 (A limited number of scholarships will be awarded for this program. Please see below to apply.)
The Georgia Beloved Naturalist Program (GBN) is a 9-month program that facilitates a unique and exciting nature-based learning experience for people representing diverse ages, cultures, racial, and ethnic backgrounds. Formerly called the DeKalb Beloved Naturalist Program, the group approached Georgia Audubon about serving as fiscal sponsor and helping administer the program going forward.
Other partners include the Amphibian Foundation, Arabia Mountain Heritage Area Alliance, Awali Agricultural Center, Chattahoochee Nature Center, DeKalb County Recreation, Parks & Cultural Affairs, South Fork Conservancy, West Atlanta Watershed Alliance, and public and private universities.
The Georgia Beloved Naturalist program (GBN) is committed to nurturing deep connections between naturalists and ecological systems within Georgia while exploring issues regarding environmental justice. GBN introduces sound scientific information in a hands-on, fun, and interactive manner that increases awareness of the disproportionate environmental risks faced by diverse segments of society.
GBN engages a diverse team of educators and encourages participants of all abilities to learn strategies and resources for effective natural resources advocacy and stewardship. They also provide resources that support the dreams of those who seek lifetime opportunities as naturalists.
If program fee or membership cost is a burden, please apply for our Georgia Beloved Naturalist Scholarship.
For more information or if you have questions, please email GeorgiaNaturalists@gmail.com.
2023 Themes and Program Schedule
Field sessions are from 10:00 AM to 4:00 PM on the third Saturday of each month and Zoom sessions are from 6:30 to 7:30 PM, typically the Tuesday after the field session. Field dates are set, but Zoom session dates may vary. If a Zoom session date or time differs from what is listed on the calendar below, this will be communicated with participants well in advance.
JANUARY
FEBRUARY: GEORGIA ECOSYSTEMS
MARCH: URBAN WILDLIFE
APRIL: AMPHIBIANS
MAY: URBAN AGRICULTURE
JUNE: INDIGENOUS BOTANY
JULY: WATER QUALITY
AUGUST: TREES AND ENTOMOLOGY
SEPTEMBER: GEOLOGY AND LICHENS
OCTOBER: PADDLING THE SOUTH RIVER
Field sessions are from 10:00 AM to 4:00 PM on the third Saturday of each month and Zoom sessions are from 6:30 to 7:30 PM, typically the Tuesday after the field session. Field dates are set, but Zoom session dates may vary. If a Zoom session date or time differs from what is listed on the calendar below, this will be communicated with participants well in advance.
JANUARY
- Friday, January 13: Participant and scholarship applications open
FEBRUARY: GEORGIA ECOSYSTEMS
- Wednesday, February 1: Participant and scholarship applications close at 11:59 PM
- Tuesday, February 7: Welcome email sent to accepted participants
- Saturday, February 18: Field session with Leslie Edwards at Arabia Mountain
- Tuesday, February 21: Zoom session TBD
MARCH: URBAN WILDLIFE
- Saturday, March 18: Field session with Sheridan Alford at Clyde Shephard Nature Preserve
- Tuesday, March 21: Zoom session with Jennette Gayer
APRIL: AMPHIBIANS
- Saturday, April 15: Field session with Mark Mandica at Arabia Mountain
- Tuesday, April 18: Zoom Session with Gabe Andrle (Nature with Gabe) 6:30 to 7:30 PM
MAY: URBAN AGRICULTURE
- Saturday, May 20: Field session with Eugene Cook at Eugene Cook @ Awali Agro-Ecology Center
- Tuesday, May 23: Zoom session with speaker TBD (tentative date)
JUNE: INDIGENOUS BOTANY
- Saturday, June 17: Field session with Ellen Honeycutt at Mason Mill Park
- Tuesday, June 20: Zoom session with speaker TBD (tentative date)
JULY: WATER QUALITY
- Saturday, July 15: Field session with Chris Kodani at Mason Mill Park
- Tuesday, July 18: Zoom session with speaker TBD (tentative date)
AUGUST: TREES AND ENTOMOLOGY
- Saturday, Aug 19: Field session with Debjani Sihi at Fernbank
- Tuesday, Aug 22: Zoom session with speaker TBD (tentative date)
SEPTEMBER: GEOLOGY AND LICHENS
- Saturday, September 16: Field session with Malcolm Hodges (location TBD)
- Tuesday, September 19: Zoom session with speaker TBD (tentative date)
OCTOBER: PADDLING THE SOUTH RIVER
- Tuesday, October 17: Zoom session with Hermina Glass-Hill (tentative date)
- Saturday, October 21: Field session with Jackie Echols at South River
