Last weekend, our Lead Naturalists took their skills to the next level at the Great Smoky Mountain Institute at Tremont from October 18th-20th, 2024.  Ailani Ramirez-Pineda, Kayla Reeves, and Emily Jackson earned their certification in Naturalist Skills, showcasing their dedication and passion for conservation. They’re eager to bring their newly honed expertise into our educational programs here at Reflection Riding, enriching the experiences we offer.

Our Lead Naturalists—Ailani Ramirez-Pineda, Kayla Reeves, and Emily Jackson—have just received certifications in Naturalist Skills through the Southern Appalachian Naturalist Certification Program. This certification delves into eco-knowledge and engaging the public with environmental education. Each of them are very excited to share their newfound knowledge and skills here at Reflection Riding!

They were inspired with all kinds of activities, from awareness mapping to nature art. They have returned with many new ideas to incorporate into educational programs on our grounds. Kayla Reeves shares a glimpse of their experience: “The Naturalist Skills Workshop at the Great Smoky Mountains Institute at Tremont was an incredible experience for me to expand my knowledge as a naturalist. In the workshop we learned how to be better observers of the natural world. We learned how to slow down, be present, and be curious about the world around us. We learned new nature journaling techniques, how to ask meaningful questions, and how to best document our outdoor experiences. I am looking forward to taking all the things I learned from this workshop and utilizing them in our programs here at Reflection Riding.”

Ailani Ramirez-Pineda explains her favorite part of the trip: “I loved how they encouraged nature journaling throughout the entire experience. Nature Journaling helped me dive deeper into honing my naturalist skills by forcing me to slow down and to make more observations. This would lead me to more questions and more investigations. Logan, our instructor, included a nature poetry lesson on the last day. I think that lesson was the best way to end our experience. It brought emphasis to the reason for so many people’s interest in conservation, education, and nature. Those who are curious about nature are curious because they want to appreciate nature. This is something that I try to teach all the children I work with and that come to Reflection Riding. That curiosity and appreciation for nature becomes a connection and then those children can become future stewards of nature.”

The Tremont Institute is truly for everyone. They offer a variety of nature-based workshops and certifications for all walks of life. Emily Jackson notes the importance of diversity in environmental education: “Aside from all the valuable skills we learned, one of the best parts of the trip was meeting all the others attending. People of all different backgrounds were able to get something out of the program thanks to the straightforward techniques we used. There were educators, engineers, and managers, and we were able to provide insight to each other in different areas to make the program even more educational.”

If you’d be interested in expanding your own eco-knowledge, visit the Great Smoky Mountains Institute at Tremont. You can visit their website to learn more. We look forward to exploring these newfound strategies of environmental education here on our own campus.