TWRA to Be Represented at 5th Annual Nature Fest in Cookeville

NASHVILLE --- The Tennessee Wildlife Resources Agency (TWRA) will be participating in the city of Cookeville and Putnam County 5th Annual Nature Fest to be held Thursday, April 16 through Sunday, April 19.

 

Nature Fest is a four-day event that celebrates the natural world and is designed to educate the citizens of the Upper Cumberland region and beyond about the plentiful opportunities to experience and enjoy nature in the region.

 

Among the locations for the free event are Pennebaker Hall on the Tennessee Tech University campus, Ensor Sink Natural Area and Cane Creek Park in Cookeville. Hikes, lectures, workshops, presentations and activities focused on land, water, air, plants and animals will be led by knowledgeable people willing to share their expertise.

 

On Thursday and Friday evenings, sessions will be held beginning at 6:30 p.m. and end at 8:30 p.m. TWRA Region III biologist, Mark Thurman, will be a presenter at one of Friday evening’s 6:30 sessions and speak about salamanders in the Upper Cumberland Area. Thurman’s presentation will be in Pennebaker Hall Room 318.  He surveys and monitors wildlife populations, and he has spent many hours in the field surveying salamanders, frogs, and reptiles.

 

On Saturday and Sunday, TWRA will present an educational exhibit that will be present at the Cane Creek Park Shelter 1 parking lot. The exhibit will be available beginning at 10 a.m. on Saturday and from 1:30-3:30 p.m. on Sunday.

 

Nature Fest has grown larger and larger in each of its first four years of existence, and this year will include new speakers, topics and activities. Special children's activities will also be offered including hands-on crafts that relate to nature.

 

Nature Fest 2009 is presented by Cookeville Department of Leisure Services, Tennessee Tech, Cookeville-Putnam County Chamber of Commerce and the Nature Fest planning committee. For more information, call Cookeville Leisure Services at (931) 520-4386.