Meeman-Shelby Forest For Educators
Warning Alert
Road Closed Due to Erosion
Due to erosion issues, One Way Road, past the campground at Meeman-Shelby, is closed. Please don't try to access these areas for your safety.
Thank you for your patience and understanding. If you have any questions about your upcoming reservation, please call 1 (888) 867-2757.
Meeman-Shelby Forest Educator Programs
Want a fun way to get your students excited about learning? Why not learn with a Park Ranger?
Tennessee State Parks offer accessible, discovery-based educational experiences aligned with Tennessee’s academic standards. Choose a program for your class, plan your day at a park, and request an experience today.
Our Programs
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Field Trips
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School Outreach
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Self-guided/Teacher-led
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Meet a Ranger
Who are Rangers? What do they do? Find out! It takes skill, knowledge, experience, and education to be a Park Ranger. Join us today to explore a day in the life of a Tennessee State Park Ranger!
Location: Park or school
Grade Level: All grade levels
Length: 30 minutes
Capacity: 150 students
Cost: $0/student -
Animal Ambassadors
What types of animals live in the park, and what roles do these animals play in their ecosystem? Meet our live ambassador animals up close and learn why they live with us and how they help educate people about wildlife.
Meets: 4.LS2.4
Location: Park only
Grade Level: Fourth Grade
Length: 30 minutes
Capacity: 25 students
Cost: $0/student -
Neighborly Nature
Students will learn about animals that call the park home. Students will touch animal pelts and skulls and observe their unique characteristics. We will discuss how these different animals interact with one another in the wild and how their interactions help shape our ecosystem.
Meets: 2.LS1.2, 2.LS2.2
Location: Park or school
Grade Level: Second Grade
Length: 30 minutes
Capacity: 25 students
Cost: $0/student -
Woodland Trail Guided Hike
Students will hike one mile, observe very large trees that predate the park, see signs of erosion, and encounter a spring-fed stream. As we hike along the trail, we will discuss the importance of the natural resources of the park as well as what we can do to enjoy the park responsibly.
Meets: 2.LS2.2
Terrain: Uneven terrain, some areas of steep elevation change
Location: Park only
Grade Level: Second Grade
Length: 90 minutes
Capacity: 30 students
Cost: $0/student -
Poplar Tree Pontoon Boat Tour
Students will ride on the park pontoon boat and navigate around a portion of Poplar Tree Lake. We will discuss the native wildlife that call the lake and its surroundings home. During this program, the students will be required to demonstrate boater safety and remain seated with life jackets fastened. This tour covers basic ecological concepts as well as gives the students a unique look at a lake ecosystem. Classes may be divided into groups and rotate between the boat tour and nearby self-guided options.
Meets: 1.LS2.2, 1.ETS2.1, 2.LS3.1, 2.ETS2.1
Location: Park only
Grade Level: First and Second Grade
Length: 90 minutes
Capacity: 12 students
Cost: $5/student -
iScience Bioblitz
Students will learn about the importance of biodiversity and how Tennessee State Parks help protect biodiversity across the state. We will then use the iNaturalist app to explore the area around the nature center and identify as many different species as we can. This data will be uploaded to an open-source database that can be used by researchers in the state or even across the world!
Meets: 4.LS2.3, 4.LS2.4, 5.LS4.2, 6.LS2.1, 6.LS4.1 6.LS4.2, 8.LS4.4
Location: Park only
Grade Level: Fourth, Fifth, Sixth, and Eighth Grade
Length: 120 minutes
Capacity: 25 students
Cost: $0/student
How to Request a Program
Program requests use the same form whether you are requesting funding support or not. Once you have submitted the form, allow 10 days for processing. Request educational program experiences at least four to six weeks in advance of the desired time frame for the program.
To complete the form:
Funding Assistance
Field trip funding may be available to remove barriers to participation.
The Tennessee State Parks Conservancy (501-C3) assists schools in covering the costs of scheduled programs at a Tennessee State Park. Funds can cover bus transportation costs, park program fees, and park shelter rentals. Partial funds may be awarded. Awards are given after the field trip is completed.
When applying for a program, select “yes” on the application form if you are interested in receiving funding support
What’s Next?
Submitting the form begins the scheduling and funding process.
The request will be in Pending status until confirmed. Allow 10 days for processing. A park staff member will email confirmation of the program and notify you of any park-related fees.
If you requested funding, the Tennessee State Parks Conservancy Director will email the decision to award or deny funding. Funding is processed after the program as a reimbursement. Partial funds may be awarded. In this case, the school will be responsible for any costs above the amount written in the award email.
Submitting for Funding Reimbursement
To receive reimbursement, you must provide the following documentation:
- Bus invoice
- Park invoice
- Photos
- Number of students new to any Tennessee State Park
- Student and teacher feedback