Budget
$75,000.00
Description
Volunteer Programs - FOWP's Volunteer Coordinator, Grace Claybrook, and Director of Resource Management, Paul Fowler, organize the efforts of 3000-plus volunteers annually who serve the parks with more than 10,000 hours of hands-on assistance in the areas of invasive plant removal, Harpeth River and stream debris removal, grounds maintenance/clean-up, environmental education, administrative support for WPNC staff, field trip guidance, and program assistance. FOWP provides training and necessary materials and supplies such as protective gloves, shovels, rakes, wheelbarrows, high-visibility safety vests, and trash containers. The Parks Ambassadors program and Adopt-A-Park program give further opportunities for the community to be involved in the parks that they love.
Beneficiaries
General Public
Program Areas Served
Volunteers

Budget
$25,000.00
Description
P.E.N. Pals is a summer program serving inner city middle school children through overnight camping experiences in Warner Parks. Approximately 170 low-income youngsters from a dozen Metro community centers throughout Davidson County experience nature hikes, sleeping in tents (after learning how to set them up), outdoor skills, arts and crafts, visits from partner environmental and wild-life organizations, and nature discovery - all in the beautiful setting of Warner Parks. Through the leadership and support of our staff, camp director, volunteers, and donors, P.E.N. Pals has been connecting urban youth to the natural world since 1988.
Beneficiaries
Children
At-Risk Populations
Program Areas Served
None

Budget
$30,000.00
Description
The S.W.E.A.T. (Special Work Education and Trails) is one of the longest programs supported by Friends of Warner Parks. It is a work-earn-learn program in partnership with Metro Parks that employs a hardworking team of college-aged youth each summer. In 2020, the Crew completed extensive maintenance and repairs on 16 miles of trails, built a new fence around the nature center pond, tended the Nature Center's organic garden and cared for the grounds, barn and play areas. The program equips the crew members with valuable field experience, leadership-building skills, job training and environmental education from our Naturalists.

This year a crew of five diverse young people, coordinated and accompanied by Director of Resource Management, Paul Fowler worked for nine weeks this summer, for a total of 43 total work days and 1,905 service hours. They spent 39 days on the trails and 40 morning in the organic garden. Additionally, they undertook 20 special projects throughout the park.
Beneficiaries
At-Risk Populations
Minorities
Program Areas Served
None

Budget
$60,000.00
Description
For nearly 90 years, bird research, education and conservation have been a part of Warner Parks. Since 1982 the bird banding station at Warner Parks has provided a unique opportunity for families, students, and park visitors to experience avian research and learn about our native birds. Experienced and federally permitted professional BIRD Program staff lead numerous research projects and offer over 40 bird-related public programs, engaging approximately 3,500 park visitors each year. Research projects address a broad range of bird research question including a focus on breeding birds, wintering species, fall and spring migrants, hummingbird migrations, breeding Barn Swallows and Purple Martins, and the Eastern Bluebird Nesting Box Program.
In 2020, B.I.R.D. launched the Motus research project. This international, collaborative research network uses coordinated automated radio telemetry to study landscape-scale movements of animals.
Beneficiaries
General Public
Program Areas Served
None

Budget
$90,000.00
Description
The Warner Park Nature Center (WPNC) is an environmental education and recreation facility that includes a Learning Center, a hands-on nature museum, working organic garden, a wildflower and fern garden, a teaching pond, and the trailhead for many miles of trails. The WPNC serves park visitors through programming, wayfinding and interpretation. WPNC serves children and adults through field trips and public programs, natural history hikes, nature club for kids, and special events, all designed to engage our visitors Warner Parks and the natural world.

Unique nature discovery programs are held year-round at the Warner Park Nature Center and at Metro Parks Community Centers. The People Exploring Nature (P.E.N.) Pals Program serves inner-city youth who lack direct access to traditional environmental programs.
Beneficiaries
General Public
Adults
Children and Youth (0 - 19 years)
Program Areas Served
None