We are a homeschool family, and together, my husband and I teach our two boys. Homeschooling is very much it’s own sort of journey so I really wanted to include our learning adventures here, as well. There is a learning curve! It took me some time to learn my teaching style and my boy’s learning styles. While I take an eclectic approach, we focus largely, on learning by doing.  Ijams Nature Center in Knoxville, Tennessee, never disappoints.

Ijams spans over 300 acres of lush foliage and water ways. Even though we have visited on multiple occasions, we’ve yet to turn every stone or tread every path. There is a visitor center with a small area of some of the smaller native creatures on view. On one occasion, a local gathering assembled to play Bluegrass melodies in one of the meeting rooms. My husband and I relaxed and sipped the coffee we bought from the shop that showcases local coffee brewers. We watched as our boys marveled at all that fell upon their ears and eyes. That was such a heavenly moment, I could go back right now. And that is just it, we’ve never regretted a moment spent there. Easy trail or challenging trail days. Monkeying around on the nature playscape or poking around at the pond. It’s all fun and it’s all learning, just as it should be for a child.

Mead’s Quarry, is a summer time delight at Ijams. Once the weather warms, people hop in to enjoy the cool water and a backdrop that belongs on a postcard. While we have not had the pleasure, Ijams also offers seasonal educational opportunities for school aged children and a myriad of other seasonal events. Make sure to pack your sunhats and sunscreen.

And the best kicker of all, my boys sleep like angels after all this body and brain activity. What Mom doesn’t love that?!  Read what others have to say about Ijams here, https://rusticwisdom.com/tripadvisorijams.