Residents hoping to get close to the natural world around them will soon have a club of like-minded individuals.

The Tellico Village Naturalist Club will hold an organizational meeting at 6:30 p.m. Feb. 5 in room A at Chota Recreation Center.

“I think we can teach each other a lot,” Consuelo Heath, club founder and president, said. “Everybody knows something that they can impart. It’s a hobby interest that when you share with other people you can kind of expand your knowledge and have fun while you’re doing it.”


After the initial meeting in February, the club plans to hold monthly program meetings on the first Monday of each month at Chota where members will share what they know about various nature-related topics.

Members will then take at least one monthly outing to experience what they’ve learned about nature up close and get “hands on” what they’ve learned.

“If we’re focusing on freshwater animals we may go over to East Lakeshore Trail and look for signs of animal activity,” Heath said.

Lynda Parker is helping get the club off the ground and serving as the temporary treasurer until elections for the board positions of secretary and treasurer can be held.

“Consuelo came to me and said she had a great idea for a club,” Parker said. “... I thought it sounds like a lot of fun, like something people in Tellico Village would be into.”

The duo has gone through the challenge of setting up the club, building a charter and getting a start date. Now they’re hoping members will turn out for the first gathering in February.

“We talked about if five people show up we’ll be thrilled,” Parker said. “I think once people start coming to it and spreading the word to their friends our membership will probably increase. We’ve already got quite a bit on interest.”

Heath is hoping the club can fill a void in the Village for those who want to go into nature but aren’t avid hikers.

“I think it will fill a niche in terms of tying together — we have several hiking clubs for example,” Heath said. “… They definitely enjoy being outdoors but they’re focused on the hike. They go at a rate where they want to get the hike done. We’ll be out on the hiking trails as well but we’ll be puttering along and really enjoying what’s around.”

Heath has reached out to some of the Village hiking clubs about occasionally tying some of their activities together, which she believes can be a positive.

Both Heath and Parker think many residents either have a love of nature already or are likely to develop one living in the lakeside community.

“I’ve been interested in nature my whole life,” Parker said. “When we moved out here to the Village I’m always blown away to see deer and turkey and so much. It being right here in our backyard is so cool.”

Having a specific knowledge of nature isn’t a requirement for being part of the club, with Heath describing herself as an “amateur naturalist.”

“All they have to be really is to be interested,” she said.

Membership fee for the club is $5 to cover administrative costs. After the initial meeting, anyone interested in joining is welcome to stop by a meeting to see if it is right for them.

“We won’t want them to do it all the time and take advantage, but they’re more than welcome to come out and attend a meeting and learn more about us,” Heath said.

For more information, visit www.sites.google.com/view/tvnaturalists-public.