Here in Tellico Village, we are surrounded by rolling hills, lush woodlands, and soothing lakes. We co-exist with whitetail deer, foxes, osprey, bobcats, hummingbirds, the occasional lost black bear, bald eagles, and a myriad of other animals. We are also incredibly fortunate that the Great Smoky Mountains National Park, the most biologically diverse park in our National Park system, is less than an hour's drive away. The Cherokee National Forest is outside our backdoor. And if all of that isn't enough, the Cumberland Plateau, the world's longest hardwood-forested plateau, is also within easy reach. We live in a veritable nature-lover’s paradise!

The Tellico Village Naturalists Club was established to provide a forum for members to explore and learn about nature together. By the club's own definition, a "naturalist" is anyone who values and has an interest in nature, believes that humankind has the privilege and responsibility to protect our environment, and has a desire to learn about nature and share his discoveries with others.

The primary goals of the Club are to (1) expand members’ knowledge of natural history through education and information-sharing; (2) to raise awareness of and promote participation in conservation efforts and Citizen Science; (3) to encourage members to benefit physically, mentally, and spiritually by enjoying nature; and (4) to provide fellowship opportunities for club members to spend time with like-minded friends.