Annual Conference

2026 Conference & Annual Meeting

Please note: Attendance is limited to TNPS members and their families. TNPS is not able to offer this opportunity to the public.


You are warmly invited to join us for the TNPS 2026 Conference and Annual Meeting, to be held May 15–17, 2026, at Henry Horton State Park.


Our conference planning committee has been diligently coordinating the many details that will make this gathering both meaningful and memorable. From engaging field trips to thoughtfully designed on-site activities, the weekend is being crafted to inspire, educate, and connect our diverse membership. We look forward to celebrating Tennessee’s native plants — and the community that champions them.

LOCATION

After considering several potential venues In Middle Tennessee, we selected Henry Horton State Park for its outstanding amenities and its proximity to the Duck River. Centrally located and easily accessible, the park features a spacious Conference Hall well suited to our membership size, miles of trails (including paved options to enhance accessibility), and direct access to one of Tennessee’s most biologically diverse river systems — where many of our field trips will take place. A modern visitor center and new on-site restaurant add to the convenience and appeal.


We are working closely with the park’s event coordinator and staff to provide a full weekend program that includes catered meals, ranger-led activities, and discounted lodging for members. Reservation links for both lodge accommodation and conference registration are provided below. Additionally, the TNPS Board of Directors has approved a supplemental budget to help reduce registration costs for attendees.


CHECK-IN

Conference check-in begins on Friday at 3:00 p.m. in the Conference Hall, followed by a member social with snacks. Dinner will be on your own to enjoy at the on-site restaurant or another place of your choice.

ACTIVITIES

Friday evening will feature a presentation by Dr. Shawn Krosnick of Tennessee Technological University on her research on the Pasaflora (Passionflower) genus.


Saturday morning activities include a field trip to the Columbia Glade — home to rare cedar glade species — and an on-site drawing workshop led by TNPS member Mary Priestley. In the afternoon, participants may choose between a guided hike on the Cheeks Bend Trail beside the Duck River or a ranger-led hike on the park’s Greenway Trail. Saturday evening includes a group dinner, followed by a presentation from Brittany Bajo-Walker, Tennessee Statewide Mollusk Conservation Coordinator and Aquatic Biologist with the Tennessee Wildlife Resources Agency. A brief annual membership meeting will conclude the evening’s events.


For those wishing to extend their experience, optional activities are also planned earlier on Friday and Sunday mornings. On Friday morning at 10:00 a.m., Eli Harris will lead a Wetland BioBlitz within the park, documenting the diversity of life found on site. On Sunday morning two other optional activities are planned at the same time. One is a ranger-led kayak trip on the Duck River, and if you don’t want to get in the water, a short riverside hike along the Duck River will be led by Bart Jones.


We look forward to gathering in May for a weekend of learning, exploration, and fellowship in support of Tennessee’s native plants!

REGISTRATION

  • Online: Log in to your TNPS Portal to register, $115 per person
  • Mail-in: Available for printing HERE.


HOTEL RESERVATION

  • Online: Special rate of $120 per night only available until May 1, 2026.
  • Phone-in: Please contact the front desk at the Henry Horton State Park Lodge by phone at 931-364-2222. Select option #2 and identify yourself as a TNPS conference attendee to make your reservations at the discounted rate.
Henry Horton State Park Nature Center