People across Tennessee are finding a new love for nature thanks to a recently-retired, Tennessee Park Ranger’s life-long dream to teach. Her classroom: The Great Outdoors.
Leslie Anne Allen recently launched Nature Education Society of Tennessee – or NEST, for short – as a way to teach people the basics of nature and the simple beauty that flourishes in The Volunteer State.
“I worked with the state parks system for 20 years, and while being a law enforcement officer paid my bills, it never fulfilled my true passion,” Allen says. “I wanted to educate people about the living things we share this earth with . My favorite moments as a ranger, were when park visitors approached me with questions about a flower they’d seen or a bird they heard singing.”
Allen can trace her own love for flowers and birds back to her paternal grandmother, with whom she spent every available moment as a child. “My grandmother knew her stuff. We’d go on nature walks, and she was so observant of everything around her – the colors and sounds,” Allen remembers fondly. “She was so in tune with nature, and such a gentle spirit. She could name every wildflower and recognize bird species by song. She passed that on to me.” In fact, Allen’s love of birds inspired the name of her new business: NEST! Nature Education Society of Tennessee.
She started building NEST with her husband, Jason Allen, in 2025, after she retired from Tennessee State Parks. She holds a bachelor’s degree in Environmental Interpretation from The Ohio State University, and before moving to Middle Tennessee in 1995, worked as an interpreter for the Columbus Metro Parks system.
NEST offers a variety of educational programs and hikes for people of all ages. Each is tailored to the flora and fauna of Tennessee.
“I’m so grateful to finally get to do what I’ve wanted to my entire adult life,” Allen says with a beaming smile. NEST lets me live my true passion and gives me hope I’ll inspire others to fall in love with nature, and help protect our planet, the way my sweet grandmother inspired me.
ABOUT NEST (Nature Education Society of Tennessee): NEST is the fulfillment of Leslie Anne Allen’s life-long dream, inspired by her grandmother. She shares that inspiration with her husband, Jason, with whom she now – through NEST – teaches classes, hosts nature hikes, and interprets nature exclusive to Tennessee. NEST is quickly becoming a go-to authority for Nature knowledge and understanding. Learn more at NEST-TN.org