Nashville-based public charter school, the Tennessee Nature Academy, announced it has secured a permanent 23-acre campus site, thanks to a $2 million land donation from the McGowan family.¶
The new campus will be in the Carothers Farm neighborhood near Cane Ridge Park and allow the school to expand enrollment and deepen its focus on outdoor-based education. The site includes a seasonal wetland, forested land, a stream, and space for agricultural use, all of which will be incorporated into the school’s curriculum.¶
The school, which serves the Antioch-Cane Ridge community, operates on a nature-based model that emphasizes hands-on, experiential learning in natural settings.¶
“This donation is a game changer for our community,” said Jay Renfro, founding and executive director of Tennessee Nature Academy. “It accelerates the timeline for building a nature-based campus that reflects the identity and values of the families we serve.”¶
Tennessee Nature Academy opened in Fall 2023 in Lenox Village following approval by the Tennessee Public Charter School Commission. It currently serves fifth and sixth-grade students. School leaders plan to expand gradually to serve students in grades 5 through 12.¶
The academy emphasizes that its model, often only available in private or homeschool environments, is offered tuition-free.¶
“Typically, a nature-based education model is only available in private or homeschool settings,” Renfro said. “Our goal is to offer this to families of all backgrounds, tuition-free, so that more students can benefit from outdoor learning that supports cognitive, physical and emotional development.”¶
The land donation will fast-track the school’s ability to build a permanent campus aligned with its mission and pedagogy. The future site is expected to enhance both the academic experience and community engagement.¶
A groundbreaking ceremony is scheduled for July 30, 2025, with a public celebration to follow at Carothers Farm’s event barn.¶
