Age: Grades 6-9
Discipline: Biology
Title: Botany and Blossom in Tennessee

Description: Noah (Botany) and Kayla (Blossom) will share with students their favorite hobby from their thru hike of the Appalachian Trail in 2014 — plant identification. Botany will introduce students to some of the flora that can be found along the Tennessee section of the Appalachian Trail as well as how to use a dichotomous key. Blossom will focus on the importance of giving back to public lands for future generations as well as teach students how to remember all 7 Leave No Trace Principles.

Register for the event

Presenters/Bios:

Together Noah Naseri and Kayla Carter completed a thru hike of the Appalachian Trail in 2014 after they graduated from East Tennessee State University. Noah pursued a Bachelor’s degree in biology with two minors, one in secondary education and the other in bluegrass music. That was where he met Kayla, who was studying journalism with a minor in bluegrass. They are known on the Appalachian Trail as Botany (Noah) and Blossom (Kayla). After Botany completed the thru hike, he assumed his current teaching position at the high school from which he graduated, only 10 miles from the Appalachian Trail in Northeast Tennessee. He currently teaches high school biology and coaches cross country and mountain biking. Blossom returned home after her thru hike to find work in the local tourism industry. A couple years later, she was recruited to fill the role of Outdoor Development Manager with the region’s economic development organization in 2017. She is passionate about stewardship and connecting the next generation to public lands. Noah and Kayla’s newest adventure is their fledgling farm operation called Golden Roots Farm.