Great Outdoors University (GOU) is a youth conservation education program of the Tennessee Wildlife Federation (TWF) whose mission is to connect kids with the great outdoors in meaningful, life-changing and lasting ways.  GOU participants are children and youth who would not likely have the opportunity to learn about and experience the great outdoors otherwise. GOU is currently providing programming in Memphis and Nashville, with plans to expand across the state.

TWF’s Great Outdoors University (GOU) program recently expanded to include Nashville youth and families in its programming.  GOU Nashville models itself after its successful sister program in Memphis and is guided by the same mission: to connect kids with the great outdoors in meaningful, life-changing and lasting ways. 

Anna Ransler was hired in April to be the Program Coordinator for the Nashville program.  Ransler became familiar with GOU and its mission during the summer of 2008 when she interned for TWF and wrote grants for the program.  She is a graduate of the University of the South (Sewanee) and previously worked for the Tennessee House of Representatives and clerked for the Environment and Conservation Committee, Higher Education Subcommittee, and Wildlife Subcommittee.