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Events at Great Smoky Mountains Institute at Tremont, 2008
Guided Hikes in the Great Smoky Mountains
Great Smoky Mountains Institute provides in-depth programs designed to nurture appreciation of Great Smoky Mountains National Park, celebrate diversity, and foster stewardship.
Residential programs for school groups are at the core of our programming. Tremont also offers adult workshops on subjects such as wildflowers, nature photography, and geology. Summer backpacking and camp programs for children emphasize fun and learning about nature. Teacher training workshops provide opportunities for educators to obtain continuing education credits and to gain knowledge and ideas to use in their classrooms. Elderhostels are also conducted, adult backpacking expeditions, and arts-focused programs. Tremont's citizen science program offers opportunities for students and adults to help conduct scientific research in the national park.
Mount LeConte Overnight Hike links
Family Adventure Weekend
February 1-3, 2008
Run away from home and bring the family with you! There is no better way to spend a weekend with the family than exploring Great Smoky Mountains National Park. This weekend is chocked full of hikes, crafts, games, waterfalls, beautiful views, campfires and plenty of time to enjoy being with the ones you love. We will provide discovery and adventure AND we do all the cooking! It doesn’t get much better than this! Join our talented staff for a weekend you will never forget.
Program lasts from Friday supper through Sunday lunch.
Cost: $345 for family of four ages 6 and up ($70 for each additional person); includes all meals, lodging, materials, and instruction.
[More Information & Registration]
Spring Hiking Elderhostel
April 19-21, 2008
Discover the beauty of spring in the most rugged mountains in Appalachia! Led by our education staff, daily hikes will explore the cultural and natural history of this region with its unique traditions and rich biodiversity. Start each day with a hot breakfast then pack a lunch, grab your daypack and head out on the trail. Daily hikes of 5 to 13 miles bring you into contact with the varied plant life, sparkling mountain streams and breathtaking mountain vistas of this ancient mountain chain. Wildflowers, rushing water, and the misty green of spring all combine to make this an unforgettable experience. In the evenings, enjoy a fine meal at the Institute followed by Appalachian music and stories or educational sessions. Program lasts from Sunday supper through Friday breakfast.
Cost: $475 [More Information & Registration]
Smoky Mountains Family Adventure Camp
June 30 - July 5, 2009
Spend your family vacation in the middle of Great Smoky Mountains National Park. Surround your family with the magic of the mountains as you hike ridges, study wildlife, explore secret places, and take afternoon dips in the Middle Prong.
This week-long adventure is designed for families that are ready to leaves their cares behind in exchange for a week of unending fun, focused on the family. Each day brings new activities in which to choose; hike in the high country, explore Cades Cove, search for salamanders, and enjoy fantastic evening entertainment. We’ll celebrate the 4th with a great fireworks show in Townsend so you won’t miss any festivities. Visit our website for an itinerary of activities.
Cost: $1,000 per family up to four people ($200/each additional person). Cost includes all meals, lodging, activities, and materials.
[More Information]
Spring Photo Workshop
April 18-21, 2008
This is your chance to capture the wonder of sunrise, sunset, wildflowers and lavish landscapes! Spring in the Smokies is a time like no other. Wildflowers carpet the landscape and drip from every cliff. Nationally recognized nature photographer Bill Lea will lead a workshop emphasizing wildlife, landscape, and macro photography. Bill and David tailor the program to the skill level and interests of each individual participant with plenty of one-on-one instruction. Field sessions and lectures will cover the use of light, composition, and equipment.
Cost: $540 [More Information & Registration]
Mount Le Conte Overnight Adventures
April 19-21, 2008 and August 15-17, 2008
Head to the top of the Smokies and spend the night at LeConte Lodge, the hightest elevation lodge in the eastern United States. Saturday evening will be spent at Tremont, and we’ll head up the mountain the following morning. Along the way, our education staff will share their knowledge of natural history, high elevation ecology, and science. While at the top, you will enjoy spectacular views, hearty meals, and a cozy bed. We’ll return to civilization on Monday. We suggest you sign-up with a friend, or be prepared to bunk with a new one. Program lasts from Saturday supper to Monday late lunch.
Cost: $365 (includes all meals, lodging, transportation, and instruction). Full amount is required for registration. [More Information & Registration]
Spring Adult Backback Trip
May 16-17, 2008
Join our guides and experience the beauty of the Great Smoky Mountains firsthand on a three-day backpacking adventure. We provide all the information, food, and gear (except sleeping bag) for your excursion. This is a safe, educational, and enjoyable way to learn about backpacking in the Smokies. Participants must be in good physical condition and be able to hike 5-8 miles a day in rugged, mountainous terrain. Program lasts from Friday morning to Sunday afternoon.
Cost: $245. Route changes due to weather, campsite or trail closure may occur.
[Registration]
Spring Wonders Weekend
May 16-18, 2008
Over the past 39 years, Great Smoky Mountains Institute at Tremont has formulated a recipe for a perfect Spring weekend getaway. Take the beauty of the Smoky Mountains, add birdsong, a dash of crisp air, dedicated and talented staff and guest instructors, and… voila! You have Spring Wonders Weekend. This Spring Wonders Weekend will focus on the skills and tools used in nature study. Spend the weekend learning observation techniques, journaling, identification, collection, and curation. This comprehensive and FUN approach to nature study will prepare you to return to your home landscape, ready to appreciate it all the more. Program lasts from Friday supper to Sunday lunch.
One hour of graduate credit is available for an additional fee.
Cost: $220/participant (includes meals, lodging and instruction.)
Southern Appalachian Naturalist Certification Program (SANCP)
Become a better naturalist, communicator, and land steward by learning the ecology and natural history of the Southern Appalachian Mountains. The Southern Appalachian Naturalist Certification Program provides fundamental and specialty skills in Southern Appalachian ecology and interpretive techniques. This is accomplished via a series of field courses covering subjects such as ecological communities, plant identification, birds, mammals, reptiles and amphibians, stream ecology, the history of nature study, interpretation, and other skills necessary to an educational naturalist. To qualify for the non-credit Southern Appalachian Naturalist Certificate, you must complete eight core courses. Students not enrolled in the certification program may take courses individually.
Courses are held at Great Smoky Mountains Institute at Tremont and throughout Great Smoky Mountains National Park. Participants my commute from home or stay on site.
Costs: Each weekend course is $250/person (includes instruction, meals, and lodging) or $230/person without lodging. July courses are $250/person for each course ($230 without lodging) or $430 for two consecutive courses (the non-lodging discount is not available for the week-long option).
[Schedules and Registration]
Discovery Camp I
June 9-14, 2008
Discovery Camp is full of firsts for many kids. Each one is an exciting discovery – that’s why we gave it that name. It’s a place to explore science and nature while getting down and dirty with the forests, rivers, and critters that make these mountains home. Search for salamanders, collect insects, experience the awesome power of a waterfall, hike through wilderness, cool off in the swimming hole and laugh with your new friends around the campfire. This is the place where you will discover just how exciting summer camp can be. Camp lasts Monday afternoon to Saturday morning.
Cost: $435. Ages 9–12. (For a longer program for ages 11-13, see the Naturalist Expeditions)
Financial aid is available for qualified applicants. Please call 865-448-6709 for details.
[More Information & Registration]
Discovery Camp II
June 23-28, 2008
Discovery Camp is full of firsts for many kids. Each one is an exciting discovery – that’s why we gave it that name. It’s a place to explore science and nature while getting down and dirty with the forests, rivers, and critters that make these mountains home. Search for salamanders, collect insects, experience the awesome power of a waterfall, hike through wilderness, cool off in the swimming hole and laugh with your new friends around the campfire. This is the place where you will discover just how exciting summer camp can be. Camp lasts Monday afternoon to Saturday morning.
Cost: $435. Ages 9–12. (For a longer program for ages 11-13, see the Naturalist Expeditions)
Financial aid is available for qualified applicants. Please call 865-448-6709 for details.
[More Information & Registration]
Wilderness Adventure Camp I
June 9-14, 2008
Spend a week away from parents? Sure! But spend it among black bears, towering trees, rattlesnakes and barred owls while backpacking on steep mountain trails? Oh, yeah! Come to feel at home in the wilderness. Sleep in the woods, swim in a mountain stream, kick back around the campfire, and make valuable new friends. As you climb a mountain carrying everything you need to survive for 4 days and 3 nights on your back – all under your own power - you will understand what backpacking is all about. You won’t be able to wait until next year for another exciting adventure. Maybe you’ll bring along a friend….
Learn the skills necessary for planning and enjoying a safe, successful backpacking trip. A three-night backpack gives participants the chance to put these skills into practice, experience a true wilderness and make friends to last a lifetime.
Camp lasts from Monday afternoon to Saturday morning.
Cost: $460. Ages 13-17. Financial aid is available for qualified applicants. Please call 865-448-6709 for details.
[More Information & Registration]
Wilderness Adventure Camp II
June 23-28, 2008
Spend a week away from parents? Sure! But spend it among black bears, towering trees, rattlesnakes and barred owls while backpacking on steep mountain trails? Oh, yeah! Come to feel at home in the wilderness. Sleep in the woods, swim in a mountain stream, kick back around the campfire, and make valuable new friends. As you climb a mountain carrying everything you need to survive for 4 days and 3 nights on your back – all under your own power - you will understand what backpacking is all about. You won’t be able to wait until next year for another exciting adventure. Maybe you’ll bring along a friend.
Learn the skills necessary for planning and enjoying a safe, successful backpacking trip. A three-night backpack gives participants the chance to put these skills into practice, experience a true wilderness and make friends to last a lifetime.
Camp lasts from Monday afternoon to Saturday morning.
Cost: $460. Ages 13-17. Financial aid is available for qualified applicants. Please call 865-448-6709 for details.
[More Information & Registration]
Naturalist Hiking Weekend
July 7-12, 2008
Each day of Naturalist Hiking Week features two hike choices and a “day off” activity; all led by experienced educators who offer insight into the wonders of Great Smoky Mountains National Park. Hikes are moderate to strenuous and 6–14 miles over rugged mountainous terrain. Day off activities may include easy nature walks, ecology field trips, tours of historic areas, or arts classes. Participants may create their favorite combination from all the week’s offerings, but must be in good physical condition to participate in the hikes. Evening activities include guest lecturers, musical entertainment, night walks, and more! Program lasts from Monday supper to Saturday lunch. Cost: $370.
Smoky Mountains Hiking Week Sample Schedule of Hikes
Following is a sample list of hikes scheduled for each day of the Smoky Mountains Hiking Week. This list is tentative as hikes may change due to trail closures, other program changes, etc. We strive to offer an equal substitute for hike that must change.
Each day we offer three hikes ranging in difficulty from easy/moderate to strenuous. Trail difficulty depends on a variety of factors, including elevation gain, hike length, and trail condition.
Tuesday
1. Jakes Creek Trail/Panther Creek Trail/Middle Prong Trail – 7.5 miles
2. Lumber Ridge Trail/Meigs Mountain Trail – 10 miles
3. Spence Field via Anthony Creek Trail – 10.4 miles
Wednesday
1. Mt. LeConte via Trillium Gap Trail and Rainbow Falls Trail – 13.3 miles
2. Rich Mountain Loop Trail/Crooked Arm Ridge Trail/Scott Mountain Trail/School House Gap
Trail/Bote Mountain Trail/West Prong Trail – 11 miles
3. Indian Flats Falls via Middle Prong Trail – 7.5 miles
Thursday
1. Finley Cane Trail/Bote Mountain Trail/West Prong Trail – 6 miles
2. Appalachian Trail/Sweat Heifer Trail/Grassy Branch Trail/Dry Sluice Gap Trail/Appalachian Trail – 13.6 miles
3. Lumber Ridge Trail/Spruce Flats Trail – 8 miles
Friday
1. Wet Bottoms Trail/ Cooper Road Trail/ Hatcher Mountain Trail/Abram’s Creek Trail – 13.3 miles
2. Laurel Falls Trail/Cove Mountain Trail – 12.4 miles
3. Alum Cave Trail to Alum Cave/ Chimney Tops Trail Combo – 9 miles
For more information on Hiking Week please call 865-448-6709
[Registration]
Teen High Adventure
July 14-24, 2008
Venture into the heart of the Great Smoky backcountry, spending 7 days and 6 nights among a community of teenage outdoor enthusiasts like you! Grow as a leader among your generation in understanding outdoor living ethics, as well as learning firsthand about the animals and plants that call these mountains home. Become accustomed to the peace and pace where the sound of cars and civilization don’t intrude – where you can fall asleep to the sound of a wild mountain stream. At trail's end there's a hot shower waiting as well as a day of whitewater rafting...
Slip into the swirling mists of the “place of blue smoke” for a 10-day program that includes a 7 day/6 night backpacking adventure, whitewater rafting, and the chance to learn outdoor living skills. Wildlife, good friends, spectacular views, and great backpack leaders will accompany your journey.
Program lasts from Monday mid-afternoon through the second Thursday morning.
Cost: $875. Ages 13-17.
Financial aid is available for qualified applicants. Please call 865-448-6709 for details.
[More Information & Registration]
Field Ecology Adventure Camp
July 14-24, 2008
Hold a live bird in your hands before it takes off to the treetops. Sift through soil and find artifacts of the cultures that came before ours. Swim in the river in search of the Eastern Hellbender, North America’s largest salamander. Sit under a starry sky and identify the frogs you hear calling to each other. Experience the national park from an insider’s perspective by becoming a field scientist for a week or two.
Our Field Ecology Adventures are an opportunity for you to learn more about the natural world and the methods scientists use to study it by participating in science projects in the park. Hands-on studies of everything from bugs to bears will be interspersed with swimming, hiking, and games. The longer camp includes a camping trip and time for team projects developed by the campers. Both camps include plenty of fun along with science – swimming, hiking, stories around the campfire – but of course science is fun, when it happens in the Great Smoky Mountains!
Ages 13-17.
Cost for 10-day Field Ecology Adventure: $875 (Monday afternoon to the second Thursday).
Attendance is limited. To apply, please send a letter explaining why this camp is right for you, and a letter of reference from a teacher or other adult with your registration form. Financial aid is available for qualified applicants. Please call 865-448-6709 for details.
[More Information & Registration]
Smoky Mountains Naturalist Expeditions
July 14-24, 2008
Designed for middle-school aged students, Smoky Mountain Naturalist Expeditions is a cut above the traditional summer camp. Participants spend each day exploring Great Smoky Mountains National Park with experts and assisting scientists with actual ongoing research. Campers search for salamanders, investigate old growth forests, track black bears, and encounter the occasional timber rattlesnake!
The secrets of the Smoky Mountains are waiting to be discovered.
Finally we cap off each day with a dip in the river, great dinner, and fun evening activities. It’s a fascinating experience for the budding scientist or nature enthusiast, and a whole lot of fun for everyone. Program lasts from Monday mid-afternoon through the second Thursday morning.
Cost: $875. Ages 11-13.
Financial aid is available for qualified applicants. Please call 865-448-6709 for details.
[More Information & Registration]
Mount Le Conte Overnight Adventures
August 15-17, 2008
Head to the top of the Smokies and spend the night at LeConte Lodge, the hightest elevation lodge in the eastern United States. Saturday evening will be spent at Tremont, and we’ll head up the mountain the following morning. Along the way, our education staff will share their knowledge of natural history, high elevation ecology, and science. While at the top, you will enjoy spectacular views, hearty meals, and a cozy bed. We’ll return to civilization on Monday. We suggest you sign-up with a friend, or be prepared to bunk with a new one. Program lasts from Saturday supper to Monday late lunch.
Cost: $365 (includes all meals, lodging, transportation, and instruction). Full amount is required for registration. [More Information & Registration]
Teacher Escape Weekend
October 3-5, 2008
Escape to the Smokies! Great Smoky Mountains Institute at Tremont is hosting its annual Teacher Escape Weekend over the September 26-28th, 2008 weekend. Join the Tremont teacher/naturalists for an exciting look at what Tremont has to offer.
This year we have planned an afternoon at Cades Cove with an opportunity to participate in our Citizen Science Monarch Tagging Project. Dip your toes in the Middle Prong while learning a little about Stream Physics. Relax by the campfire and listen to mountain music and stories. This weekend is an opportunity to meet other teachers, share ideas, learn about new Tremont programs and answer questions you may have before your school’s visit. It is also a time to relax, enjoy the mountain scenery and make new friends.
Attendance in this program allows teachers to attend free of charge when their school participates in a 3 or 5 day Tremont school program. It also reduces the cost of the trip for each participant. This program is not only for the lead teacher, but any teachers participating with your school group.
[More Information & Registration]
Women's Backpack Trip
Join our guides and experience the beauty of the Great Smoky Mountains firsthand on a three-day backpacking adventure. We provide all the information, food, and gear (except sleeping bag) for your excursion. This is a safe, educational, and enjoyable way to learn about backpacking in the Smokies. Participants must be in good physical condition and be able to hike 5-8 miles a day in rugged, mountainous terrain. Program lasts from Friday morning to Sunday afternoon.
What better way is there to enjoy early fall than with a group of adventurous women on the trail and around the campfire. It's "Girl Power" all the way as we climb mountains, forge streams, and leave our hectic lives behind (along with make-up and under-wire bras, wahoo!). Get ready to recharge your batteries while marveling at the natural wonders around you.
Cost: $235 per person.
[More Information & Registration]
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