Discover Life in America

Science at Sugarlands: Plant-soil interactions & Chimney Tops fire
2019-09-20 13:00 - 15:00 (America/New_York) | Sugarlands Visitor Center, 107 Sugarlands Visitor Center Loop Rd, Gatlinburg, TN, 37738, United States
Burning questions: why are plant-soil microbiome interactions important & how does the Chimney Tops fire affect this ecological internet?
Kendall Beals, PhD Student, University of Tennessee
For more information about this free event and to register, please visit our main Science at Suglarlands page.

Great Smoky Mountains Salamander Ball
2019-10-04 16:30 - 19:30 | Zoo Knoxville, 3500 Knoxville Zoo Drive, Knoxville, TN, 37914, United States
Great Smoky Mountains Salamander Ball
Have you ever marveled at the depth, breadth, and beauty of wildlife in Great Smoky Mountains National Park? Then we invite you to our ninth annual Great Smoky Mountains Salamander Ball, one of the region’s premier fundraising events. We invite you to dress as your favorite Smokies critter at this family-friendly masquerade and to eat, drink and be merry. All proceeds help DLiA support research and conservation in our most beloved Park! So come one, come all, to the Salamander Ball!
Musical guest Bill Mize
“Guitars pine for the fingers of Bill Mize, who makes them weep, sing and roll
around like a cat at his feet. Thumpin’ good acoustic majesty.”– WDVX Knoxville
This year we are excited to feature a performance by local musician Bill Mize! Bill is a past winner of the Winfield National Fingerstyle Guitar Competition, and received a GRAMMY Award for his collaboration with musician and storyteller David Holt on the recording Stellaluna. Popular acoustic guitar compilations “The Windham Hill Guitar Sampler and “Masters of the Acoustic Guitar” by Narada Records include his music. In 2009, Bill’s music appeared in the Ken Burns documentary “The National Parks: America’s Best Idea” and will again be heard in the upcoming Ken Burns documentary ”Country Music.” Joining Bill on a few tunes will be Beth Bramhall on accordion adding her sublime stylings to Bill’s music. Find out more at billmize.com.
Honoring Jimmy Groton
Jimmy is a Wetland Ecologist and Environmental Scientist at EnSafe. Jimmy’s tireless work in regional conservation is legendary! He has worn many hats over the years in the name of protecting land and species. Much of his work has been through Tennessee Citizens for Wilderness Planning.
Details
General information:

Fun for the whole family
Dress in your best masquerade attire (optional) to celebrate your favorite Smokies critter
Free zoo admission with ticket purchase (details below)
Hors d’oeuvres plus wine and non-alcoholic drinks
Local beer provided by Elkmont Exchange

Timing: Friday, October 4th, 2019 from 4:30 to 7:30 PM
Location: Zoo Knoxville (map), under a fabulous tent behind the Kid’s Cove. This is a rain or shine event.
Parking: Free parking is available at the zoo’s upper and lower lots.
Food and drink: Ticket purchase includes food (vegetarian options included) and drinks (beer by Elkmont Exchange, wine, and non-alcoholic beverages).
Dress code: There is no dress code! Join us in your finest masquerade attire to celebrate our favorite Smokies critter, or in your favorite hiking attire; just join us!
Silent auction: The Ball includes an extensive silent auction full of biodiversity-themed items and exciting experiences (guided hikes, hotels stays, adventure packages, etc.). All proceeds help DLiA fulfill its mission!
Kids + science: We’ll have science tables where kids (and adults, too!) can talk to a scientist and learn about the critters of the Smokies! There will be kids activities at each table, face painting, and a scavenger hunt. We’ll also have some animal ambassadors from the zoo to touch and learn about!
Free zoo admission: Your ticket purchase includes free admission to Zoo Knoxville on Friday October 4th (the day of the event). Note that the zoo closes at 4:00 PM. We recommend that you visit the zoo from 2:00ish to 4:00 PM, then head over to the Salamander Ball at 4:30 PM.
Tickets and tables:

Tickets: $60 earlybird special or $75 after September 2
Tables (bundle of 10 tickets): $600 earlybird special or $700 after September 2
Kids 12 and under: FREE
All proceeds go directly to Discover Life in America

Sponsorships: Sponsorships are a great way to show your support for biodiversity conservation work in Great Smoky Mountains National Park! Interested in sponsoring this event? Contact Todd at todd@dlia.org or (865) 430-4757.
Have questions? Contact us at (865) 430-4757 or todd@dlia.org
Thanks to our generous sponsors!

PURCHASE TICKETS

Featuring GRAMMY Award winning guitarist Bill Mize
This year’s Conservation Hero, Jimmy Groton

Science at Sugarlands: Lichens
2019-10-18 13:00 - 15:00 | Sugarlands Visitor Center, 107 Sugarlands Visitor Center Loop Rd, Gatlinburg, TN, 37738, United States
Lichens of the Smokies revealed
James Lendemer, Assistant Curator, New York Botanical Garden
For more information about this free event and to register, please visit our main Science at Suglarlands page.

Great Smoky Mountains National Park Science Colloquium
2020-03-12 09:00 - 16:00 | The Park Vista, 705 Cherokee Orchard Rd, Gatlinburg, TN, 37738, United States
Learn about research taking place in the Smokies from the scientists working there at the annual Park Science Colloquium. This event is free and it’s an excellent opportunity to learn about the biodiversity of the Smokies and chat with regional scientists about our local national park.

Event details

General information: The Park Science Colloquium comprises over a dozen talks by scientists about work being conducted in Great Smoky Mountains National Park and the surrounding region.

Timing: 9:00 AM to 4:00 PM on Thursday, March 12, 2020

Location: The Park Vista Hotel in Gatlinburg, TN (map)

Food and drink: Coffee will be provided and there will be a one-hour lunch break. The Park Vista has a restaurant and there are lots of food choices closeby in Gatlinburg.

Schedule and abstracts:

Click for full program with abstracts (PDF)

2020 schedule and abstracts (PDF)

Registration: This is a free event and open to the public, but we kindly as that you register so that we can accommodate attendees.

Register Now (FREE)

Information for presenters

Submit a talk or poster

Call for submissions: We welcome you to submit a presentation or poster about your research that is either actively taking place in Great Smoky Mountains National Park or that is of significance to the Smokies, and that is at a stage in analysis where a full picture of the research can be presented. Note: due to time constraints, we may not be able to fit all submitted talks.

Submitting a presentation or poster: To submit your work for consideration in the Colloquium, please email your title and author information to Will (will@dlia.org) and Paul (paul_super@nps.gov) by Friday, January 31. Submitters will be notified by Friday, February 7 as to their acceptance in the Colloquium. Accepted presenters will be asked to submit an abstract (250 words max) to will@dlia.org and paul_super@nps.gov by Friday, February 21.

Deadlines

Friday, Jan 31Deadline to submit the title and author information for your presentation or poster to will@dlia.org and paul_super@nps.govFriday, Feb 7Submitters will be notified of their acceptanceFriday, Feb 21Deadline to submit your abstract to will@dlia.org and paul_super@nps.govWednesday, March 11Recommended: Save time by uploading your presentation to Dropbox at this link by this date

Helpful information

Time slots: Presentation slots will be 15-20 minutes (including time for questions), depending on the number of abstract submissions we receive. We will send you a finalized schedule close to the event. A podium with microphone will be provided and you won’t be able to see “presenter view” on your presentation (sorry!).

Presentation format: Talks should be PowerPoint (PPT or PPTX) or PDF. Presentations set to wide-format (16:9) will make the best use of our wide screen. Please let us know if you require a different file format or would like to include a video with sound and we will try to accommodate. FYI, presentations will be displayed from a Windows computer via Microsoft Office 365.

Presentation content: Please note that many in the audience will have advanced degrees, but few will have advanced degrees in your topic, so plan to provide a bit of explanation of technical jargon and stay away from acronyms.

Presentation upload: Speakers may upload their presentations to this Dropbox folder (preferred, and preferably by Wednesday, March 11) or bring them on a USB flash drive the morning of the event. Like to make last-minute changes to your presentation? No problem! You may upload multiple versions of your presentation to the Dropbox link (up to the morning of the colloquium) and we’ll use the latest at the colloquium. Note: this is just a time-saving measure; presentations will not be made public without your consent.

Upload your presentation here

Posters: Posters may also be presented at the Colloquium. Please see submission instructions above. Posters can be any size under 48″ wide by 48″ high. We’ll provide a stand and fasteners.

Smokies Science Teacher Workshop

During the Science Colloquium, we will be holding a free workshop for science teachers (grades 5-8). The teacher workshop will be held concurrently with the Colloquium from 2:00-4:00 PM at the Park Vista, but teachers are encouraged to attend the entire Colloquium to learn about the science taking place in the Smokies. The workshop will include an iNaturalist “field session” and a data analysis activity with iNat data. Please download the iNaturalist app (App Store, Google Play) to your phone or other mobile device and create an account prior to attending the workshop. Workshop space is limited. Email julie@dlia.org by February 28th to RSVP.

Workshop materials

Please download iNaturalist to your phone or other mobile device beforehand: (App Store, Google Play)Additional materials and resources will be posted here closer to the workshop

Virtual Fireflies Event
2020-06-01 20:00 - 21:00
Witness the magic of the Smokies fireflies from the comfort of your own home! We are collaborating with firefly photographer Radim Schreiber to present a Virtual Fireflies Event. Tune in Monday, June 1 at 8 pm ET on YouTube.

TUNE IN ON YouTube

DONATE NOW

What is it? The event will include a short presentation about fireflies by our Director of Science and Research, Dr. Will Kuhn, followed by beautiful firefly footage by firefly photographer and cinematographer Radim Schreiber (FireflyExperience.org). The display will include the world-famous synchronous fireflies (Photinus carolinus), as well as blue ghosts (Phausis reticulata) and other firefly species native to the Smokies region, all set to relaxing sounds of nature. Knoxville radio journalist and DLiA board member Chrissy Keuper will give a special introduction. Kuhn and other DLiA staff will be answering questions in the comments section during the event.

This is a free event, however, we do suggest a $5 donation to help DLiA continue its biodiversity work in Great Smoky Mountains National Park. Click the “Set Reminder” bell to get a notification before the show starts and don’t forget to like and subscribe to our YouTube channel!

Want to see the fireflies in person? Mark your calendar for the 2021 Fireflies Event at Norton Creek. Join us for an evening of fireflies!

Virtual BioBlitz @ Osceola Island
2020-08-22 10:00 - 2020-09-22 23:59
Virtual BioBlitz @ Osceola Island

Join DLiA and the Tennessee Valley Authority for this free, family-friendly virtual event where you can be a citizen scientist and learn about the natural wonders found at TVA’s wild lands!

UPDATE: This event has officially ended BUT you should totally check out Osceola Island, anyway! It’s beautiful and full of neat biodiversity. You can still help us to catalog the animals and plants there by posting observations of the organisms you encounter to our iNaturalist project for the site. Happy hunting!

What is this event?

It’s a bioblitz on TVA’s wild lands, but virtual!

What’s a bioblitz? It’s an effort to find and document as many species as we can find in a certain place. It’s also an opportunity for you to be a citizen scientist, gathering real scientific data, while also learning about the animals, plants and other organisms that live around you!

Here’s how to participate:

(1) WATCH THE VIDEO

We’ll launch the event via YouTube on Saturday, August 22nd at 10 am EDT. Watch our video introduction to Osceola Island and see some of the neat flora and fauna that live there.

(2) VISIT OSCEOLA ISLAND

For the next 30 days (from August 22nd to September 22nd), we challenge you to visit beautiful Osceola Island. This beautiful site is located just below South Holston Dam, south of Bristol, TN in Sullivan County. The focus of our scavenger hunt (below) will be the Osceola Island Trail, a 1.8-mile loop, accessible via a footbridge. Park at the Osceola Island Day Use Area.

Osceola Island parking (Google Maps)

(3) COMPLETE THE SCAVENGER HUNT

At Osceola Island, look for these plants, animals, and other groups of organisms and post your observations of them to the free mobile app, iNaturalist.

The scavenger hunt challenge: Make iNaturalist observations of organisms that you find at Osceola Island. The challenge is to observe a variety of species: find representatives from at least 10 of these categories.

Printable version of this checklist with instructions: PDF

(4) WE SEND YOU A THANK YOU GIFT!

Fill out this short form when you complete the scavenger hunt and we’ll send you a TVA BioBlitz-themed neck buff as a thank you gift!

Form for thank you gift (Google Forms)

About iNaturalist

What is it?

iNaturalist is a really useful, free tool for taking photos of lifeforms (animals, plants, fungi, etc.), identifying them, and making species observations. These observations help us learn about the world’s biodiversity.

Getting started with iNaturalist

Download the free iNaturalist app to your Apple or Android smartphone. You can also visit iNaturalist.org from your web browser. Follow the prompts in the app to create a new iNaturalist account.Find a cool bug, plant, or other organism. Open the app and tap OBSERVE or the (+) sign to take a photo of your organism (or choose an existing photo from your camera roll).Tap WHAT DID YOU SEE? to identify your organism.Make sure your location and date are recorded.Tap SUBMIT or the check-mark icon to submit your observation to iNaturalist.Repeat! See how many different organisms you can observe around you!

For more tips and tricks for using iNaturalist, check out their getting started page: https://www.inaturalist.org/pages/getting+started

What life have we found at Osceola Island?

Here are the Osceola Island species that have been documented on iNaturalist so far, but there are many more waiting to be found! You can help us expand this list by adding your own observations!

Check out the full Osceola Island project page on iNaturalist to see more.

Featured in YouTube video

Shrubby St. John’s Wort (Hypericum prolificum) – This small, perennial shrub is native to eastern North America. It has beautiful yellow-petaled flowers with sprays of stamens, giving them a puffy, rounded appearance. This easy-going native makes a great yard plant: it is tolerant of a wide range of soil types and moisture levels. More infoGreat Blue Heron (Ardea herodias) – The largest heron in North America, this common, majestic bird is often found around freshwater and coastal habitats. It feeds primarily on fish, but will also munch on amphibians, small reptiles, insects, and small mammals. More infoWild Bergamot (Monarda fistulosa) – This small pale-purple wildflower is great for attracting butterflies, bees and other pollinating insects. In fact, its genus (Monarda) is fittingly called the beebalms. It is a member of the mint family and as such, it’s leaves have a delightfully minty smell! Blooming in mid- to late summer, it can be found in open glades and along trails and roadways. More infoLichens (many species) – Lichens are fungi that form a symbiotic relationship with certain algae and bacteria. Each side in this mutually beneficial relationship gets something: the algae and bacteria make food from light (photosynthesis) and share that with the fungi, and the fungi provides a substrate and protection for its food-making partner. Lichens are everywhere–especially on trees and covering rocks–but they often go unnoticed. Check out this video about lichens from our iScience program.Witch’s Hat (Hygrocybe conica) – This beautiful red-orange mushroom bruises black when poked and prodded. We found many of these at Osceola Island in early August, which is not surprising as this species can be gregarious (forming large clusters). More infoWhite-tailed Deer (Odocoileus virginianus) – This medium-large mammal needs no introduction: the white-tailed deer is common throughout North America, particularly in the Eastern US. It feeds on a wide variety of plant life and is a surprisingly good swimmer. More infoChristmas Fern (Polystichum acrostichoides) – This common fern is so named for its evergreen fronds that shine elegantly green among a sea of brown vegetation at Christmas time. It is one of a number of fern species found at Osceola Island. More infoBlack Ratsnake (Pantherophis obsoletus) – It is typical for this large snake to reach 6 feet in length. They are excellent climbers and are happy to seek out shelter in tree cavities. Their wide-ranging diet includes rats and other small mammals, birds, frogs, and lizards. More infoMilkweed Tussock Moth Caterpillars (Euchaetes egle) – This moth species has a brightly colored caterpillar that is unusually gregarious (social) for most of it’s life as a larva. By forming brightly colored groups, they warn predators not to eat them, because like other tussock moth caterpillars they have hollow hairs that can “sting” anyone who grabs them. This species feeds on milkweed, like monarch butterfly caterpillars, feeding on several milkweed (Asclepias) and dogbane (Apocynum) species. More info

Resources

Map link to Osceola IslandiNaturalist project at Osceola IslandList of all our BioBlitzes with TVATVA RecreationVisit the Smokies? Contribute to our iNaturalist project thereLearn about our iScience schoolyard biodiversity program (grades 5-8)

Have questions?

Ask Will: will@dlia.org

Virtual BioBlitz @ Johnson Ridge Trail
2020-10-10 10:00 - 2020-11-10 23:59
Virtual BioBlitz @ Johnson Ridge Trail

Join DLiA and the Tennessee Valley Authority for a free, family-friendly virtual event where you can be a citizen scientist and learn about the natural wonders found at TVA’s wild lands!

What is it?

It’s a bioblitz on TVA’s trails, but virtual!

What’s a bioblitz? It’s an effort to find and document as many species as we can find in a certain place. It’s also an opportunity for you to be a citizen scientist, gathering real scientific data, while also learning about the animals, plants and other organisms that live around you!

Where is this taking place? This is a virtual event that you can do at your own pace. Watch the video below then visit Johnson Ridge Trail near Bean Station, TN or any of the other 10 qualifying TVA trails in East Tennessee and Northern Alabama to complete a scavenger hunt and receive a fun thank you gift!

Here’s how to participate:

(1) WATCH THE VIDEO

We’ll launch the event via YouTube on Saturday, October 10th at 10 am EDT. Watch our video introduction to Johnson Ridge Trail and see some of the neat flora and fauna that live there.

(2) VISIT ANY QUALIFYING TVA TRAIL

From October 10 to November 10, 2020, we challenge you to visit beautiful Johnson Ridge Trail near Bean Station, TN or any of the other TVA trails listed below. There are 11 TVA trails to choose from: 9 in east Tennessee and 2 in northern Alabama. Which one is closest to you?

TrailLocationStateDirectionsTrail mapiNat project

Johnson Ridge TrailCherokee LakeTennessee

Hall Bend TrailTellico DamTennessee

Little Cedar Mountain TrailNickajack LakeTennessee

Marbut Bend TrailWheeler LakeAlabama

Melton Hill Dam TrailMelton Hill DamTennessee

Muscle Shoals Reservation TrailsWilson DamAlabama

Osceola Island TrailSouth Fork Holston RiverTennessee

Songbird TrailNorris DamTennessee

Trotter Bluff TrailDouglas DamTennessee

Whites Creek TrailWatts Bar LakeTennessee

Worthington Cemetery TrailMelton Hill LakeTennessee

(3) COMPLETE THE SCAVENGER HUNT

Look for these plants, animals, and other groups of organisms, snap photos of them with your mobile device and post your observations to the free iNaturalist app.

The scavenger hunt challenge: Make iNaturalist observations of organisms that you find along your TVA trail of choice. The challenge is to observe a variety of organisms: find representatives from at least 10 of these categories:

Printable version of this checklist with instructions: PDF

(4) WE SEND YOU A THANK YOU GIFT!

Fill out this short form when you complete the scavenger hunt and we’ll send you a TVA BioBlitz-themed neck buff as a thank you gift!

Form for thank you gift

About iNaturalist

What is it?

iNaturalist is a really useful, free tool for taking photos of lifeforms (animals, plants, fungi, etc.), identifying them, and making species observations. These observations help us learn about the world’s biodiversity.

Getting started with iNaturalist

Download the free iNaturalist app to your Apple or Android smartphone. You can also visit iNaturalist.org from your web browser. Follow the prompts in the app to create a new iNaturalist account.Find a cool bug, plant, or other organism. Open the app and tap OBSERVE or the (+) sign to take a photo of your organism (or choose an existing photo from your camera roll).Tap WHAT DID YOU SEE? to identify your organism.Make sure your location and date are recorded.Tap SUBMIT or the check-mark icon to submit your observation to iNaturalist.Repeat! See how many different organisms you can observe around you!

For more tips and tricks for using iNaturalist, check out their getting started page: https://www.inaturalist.org/pages/getting+started

What have people spotted at Johnson Ridge Trail, so far?

People like you have observed more than 130 species of plants, insects, spiders, fungi, and other kinds of organisms at Johnson Ridge Trail so far, but there’s plenty more to find! You can help us expand this list by adding your own observations in iNaturalist.

Check out the full Johnson Ridge Trail project page on iNaturalist to see more.

What’s been found at another TVA trail? Visit this iNaturalist umbrella project to find out!

Featured species

[coming soon!]

Resources

Map link to Johnson Ridge Trail parking areaiNaturalist project at Johnson Ridge TrailList of all our BioBlitzes with TVATVA RecreationVisit the Smokies? Contribute to our iNaturalist project thereLearn about our iScience schoolyard biodiversity program (grades 5-8)

Have questions?

Ask Will: will@dlia.org

Science at Sugarlands: Butterflies
2021-05-21 13:00 - 15:00
Butterflies of Cades Cove

Warren Bielenberg

Learn about the variety and natural history of the many butterfly species living in Cades Cove from Warren Bielenberg, who has surveyed them for years.

For more information about this free virtual event and to register, please visit our main Science at Sugarlands page.

Fireflies Event at Norton Creek 2021
2021-06-03 19:00 - 2021-06-06 23:00
Join DLiA for our annual firefly-centered fundraising event at Norton Creek. Witness the magic of the Smokies fireflies from a beautiful private setting. This is an evening you won’t forget! All proceeds help Discover Life in America carry out its mission to understand and conserve biodiversity in the Smokies.

NOTE: This is a private fundraising event, held at a private reserve adjacent to Great Smoky Mountains National Park. This event is not associated with the Park or its synchronous firefly lottery at Elkmont.

Four nights to choose from:

Thursday, June 3, 2021 – 7:00 to 11:00 pm SOLD OUT!Friday, June 4, 2021 – 7:00 to 11:00 pm SOLD OUT!Saturday, June 5, 2021 – 7:00 to 11:00 pm SOLD OUT!Sunday, June 6, 2021 – 7:00 to 11:00 pm SOLD OUT!

UPDATE: We are officially sold out of tickets for this event. Please use the waiting list form (button below) if you’re still interested and we will contact you IF we have cancellations for the night of your choice. We’ll post the dates for next year’s event sometime in June and tickets will become available starting January 2nd 2022, so stay tuned. Thanks for your interest and support!

Waiting list (all nights)
Check out our Virtual Fireflies Event

General information

We’ll tell you all about the synchronous fireflies and other firefly species in the Smokies, and we’ll answer your burning firefly questions This is a rain or shine event (see FAQ below) Sorry but pets are not allowed at this event

There will be light walking on paved and gravel surfacesTicketholders will receive an email packet with directions and more as the event approachesPlease purchase tickets early. They’re limited and usually sell out

Location

The event will be held at Norton Creek Preserve, a 3000-acre tract of land adjacent to Great Smoky Mountains National Park, accessible via the Spur (HWY 321/441) near Gatlinburg, TN. Ticket holders will be sent detailed directions as the event approaches.

Food & drink

Ticket purchase includes food (heavy hors d’oeuvres) by Whole Earth Grocery, including vegetarian options, as well as beer, wine, sodas and tea.

Silent auction

Don’t miss our firefly-related treasures including original firefly artwork and photography! Cash, check and card are accepted.

Tickets

Fireflies Event tickets are $225 per person and are open to anyone 10 years of age or older (children under 10 are not allowed). Each ticket is for a single night of the event (Thursday, Friday, Saturday, or Sunday). Your ticket purchase helps DLiA carry out its mission!

IMPORTANT NOTE REGARDING COVID-19: Right now, we’re planning for this to be a partially indoor event as we have done pre-2020. In early May, we’ll determine if we need to adapt the event to be socially distanced and outdoor-only, depending on CDC guidance at that time. We will update ticketholders when we make that determination and post additional information here.

Waiting list (all nights)

Cancellation policy

Full payment is due at sign up. We will be happy to refund your full payment if and only if we are able to fill your slot.

Have questions?

Need help purchasing tickets? Please first read our FAQ below for answers to common questions, then ask Todd if you still need help: todd@dlia.org or (865)-430-4757.

FAQ

Q. Is this event related to the synchronous firefly lottery in Great Smoky Mountains National Park?

A. No, it is not. Discover Life in America is a non-profit partner of the Park; however, this is a private fundraising event that is not associated with the Park’s lottery for synchronous firefly viewing at Elkmont. That is a totally separate event and we cannot answer questions about the lottery, dates for the lottery, or anything else related to it. Information about the lottery can be found at https://www.nps.gov/grsm/learn/nature/fireflies.htm.

Q. $225 per person seems expensive. Is this event really worth it?

A. We certainly think so! For the price of $225 you get a lot of value and you support the work of Discover Life in America! There’ll be delicious food, made from scratch by our friends at Whole Earth Grocery, and yummy alcoholic and non-alcoholic drinks. You’ll get an exclusive look at the private venue for the event, a gorgeous house made from rough-hewn hemlocks and decorated with birch bark, which is set on a pastoral hilltop right next to the national park. You’ll have one-on-one time with an entomologist who will tell you more than you ever wanted to know about the 19 species of fireflies that live in the Smokies. And of course you’ll get to see the magical display of the synchronous fireflies, but not among a crowd in the national park. Rather, you’ll see them in a leisurely, small-group setting with guides to point them out and answer all your questions. We are positive that you will find the Fireflies Event to be an illuminating experience!

Q. How do you know the synchronous fireflies will be active?

A. Synchronous fireflies in the Smokies region typically reach their peak activity around the end of May to middle of June; however, this can vary from year to year based on temperature and weather. The Park uses temperature data to plan the dates of their lottery system, typically releasing those dates around late April. We, however, must book the venue for our Fireflies Event a year in advance, so we carefully select a date that falls within the peak season for synchronous firefly activity from previous years. In the seven years that we’ve been doing this event, we’ve never been disappointed.

Q. I can’t find the exact location of this event on your website. Why is that?

A. As the synchronous fireflies have become extremely popular in the Smokies, we don’t post our event location for fear that the public will trespass on the private property of our generous hosts and trample pristine firefly habitat. Rest assured though: we will contact all ticket holders with detailed directions to the event and other information that you’ll need to know for this once-in-a-lifetime evening.

Q. (Close to the event) Rain may be forecast during the event. Will it be canceled?

A. Nope. The Smokies region gets lots of rain, but it has not affected our firefly viewing. The first part of the event takes place inside, but bring a light rain jacket in case we get a little rain during viewing, which takes place outside but under a protective forest canopy. One night last year it was pouring rain during our firefly presentation, but by viewing time the rain had stopped and the fireflies were spectacular. It’s going to be great!

Q. In the description for this event, you mention “other glowing critters.” What are you talking about?

A. There is a veritable menagerie of glowing critters to see at the Fireflies Event! Apart from the ever-popular synchronous fireflies (Photinus carolinus), and the rising stars that are the blue ghost fireflies (Phausis reticulata), we’ve seen railroad worms (Phengodes spp.), which are another type of beetle with glowing larvae and adult females, and also fungus gnat larvae (a.k.a. foxfire flies, Orfelia fultoni), which glow faintly blue from seeps on the hillside. We typically see the adults of other firefly species during viewing while we wait for the synchronous and blue ghost fireflies to become active (there are nine other firefly species in the region that glow), and we find the glowing larvae and pupae of a number of these species.

Q. Where should I stay during the event?

A. Although lodging is not included as part of the Fireflies Event, there are great hotel options in Gatlinburg and Pigeon Forge. They are about equidistant from the venue.

Q. Are kids allowed at this event?

A. Children 10 years of age or older may attend this event with ticket purchase. We do not allow children under 10 years of age to attend this event.

Sponsors

Thanks to the following generous sponsors for supporting the 2021 Fireflies Event at Norton Creek and Virtual Fireflies Event!

Science at Sugarlands: Arthropods
2021-06-18 13:00 - 15:00
Litter Arthropods of High Appalachia

Mike Caterino, Clemson University Arthropod Collection

There are tons of tiny creatures dwelling in the soil and leaf litter in high elevation spruce-fir forests of the Southern Appalachian Mountains. These insects, millipedes, pseudoscorpions, and other arthropods are poorly studied but serve an important role in these mountain ecosystems. Learn about these tiny, fascinating creatures and the new discoveries being made every day!

Here are some examples of High Appalachian arthropods in Flickr and iNaturalist. Caterino Lab page.

For more information about this free virtual event and to register, please visit our main Science at Sugarlands page.

Photo credit: Mike Caterino via Flickr

Bioblitz at Abrams Creek
2021-06-26 09:00 - 2021-06-27 16:00
Bioblitz at Abrams Creek

Help DLiA sample pollinators and other insects in an under-sampled region of Great Smoky Mountains National Park. This event is free, but spaces are limited. No previous experience needed, although expertise is welcome!

Sorry, registration is now closed for this event, but check out our other bioblitzes coming up soon!

Purpose

We are planning a bioblitz to inventory life in a relatively under-sampled part of Great Smoky Mountains National Park. We plan to sample for pollinators and other insects using various trapping and collecting techniques. We will also catalog other life we encounter by photographing organisms and posting them to iNaturalist, so they can be identified and viewed publicly.

This event is part of the All Taxa Biodiversity Inventory, an ongoing effort managed by DLiA to catalog every species living in the Smokies. Results for this bioblitz will be reported to Great Smoky Mountains National Park and will help the park better understand and protect the rich natural resources of the Smokies.

What will we be doing?

Saturday

On Saturday, we will spend the day collecting insects using various trapping methods and also hand-collecting insects around the Abrams Creek area in Great Smoky Mountains National Park. We will also document other organisms, such as plants, lichens, birds, and mammals using iNaturalist. This will be a full day of sampling and may involve hiking up to several miles along marked trails.

Sunday

On Sunday, we’ll work together at Abram Creek Ranger Station to process the samples that we collected on Saturday. This will include pinning, labeling and roughly sorting insects. It will be a great opportunity to learn how to curate and identify insects and it’ll be fun to see what we caught on Saturday!

Things to know

Registration is required to participateNo prior experience is needed and children 10 and older are welcome to participatePrior experience is welcome though, particularly experience in collecting and identifying insects or other organismsLunch will be provided to all registered participants on Saturday and SundayWe are not able to provide overnight accommodations for participants, however, we strongly encourage you to attend both Saturday and Sunday’s activitiesWe will be conducting research under an NPS research permit and all participants MUST adhere to the rules and regulations therein, mainly that collecting specimens must be limited to the scope of this project and done under the supervision of bioblitz leadershipThere is no cell coverage at Abrams Creek, so please plan accordinglyMore information including specifics about meeting time and place will be emailed to participants closer to the event

Before the event

Download iNaturalist to your phone (it’s free!)Follow prompts in the app to create an iNaturalist accountPractice making a few observations of plants, insects, and other organisms around you using iNaturalistBring water and some snacks (lunch will be provided)Wear weather-appropriate clothing and sturdy shoes for hiking

Have questions?

Ask Will: will@dlia.org

Funding

This event is funded by a generous grant from the Tallassee Fund (grant number #65683).

Science at Sugarlands: Birds
2021-07-16 13:00 - 15:00
Birds of the Smokies

Keith Watson, local bird expert

For more information about this free virtual event and to register, please visit our main Science at Sugarlands page.

Bioblitz @ Cave Mountain Trail
2021-07-17 08:00 - 12:00
Bioblitz @ Cave Mountain Trail

Free, family friendly opportunity to learn about local animals and plants while contributing to science. Join Discover Life in America and the Tennessee Valley Authority at the Cave Mountain Small Wild Area on the south side of Guntersville Dam for a bioblitz of the Cave Mountain Trail.

What’s a bioblitz?

During a bioblitz, volunteers help us find as many kinds of animals, plants and other organisms as we can find in a certain place. It’s also an opportunity for you to be a community scientist, gathering real scientific data, while also learning about the local flora and fauna living around you!

What will we be doing?

Walking the Cave Mountain Trail (a moderate 1.5 mile loop), looking for bugs, flowers, and anything else we can find. We’ll photograph them with our phones and post pictures to our iNaturalist project. It’ll be a fun morning of outdoor time in a gorgeous natural space and we’ll have several experts on hand to guide small groups around the trail and point out interesting facts about the organisms we see.

Afterward you can see what kind of organisms we found by visiting the Cave Mountain iNaturalist project, which will be up indefinitely. We encourage you to revisit the site later and post what you find! Making iNaturalist observations helps TVA know what’s out there so they can better manage and protect these public lands.

FREE REGISTRATION

Before the event

Download iNaturalist to your phone (it’s free!)Follow prompts in the app to create an iNaturalist accountBring water and some snacks (we’ll also provide water)Wear weather-appropriate clothing and sturdy shoes for hiking

Where and when to meet?

Meet in the gravel parking area for Cave Mountain Small Wild Area, located on the north side of Snow Point Road/HWY 50 at 8 AM on Saturday, July 17. Cave Mountain SWA is on the south side of the Guntersville Dam near Guntersville, Alabama.

Directions to meeting spot

Helpful links

Cave Mountain iNaturalist projectCave Mountain Trail map (PDF)List of all our bioblitzes with TVATVA RecreationVisit the Smokies? Contribute to our iNaturalist project thereLearn about our iScience schoolyard biodiversity program (grades 5-8)

Have questions?

Ask Will: will@dlia.org

Bioblitz @ East Lakeshore Trail
2021-07-31 08:00 - 12:00
Bioblitz @ East Lakeshore Trail

Free, family friendly opportunity to learn about local animals and plants while contributing to science. Join Discover Life in America and the Tennessee Valley Authority at the East Lakeshore Trail on Tellico Lake in Tennessee.

What’s a bioblitz?

During a bioblitz, volunteers help us find as many kinds of animals, plants and other organisms as we can find in a certain place. It’s also an opportunity for you to be a community scientist, gathering real scientific data, while also learning about the local flora and fauna living around you!

What will we be doing?

Walking a couple of sections of the East Lakeshore Trail, looking for bugs, flowers, and anything else we can find. We’ll photograph them with our phones and post pictures to our iNaturalist project. It’ll be a fun morning of outdoor time in a gorgeous natural space and we’ll have several experts on hand to guide small groups around the trail and point out interesting facts about the organisms we see.

Afterward you can see what kind of organisms we found by visiting the East Lakeshore Trail iNaturalist project, which will be up indefinitely. We encourage you to revisit any part of the 28.8-mile East Lakeshore Trail and post what you find! Making iNaturalist observations helps TVA know what’s out there so they can better manage and protect these public lands.

FREE REGISTRATION

Before the event

Download iNaturalist to your phone (it’s free!)Follow prompts in the app to create an iNaturalist accountBring water and some snacks (we’ll also provide water)Wear weather-appropriate clothing and sturdy shoes for hiking

Where and when to meet?

Meet in the Mizell Trailhead and Parking Area at 8 AM on Saturday, July 31.

The East Lakeshore Trail extends 28.8 miles and is divided into several sections. We’ll focus on the Canal and Baker Hollow Branches of the East Lakeshore Trail, which span 4.5 miles total. We’ll take our time looking for fun flora and fauna and may not cover that full distance.

Directions to meeting spot

Helpful links

East Lakeshore iNaturalist projectTVA’s East Lakeshore Trail information pageList of all our bioblitzes with TVATVA RecreationVisit the Smokies? Contribute to our iNaturalist project thereLearn about our iScience schoolyard biodiversity program (grades 5-8)

Have questions?

Ask Will: will@dlia.org

Science at Sugarlands: Water Bears
2021-08-20 13:00 - 15:00
Water bears of the Smokies

Paul Bartels, Warren Wilson College

Water bears, also called tardigrades or moss piglets, are microscopic creatures that live on moss and in aquatic environments. These tiny creatures have captured the imagination of the world because they are practically indestructible. Learn about water bears from Dr. Paul Bartels, who has studies them in the Smokies for years and even named several new water bear species.

For more information about this free virtual event and to register, please visit our main Science at Sugarlands page.

Photo credit: Kevin FitzPatrick

BioBlitz @ Tennessee National Wildlife Refuge
2021-09-11 09:00 - 13:00 | TNWR Headquarters and Visitor Center, 1371 Wildlife Drive, Springville, Tennessee, United States
BioBlitz @ Tennessee National Wildlife Refuge

Join DLiA, the USFWS and the Tennessee Valley Authority for this free, family-friendly event where you can be a citizen scientist and learn about the natural wonders found at the Tennessee National Wildlife Refuge near Springville, TN!

REGISTER HERE

What will we do?

A BioBlitz is an effort to document all the plants, animals, and other lifeforms that live in a place. DLiA partners with TVA to conduct a series of fun and educational BioBlitzes that help us better understand all the biodiversity on public lands.

The goal of this event is to catalog as many species (plants, insects, birds, fungi, everything) as we can around the Visitor Center and Britton Ford Trail area of TNWR. When we find a new organism, we’ll document it by taking a photo (or recording a sound) with our smartphones and posting it to iNaturalist, a cool community science app.

We’ll have experts on-hand to lead participants and to talk about the biology of the organisms that we encounter. This is a fun and easy way to help gather real scientific data and to learn about all the cool creatures that live all around us!

Can’t make it to the event? We still need you help! You can contribute before and after the BioBlitz by making observations around the TNWR project area (or any of our other BioBlitz sites) in iNaturalist. Your observations will automatically be added to our iNaturalist project, helping us learn more about what species occur at this site, where they occur, and when they are active. It’s that easy! Thanks in advance!

Before the event

Download iNaturalist to your phone (it’s free!)Follow prompts in the app to create an iNaturalist accountBring a mask – participants will be required to wear masks at all timesBring water and some snacks (we’ll also provide water to refill your water bottle)Wear weather-appropriate clothing and sturdy shoes for hiking

Details

Timing: Saturday, September 11, 2021 from 8:00 AM to noon CT

NOTE: This event was rescheduled twice due to COVID, but we are hopeful that the September date will be a go. Previous dates were May 16, 2020 and May 22, 2021.

Location: We’ll focus our efforts around the Tennessee National Wildlife Refuge Headquarters and Visitor Center and the nearby Britton Ford Hiking Trail (east on Wildlife Dr), both within TNWR’s Big Sandy Unit.

WHERE TO MEET: Meet in the parking lot of the TNWR Headquarters and Visitor Center, located at 1371 Wildlife Drive, Springville, TN.

Meeting location (Google Maps)

Other things to know:

We’ll have extra masks if you need one but please bring your own if possiblePorta-potties will be provided on siteThere will be some walking on paved and trail surfaces

Registration: This is a free event, but we do ask that you register using the button above.

Requirements: No experience necessary. Adults and children 10 and up are welcome to participate! Please download the iNaturalist app to your smart device beforehand and follow the prompts to create an iNaturalist account (App Store , Google Play ).

Have questions? Ask Todd: todd@dlia.org or (865) 430-4757

Resources

Map link to meeting location: https://goo.gl/maps/AzD4DwEjMYTw3YXy7iNaturalist project: https://www.inaturalist.org/projects/bioblitz-tn-natl-wildlife-refuge-dlia-tvaList of all our previous BioBlitzes: https://www.inaturalist.org/projects/dlia-bioblitzes-with-tva Visit the Smokies? Contribute to our iNaturalist project there: https://www.inaturalist.org/projects/discover-life-in-america-atbi Learn about our iScience schoolyard biodiversity program (grades 5-8): https://dlia.org/iscience

Science at Sugarlands: Elk
2021-09-17 13:00 - 15:00
Elk of the Smokies

Joseph Yarkovich, Great Smoky Mountains National Park

Elk are native to the eastern US but were lost in the region due to overhunting. They were reintroduced into the park in 2002 and since then, their numbers have continued to climb. Learn about these incredible animals from Joseph Yarkovich, who studies them in the Smokies.

For more information about this free virtual event and to register, please visit our main Science at Sugarlands page.

Photo credit: Garrett Hargiss

Science at Sugarlands: Herbarium
2021-10-15 13:00 - 15:00
The Smokies Herbarium

Janie Bitner, volunteer in the Natural History Collection at Great Smoky Mountains National Park

The park’s herbarium houses thousands of plant specimens and other flora from around the park, from common trees to rare and endangered plants. Janie has been volunteering in the herbarium for decades now and she’ll tell you all about it! Here is a preview.

For more information about this free virtual event and to register, please visit our main Science at Sugarlands page.

Science at Sugarlands: Beetles
2022-05-20 13:00 - 15:00
Beetles of the Smokies

Victoria Bayless, Curator, Louisiana State Arthropod Museum

Great Smoky Mountains National Park contains over 2,600 known beetle species. Victoria Bayless had a hand in discovering many of them through her work with the All Taxa Biodiversity Inventory (ATBI). Learn about the incredible diversity of beetles in the Smokies and why they’re so important and awesome!

Visit our main Science at Sugarlands page to for more information, registration for this free virtual talk, and recordings of past Science at Sugarlands presentations.

Science at Sugarlands: Safe Passage
2022-06-17 13:00 - 15:00
Safe Passage: helping wildlife cross the I-40 Pigeon River Gorge

Jeff Hunter, National Parks Conservation Association

Safe Passage is a coalition of folks working to create safe crossings for wildlife to cross Interstate 40 and other roadways in the Smokies area. It’s also the subject of a book from Great Smoky Mountains Association, called ‘A Search for Safe Passage‘. Learn about this project, how it started, and how it’s going from Jeff Hunter, project manager at NPCA and Safe Passage Facilitator.

Visit our main Science at Sugarlands page to for more information, registration for this free virtual talk, and recordings of past Science at Sugarlands presentations.

// A Search for Safe Passage book cover image borrowed from smokiessafepassage.org

Science at Sugarlands: Nematodes
2022-08-19 13:00 - 15:00
The fascinating world of nematodes

Tom Powers, University of Nebraska-Lincoln

Largely unseen, nematodes–also called round worms–are tiny creatures and they’re everywhere! Some help recycle nutrients in the soil and water, some are predators, and others are parasites of animals, plants and other living things. Together, they serve many important roles in keeping our ecosystem functioning. Tom Powers will talk about his work studying these cryptic, fascinating creatures in the Smokies.

Visit our main Science at Sugarlands page to for more information, registration for this free virtual talk, and recordings of past Science at Sugarlands presentations.

// Cover photo: A nematode under the microscope. Photo by DLiA

Science at Sugarlands: Spring Wildflower Pilgrimage
2022-09-16 13:00 - 15:00
The Spring Wildflower Pilgrimage: 72 years of public education in the Smokies

Joey Shaw, University of Tennessee at Chattanooga

The Spring Wildflower Pilgrimage is an annual event that draws in thousands of nature enthusiasts (“pilgrims”) to the area to attend expert-guided nature walks, hikes, and informational sessions celebrating the beauty of the Great Smoky Mountains. Joey Shaw, who tirelessly organizes the event every year, will talk about the past, present and future of the 72-year-old pilgrimage.

Visit our main Science at Sugarlands page to for more information, registration for this free virtual talk, and recordings of past Science at Sugarlands presentations.

// Cover photo: trout lily and spring beauty by Will Kuhn

Science at Sugarlands: Monarchs
2022-10-21 13:00 - 15:00
Tremont’s monarch monitoring program in Cades Cove

Erin Canter, Great Smoky Mountains Institute at Tremont

Erin Canter, manager of science literacy and research at Great Smoky Mountains Institute at Tremont, will talk about Tremont’s community science program to tag and monitor monarch butterflies as they develop and migrate through the Smokies.

Visit our main Science at Sugarlands page to for more information, registration for this free virtual talk, and recordings of past Science at Sugarlands presentations.

// Cover photo: monarch butterfly on Queen Anne’s lace by Will Kuhn

GSMNP Science Colloquium 2023
2023-03-02 09:00 - 16:00
2023 Park Science Colloquium

Tune into the Great Smoky Mountains National Park 2023 Science Colloquium, presented by GSMNP and DLiA! Learn about a wide variety of scientific topics, from natural history to weather and fire to geology and more, from researchers currently working in the Smokies. Registration is free and open to the public.

Location: Virtual via Zoom

Registration: Registration is free! Just follow the link below. You’ll receive a Zoom link over email that you can use to view the Colloquium on March 2nd. The audience will also be able to ask questions of the speakers following their talks. Speakers DO NOT need to register and will receive Zoom link via email.

Free registration

Schedule and abstracts: The following schedule for 2023 is still in flux, so talks may still get switched around. Abstracts are available at the link below. Check back here for the latest updates.

2023 schedule & abstracts (PDF)

2022 recorded talks (YouTube)

Information for presenters

Submit a talk

Call for submissions: We welcome you to submit a presentation about your research that is either actively taking place in Great Smoky Mountains National Park or that is of significance to the Smokies, and that is at a stage in analysis where a full picture of the research can be presented. Note: due to time constraints, we may not be able to fit all submitted talks. Paul Super will be contacting potential presenters via email about submitting a presentation.

Important dates

December 15, 2022 – deadline to indicate intent to present. Send tentative title and presenter name to Paul Super (Paul_Super@nps.gov)

February 3, 2023 – deadline to submit abstract, final title, and presenter/co-author names and affiliations to Paul Super

Week of February 13, 2023 – presenters will receive a Zoom Webinar invitation via email; meeting registration will be available here for non-presenter attendees

Helpful information

Conference format: The Colloquium will be held virtually via Zoom’s Webinar platform. Presenters will be set as “panelists” on the Webinar, meaning that they can do most of the normal functions of a Zoom Meeting (share video, audio, and screen). Audience members will be able to ask questions and we will help manage questions. We’ll send presenters more information about what to expect closer to the colloquium.

Time slots: Presentation slots will be 12-20 minutes (including time for questions). We will send you a finalized schedule close to the event and will provide more details about the Q&A after each talk.

Presentation format: Slide decks can be in any format (speakers will share their screen via Zoom), however we recommend PowerPoint, PDF, Google Slides or Keynote in wide-format (16:9).

Know your audience: Please note that many in the audience will have advanced degrees, but few will have advanced degrees in your topic, so plan to provide a bit of explanation of technical jargon and stay away from acronyms.

Recording presentations: We plan to record presentations and upload them publicly to our YouTube channel as we’ve done the past few years (view last year’s recordings). Please let Paul Super know if you DO NOT want your presentation to be recorded.

Rocky Top BioBlitz
2023-10-12 09:00 - 15:00 | University of TN- in front of Ayres Hall, 1403 Circle Dr, Knoxville, Tennessee, 37916, United States
Join us on the University of TN campus for the Rocky Top BioBlitz—a biological survey focused on identifying as many species as possible in a defined area over a short period of time—from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. Thursday, October 12. Look for our tent outside Ayres Hall.

During the Rocky Top BioBlitz, participants will walk around campus looking for any kind of life: birds, insects, plants, and even fungi. They will document what they find by taking pictures and uploading them to an app called iNaturalist. The app is available for both iOS and Android devices.

Make sure to download the iNaturalist app before the event!

Get the iNaturalist app.

Download the app. Log in. Try it out.

ANDROID

iOS

Cane Creek Canyon BioBlitz
2023-10-13 18:00 - 2023-10-14 12:00 | Cane Creek Canyon Nature Preserve, 251 Loop Rd, Tuscumbia, 35674, United States
Land Trust of North Alabama will host a Cane Creek Canyon Nature Preserve BioBlitz conducted by Discover Life in America (DLiA), a nonprofit organization out of Tennessee that specializes in biodiversity inventory and conservation, and the Tennessee Valley Authority.

A BioBlitz is a citizen science event where participants learn about the plants and animals in a specific place as they look for and document them for research purposes, and we’d like to invite you to be a part of ours! This event is for both newbies and experts as well as amateurs and professionals in the various fields of natural science.

Participants will move through the southern part of the preserve using the iNaturalist app to document observed flora and fauna. There will also be short presentations on a variety of natural science topics conducted by DLiA as well as the Land Trust, Cane Creek Canyon Nature Preserve regulars, and possibly students and faculty from University of North Alabama. These same people will serve as subject matter experts as participants document their findings.

Event Website

Location: Cane Creek Canyon Nature Preserve – 251 Loop Rd, Tuscumbia, AL 35674

What to Wear/Bring: Dress appropriately for the weather. This is a rain or shine event, though thunderstorms will cause cancelation. Set up your iNaturalist account in advance. Please note, there is limited (or no) cell service at the preserve.

Registration: Please register to join the bioblitz. You can sign up to attend one or both days. Please register for each day you plan to participate.

Friday, October 13 from 6-10:00 PM

Sign-up

Saturday, October 14 from 8 AM – 12 PM

Sign-up

GSMNP Science Colloquium 2024
2024-03-07 09:00 - 16:00
Tune into the Great Smoky Mountains National Park 2024 Science Colloquium, presented by GSMNP and DLiA! Learn about a wide variety of scientific topics, new species of cave spiders and dusky salamanders, to wetlands along the Foothills Parkway, strategic use of social media to reduce overcrowding, and lots more, all from researchers working in the Smokies. All are welcome! Registration is free and open to the public.

Recorded talks from the 2024 Colloquium are now up on YouTube! You can find them>>> here <<<

Location: Virtual via Zoom

Registration: Registration is free! Just follow the link below. You’ll receive a Zoom link over email that you can use to view the Colloquium on March 7th. The audience will also be able to ask questions of the speakers following their talks. Speakers DO NOT need to register and will receive Zoom link via email.

Schedule and abstracts: The schedule below and the linked PDF will be updated with any changes to talk times or talk information. Check back for the most up-to-date version.

2024 Schedule & Abstracts (PDF)

2023 recorded talks (YouTube)

2022 recorded talks (YouTube)

Information for presenters

Submit a talk

Call for submissions: We welcome you to submit a presentation about your research that is either actively taking place in Great Smoky Mountains National Park or that is of significance to the Smokies, and that is at a stage in analysis where a full picture of the research can be presented. Note: due to time constraints, we may not be able to fit all submitted talks. Paul Super will be contacting potential presenters via email about submitting a presentation.

Important dates

Friday, February 2nd – deadline to submit talk information to Paul Super (paul_super@nps.gov): (1) final title, (2) abstract, and (3) names and affiliations of the presenter and co-authors

Week of February 5th – presenters will receive a tentative schedule and can OK their timeslot before the schedule is posted on this page

Week of February 19th – presenters will receive a Zoom Webinar invitation via email; meeting registration will be available here for non-presenter attendees

Helpful information

Conference format: The Colloquium will be held virtually via Zoom’s Webinar platform. Presenters will be set as “panelists” on the Webinar, meaning that they can do most of the normal functions of a Zoom Meeting (share video, audio, and screen). Audience members will be able to ask questions and we will help manage questions. We’ll send presenters more information about what to expect closer to the colloquium.

Time slots: Presentation slots will be around 20 minutes (including time for questions). We will send you a finalized schedule close to the event and will provide more details about the Q&A after each talk.

Presentation format: Slide decks can be in any format (speakers will share their screen via Zoom), however we recommend PowerPoint, PDF, Google Slides or Keynote in wide-format (16:9).

Know your audience: Please note that many in the audience will have advanced degrees, but few will have advanced degrees in your topic, so plan to provide a bit of explanation of technical jargon and stay away from acronyms.

Recording presentations: We plan to record presentations and upload them publicly to our YouTube channel as we’ve done the past few years (view last year’s recordings). Please let Paul Super know if you DO NOT want your presentation to be recorded.

Moss and Bryophyte 'Blitz
2024-04-16 10:00 - 15:00
Meet at Sugarlands Visitor Center

Join us to learn about and survey moss and bryophytes in Great Smoky Mountains National Park! This is a community science event that is open to all ages and skill levels. Volunteers will help DLiA staff to record moss and other non-vascular plants using the iNaturalist app! We will cover about 3-4 miles on a moderate trail in GSMNP.

Questions? Email our volunteer coordinator, Jaimie Matzko, jaimie@dlia.org

Register Here

Get the iNaturalist app.

Download the app. Log in. Try it out.

ANDROID

iOS

Great Smokies Eco-Adventure: April 21-23
2024-04-21 12:00 - 2024-04-23 16:00
Mark your calendar for an immersive Smokies experience like none other! Spend your days exploring the wilds of Great Smoky Mountains National Park and your nights glamorously camping off the grid. DLiA and partner A Walk in the Woods bring you an exclusive 3-day, 2-night adventure, with expert-led nature hikes, camping in a luxurious off-grid setting, mouth-watering, local food and drink, and much more. All proceeds from this fundraising event will help DLiA discover and conserve the rich biodiversity of the Smokies.

A Walk in the Woods has generously provided access to Camp Atagahi, their staff, and their Smokies expertise to make this event really shine!

DLiA’s Will, Jaimie, and Todd will be your guides for the duration of the Eco-Adventure. They’re excited to be your gracious hosts and share their expert knowledge of the natural and cultural history of the Smokies!

The Great Smokies Eco-Adventure is a truly unique experience!

Guided hikes in Great Smoky Mountains National Park to learn about local flora and fauna, including wildflowers and other plants, pollinators and insects, fungi and more!

Hike on a section of the legendary Appalachian Trail (AT)

Morning bird-watching at camp

Guided night hike to look for nocturnal creatures, using a bat detector and UV flashlights.

Evening campfires to share stories and s’mores

Freshly prepared meals, including beer and wine.

Luxury Camping Accommodations, including spacious tents with cots and mattress

Enjoy hot showers after a day on the trail

Purchase Tickets

Yo

Camp Atagahi

The Great Smokies Eco-Adventure is co-hosted by Discover Life in America and A Walk in the Woods. As an award-winning, locally owned and operated tour guide company, A Walk in the Woods has been helping people get the most out of their Smoky Mountains experience for over 23 years, serving over 100,000 visitors along the way!

All meals are included with your ticket price, prepared on site with local produce, cheeses, and other ingredients. Vegan and vegetarian options are available. Beer and wine are also provided as well as soft drinks of your choice. (We’ll inquire about your dietary restrictions and beverage choices close to the event.)

Camp Atagahi is A Walk in the Woods’ premiere off-grid camping facility located in a small valley just north of the National Park boundary between Pitman Center and Cosby, Tennessee. It features a well-stocked off-grid commercial kitchen and excellent bathroom facility with running water, flush toilets, and hot showers. Guests are lulled to sleep at night by the babbling creek that flows through camp. Tents are spacious, mounted on wooden platforms, and feature a covered “front porch” area where you can sit and enjoy a glass of wine, listening to the sounds of nature.

Guided Hikes in the Smokies

The Great Smokies Eco-Adventure in April features guided hikes during peak wildflower season in Great Smoky Mountains National Park (a short drive from Camp Atagahi). We’ll keep it slow and easy-going, with lots of stops to admire and talk about the Smokies’ incredible biodiversity, including native trees, pollinating insects, birds, and more. We’ll also share our expert knowledge of the cultural history of the landscape.

Our one-of-a-kind hikes will leave you with a new appreciation for the incredible variety of life in the Smokies region and they’re really fun, too!

Eco-Adventure Itinerary

Sunday, April 21: Guests will meet in GSMNP at noon and enjoy light snacks and introductions. We’ll go on guided hike led by DLiA staff on the Twin Creeks Trail (Total trail mileage under 2 miles) In the late afternoon, we’ll get load up our gear and get transported to A Walk in the Woods’ private off-grid camp located near Cosby and settle into our not-too-rustic glamping accommodations. We’ll have drinks and a wholesome dinner. We’ll finish off with s’mores around a campfire.

Monday, April 22: We’ll have locally-sourced coffee and a hot breakfast at camp and pack sack lunches. We’ll then head to the Greenbrier area in GSMNP on our hike to Fern Branch Falls on the Porter’s Creek trail. This hike is 4 miles round-trip and is considered moderate. We’ll arrive back at camp by late afternoon and enjoy southern fixins’ around the campfire. If you’re up for it, we’ll go for a night hike at the camp to look for nocturnal critters.

Tuesday, April 23: We’ll start with a hot breakfast, pack sack lunches, and pack up our gear. If the conditions and views are favorable, we head up to the high elevations in the park for a hike along the infamous Appalachian Trail. We’ll finish up around 4 pm. We’ll say our goodbyes and guests will depart.

Please note: The itinerary may change due to weather conditions, park closures or at the discretion of DLIA.

Purchase Tickets

Tickets: $950 per person

Your ticket purchase supports Discover Life in America (a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization), helping us continue our work as a partner of Great Smoky Mountains National Park. Tickets are $950 per person, which includes accommodations, food and alcohol, as well as expert-guided nature hikes.

Pricing is based on double occupancy of tents, so if you are traveling alone, you may be assigned to share a tent with someone of the same gender.

REGISTRATION CLOSES: April 1, 2024

CANCELLATION POLICY: Full payment is due upon ticket purchase. If you decide to cancel your spot, we will refund your ticket only if we are able to sell your ticket. No refunds will be given after registration closes on April 1st.

What will your ticket purchase support

Biodiversity research in the Smokies

Our biology interships…

…and photo/videography internships

Biodiversity education

Public engagement through community science

Conservation of creatures great and small in the Smokies

Specifically, you’ll help support

research with the All Taxa Biodiversity Inventory, aimed at cataloging, understanding, and ultimately conserving the 21,000+ species that call the Smokies home

our world-class summer internship program, where we train the next generation of scientists and nature advocates through an immersive experience in the Smokies

our educational programming in and around Great Smoky Mountains NP, fostering nature literacy among our community ( iScience and Smokies Most Wanted)

and much more!

ELECTRICITY AND CELL SERVICE: There is no electricity at Camp Atagahi other than a battery back that you may use to charge your phone. There is little to no cell reception at the Camp and in the National Park. Please plan accordingly. If you use a CPAP machine to sleep, you may consider purchasing an appropriate battery pack to power that device during the event.

FAQs

Q. What is the expected weather?

April in the Smokies is usually mild, with daytime temperatures reaching the 50s and 60s, and nighttime sometimes approaching the freezing mark. It’s best to wear layers that you can shed if it’s warm or pile on for those cool nights. But this of course varies from year to year. The region does receive lots of rain (which fuels the growth of all those wildflowers), so be sure to pack a rain jacket or poncho.

Q. How many people will be in attendance?

Space is limited to 15 attendees at the eco-camp where we’ll be staying (2 people per tent with 10 tents). This is a nice group size that permits lots of one-on-one interaction with your guides.

Q. If don’t consider myself a serious hiker, will I be able to keep up?

Our hikes are very much tailored to the abilities and interests of the group and generally follow a leisurely pace as we stop and look at insects, mushrooms, and lots of other sights to see. As long as you are able to walk around 4 miles over several hours, you should be fine.

Q. If I come to the Eco-Adventure alone, will I have to share a tent?

The ticket price for this event is based on double occupancy, so expect that singletons may be paired with another same-gender singleton. This is a fantastic opportunity to meet a fellow nature lover and future friend!

Q. What is included in the ticket price?

The ticket price includes all accommodations, food (including vegetarian and vegan options), alcoholic and non-alcoholic beverages, and expert-led hikes from noon Sunday through Tuesday afternoon.

Q. What do I need to bring?

Please bring a sleeping bag, towel, day pack and wear sturdy hiking shoes, rain gear and cool weather clothing. Also, please bring a well-fitting face mask. Tents, cots, sleeping pads, and other basics are all provided. You can find a full list of required and recommended items above on this page. Attendees will receive additional information via email prior to the event.

Q. Will there be electricity or cell service at the camp?

Camp Atagahi does not have grid electricity, however, we will provide a battery back that you can use to charge your cell phone and other small electronics. There is little to no cell signal in the area. The Eco-Adventure is a great chance to step away from the busy world and enjoy some screen-free time in nature!

Q. If I have any other questions, who should I contact?

Please contact DLiA’s Biodiversity Program Specialist, Jaimie Matzko, at jaimie@dlia.org and she’ll be happy to answer your questions about the Eco-Adventure. You can also visit dlia.org to learn more about DLiA’s work in the Smokies.

High Elevation Pollinator 'Blitz
2024-05-04 08:00 - 13:00
Questions? Email our volunteer coordinator, Jaimie Matzko, jaimie@dlia.org

Register Here

Get the iNaturalist app.

Download the app. Log in. Try it out.

ANDROID

iOS
