Discover Life in America

Fireflies at Norton Creek 2022
2022-06-09 19:00 - 2022-06-12 23:00 (America/New_York) | Tennessee
Fireflies at Norton Creek

Synchronous fireflies light up the road at Norton Creek // Photo: Abbott Nature Photography. All rights reserved.

Watch the Smokies’ magical fireflies in style! Our annual firefly event is a one-of-a-kind viewing experience. From the comfort of a luxurious private reserve, enjoy food and drink surrounded by gorgeous natural scenery, and witness an incredible display of synchronous and blue ghost fireflies (and other glowing critters) guided by our knowledgeable staff. Four nights to choose from. This is an evening you won’t forget! All proceeds help us at Discover Life in America carry out our mission to understand and conserve the diversity of life in the Smokies. SOLD OUT!

NOTE: This is NOT the synchronous firefly lottery at Elkmont in Great Smoky Mountains National Park. This is a private fundraising event located on private land adjacent to the park.

Waitlist (all 4 nights)

Hemlock House overview

Gorgeous Hemlock House

A magnificent ravine for fireflies

Synchronous fireflies’ woodland display //Abbott Nature

Synchronous firefly adult //Abbott Nature

Blue ghost male //Abbott Nature

Blue ghost female //Abbott Nature

Trails left by blue ghosts //Abbott Nature

Firefly larva (Photuris sp.) //Abbott Nature

What to expect

Location: Norton Creek Preserve, a 3000-acre tract adjacent to Great Smoky Mountains NP, near Gatlinburg, TN. Detailed directions will be sent to ticketholders before the event.Food is included: heavy hors d’oeuvres by Whole Earth Grocery, including vegetarian optionsDrinks are included: local beer as well as wine, sodas, and tea Includes expert-guided firefly viewing: we’ll point out different firefly species and answer your firefly questionsLight, uphill walking will be involved on paved and gravel surfacesRain or shine: we’ll hold the event even if rain is forecast (see FAQs)No pets allowedOpen to kids 10 and up (ticket required for each child)More information: ticketholders will receive an email with directions and details around mid-MayFAQs: read our list of frequently asked questions for more information

COVID-19 POLICY: We believe in science and take coronavirus seriously! We will follow the latest CDC guidance at this event to keep our guests, staff, and volunteers safe. We will update ticketholders with current information as the event approaches. Please keep in mind that you will be required to wear a mask during the indoor part of the event.

New this year:Candlelight Dinner

Friday, June 10 at 7 pm – SOLD OUT!

Experience this extravagant night of friendship, food and frolicking with the Smokies’ famous synchronized fireflies.

Earl and Margit Worsham will receive you in their home together with Board member Lee Naughton and husband Eugene, Dollywood Company President to a special dinner and drinks prepared by Dollywood’s own Master Chef. Music, Full Bar, Signature Cocktails and Live Auction.

The evening will conclude with a guided viewing of the magnificent synchronous fireflies that call Norton Creek home, and their other bioluminescent brethren, including blue ghost fireflies and other glowing insects.

Tickets are limited. $500 per person.

// photo: Abbott Nature Photography

What people love about our event

Guided firefly viewing. Our knowledgeable staff will point out different firefly species to you and can tell you what makes each one special.It’s private. This event is held on private land and we only host around 50 guests per night. Each guest can witness the magic on their own without the crowds.The venue is magnificent! You’ll love exploring the guest house where we start our event and the gorgeous surrounding property nestled in the Smoky Mountains.It’s dark. We try to keep things very dark so your eyes can adjust, allowing you to see the wonderful bioluminescence around you. (Don’t worry, we’ve got lights if you need them.)

Four nights to choose from

Thursday, June 9, 2022 @ 7pm – $225 per person SOLD OUT!Friday, June 10, 2022 @ 7 pm – candlelight dinner, $500 per person SOLD OUT!Saturday, June 11, 2022 @ 7pm – $225 per person SOLD OUT!Sunday, June 12, 2022 @ 7pm – $225 per person SOLD OUT!

Tickets

Tickets for Thursday, Saturday, and Sunday nights are $225 per person and $500 per person for Friday. Tickets are open to anyone 10 years of age or older (children under 10 are not allowed at this event). Each ticket is for a single night of the event. Purchase your tickets early. We do sell out! All proceeds from this event support DLiA and our work in Great Smoky Mountains National Park (learn more).

Waitlist (all 4 nights)

Cancellation policy

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

Questions?

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

FAQs

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

A. Nope. 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! You can expect a lot of value for the ticket price AND you’re supporting Discover Life in America and our important work in the Smokies! 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 to explore the private venue, which is not open to the public. It’s a gorgeous house made from rough-hewn hemlocks and decorated with birch bark that’s set on a pastoral hilltop right next to the national park. You’ll have one-on-one time with Will Kuhn, our resident 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 confident that you’ll enjoy yourself and learn something new!

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 nine 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 the 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. Where should I stay during the event?

A. Lodging is not included as part of the Fireflies Event; but there are ample hotel options in Gatlinburg and Pigeon Forge. These are the two closest large communities to the venue and they’re about equal distance from it. There are also lots of cabins and small rental properties along “The Spur” (The Spur is a section of the Foothills Parkway connecting Pigeon Forge and Gatlinburg; a.k.a. HWY 441).

Q. Are kids allowed at this event?

A. Children 10 years of age or older may attend this event with ticket purchase. Children under 10 years of age are not allowed to attend this event.

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. Note, the first part of the event takes place inside. We recommend that you bring a light rain jacket in case we get a little rain during viewing, which takes place outside but under a protective forest canopy. Rain or shine, it’s going to be great!

Q. In the description for this event, you mention “other glowing critters.” What do you mean?

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 will see some of the nine other glowing firefly species in the region while we wait for the synchronous and blue ghost fireflies to start their show. We usually find the glowing larvae of a number of these species, as well. So much bioluminescence!

Science at Sugarlands: Beetles
2022-05-20 13:00 - 15:00 (America/New_York) | Tennessee
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.

Bioblitz @ River Bluff Trail
2022-05-06 17:30 - 2022-05-07 12:00 (America/New_York) | Tennessee
Bioblitz @ River Bluff 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 River Bluff Trail below the Norris Dam in Rocky Top, Tennessee.

WEATHER UPDATE: Unfortunately, the weather outlook for Friday is not looking great so we are cancelling the Friday night session and extending the Saturday May 7th session from 8 AM – 2 PM (we previously planned to end at noon). Registrants are welcome to join us on Saturday no matter which day you originally signed up for; no need to change your registration. We will provide water, but please bring your own snacks or lunch if you think you’ll get hungry before 2 PM.

Register

What’s a bioblitz?

During a bioblitz, volunteers help document 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 part of the River Bluff Trail, looking for bugs, flowers, salamanders, 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 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 River Bluff Trail project on iNaturalist, which will be left up indefinitely. We encourage you to revisit the River Bluff 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.

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

Two chances to ‘blitz!

Join us Friday (May 6) night 5:30-9:30 pm to see what evening critters we can find, or join us Saturday (May 7) morning 8 am-noon, or come for both! We’ll meet at the same location for both. See update below.

WEATHER UPDATE: Unfortunately, the weather outlook for Friday is not looking great so we are cancelling the Friday night session and extending the Saturday May 7th session from 8 AM – 2 PM (we previously planned to end at noon). Registrants are welcome to join us on Saturday no matter which day you originally signed up for; no need to change your registration. We will provide water, but please bring your own snacks or lunch if you think you’ll get hungry before 2 PM.

Where to meet?

Meet at the River Bluff Trail parking lot.

The River Bluff Trail is a 3.2-mile loop that traverses TVA’s River Bluff Small Wild Area, located just below the Norris Dam in Rocky Top, TN. We’ll take our time looking for fun flora and fauna and may not cover that full distance.

Google Maps directions to meeting spot

Helpful links

River Bluff Trail iNaturalist projectRiver Bluff Trail map and informationList of all our bioblitzes with TVATVA RecreationVisit the Smokies? Contribute to our Smokies Most Wanted projectLearn about our iScience schoolyard biodiversity program (grades 5-8)

Have questions?

Ask Will: will@dlia.org

Great Smokies Eco-Adventure 2022
2022-04-10 12:00 - 2022-04-12 16:00 (America/New_York) | Tennessee
Great Smokies Eco-Adventure

Experience the Smokies like never before! Spend your days exploring the wilds of Great Smoky Mountains National Park and your nights glamorously camping off the grid. DLiA is partnering with A Walk in the Woods to bring you this exclusive 3-day, 2-night adventure that will include guided hikes and nature walks, camping in a luxurious off-grid setting, great 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. Book now! Registration deadline extended to March 31!

PURCHASE TICKETS

The Eco-Adventure was a great experience! The Smoky Mountains are a significant natural resource and we learned so much more about them because our expert guides Will and Todd were there to answer our endless questions. The group size was small, which made it so that we all got lots of contact with the guides and with each other. Thank you! Patrick from Raleigh

Get a backstage pass to the Smokies! Learn about the park’s wildflowers, trees, birds, insects and other life from experts that study it every day.

Savor delicious locally-sourced food & drink!

Comfy glamping accomodations

Rustic, but not too rustic!

Enjoy hand-made, locally sourced cuisine from our off-grid camp kitchen

Off-grid, but with hot showers!

Learn about trees, wildflowers and more!

Scenic, guided hikes among the lush green forests of the Smokies

Tentative schedule

The 2-night adventure begins at noon Sunday, April 10th and will conclude on Tuesday afternoon, April 12th. Here’s a rough schedule, which is flexible depending on the interests of the group…

SUNDAY Guests will meet at Sugarlands Visitor Center at noon and enjoy light snacks and a guided insect hike led by DLiA’s resident entomologist, Will Kuhn. In the late afternoon, we’ll head 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 heavy hors d’oeuvres. We’ll finish off with s’mores around a campfire.

MONDAY We’ll have locally-sourced coffee and a hot breakfast at camp and pack sack lunches. We’ll then take a moderately difficult hike to see spring wildflowers. We’ll arrive back at camp in 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. We might even see blue ghost fireflies!

TUESDAY We’ll start with a hot breakfast, pack sack lunches, and pack up our gear. Guests will again have a choice between two day hikes: a more strenuous guided through-hike along Gabes Mountain Trail or an easier hike in the Cosby area of the park. We’ll finish up around 4 pm. We’ll say our goodbyes and guests will depart.

Your hosts

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!

A Walk in the Woods has generously provided their camp, staff, and Smokies expertise to make this new and exciting fundraising event possible and we are so excited to work with them!

You’ll meet Will Kuhn and Todd Witcher from DLiA, who can tell you all about different kinds of Smokies biodiversity and who will assist with the guided hikes.

Tickets: $950 per person

This is a fundraising event for DLiA. All proceeds will help DLiA continue its work in Great Smoky Mountains National Park. Tickets are $950 per person, which includes your accommodation, food, and alcohol during the event as well as expert-led hikes (details below).

REGISTRATION CLOSES: Deadline extended to March 31st!

CANCELLATION POLICY: Full payment is due upon ticket purchase. If you decide to cancel your spot, we are happy to refund your full payment if and only if we are able to fill your slot before the event.

IMPORTANT NOTE: All attendees are required to show either proof of COVID-19 vaccination (at least one dose) or a negative COVID-19 test result taken no earlier than 3 days prior to the event. No exceptions.

PURCHASE TICKETS

What does 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, your support will fund

our continuing research work with the All Taxa Biodiversity Inventory, aimed at cataloging, understanding, and ultimately conserving the 21,000+ species that call the Smokies homeour world-class summer internship program, where we train the next generation of conservationists through an immersive experience in the Smokiesour educational programming in and around Great Smoky Mountains NP, fostering nature literacy among our community (Science @ Sugarlands, iScience, Smokies Most Wanted)and much more!

What’s included?

Food & drink

Food is included with your ticket purchase, including vegetarian and vegan options, as are drinks, including local beer and wine. Guests should plan to eat lunch before arriving on Sunday though we will provide light snacks. We will ask you about dietary restrictions and drink preferences when we send out your welcome information close to the event. We will do our best to accommodate all your needs.

Lodging and other

This is a “glamping” (glamorous camping) event and accommodations are rustic, but comfortable. The camp is off-the-grid–no municipal power or water–but it has many of the amenities of home, including hot showers and running water, a well-stocked camp kitchen, and a battery pack for lighting and to charge your phone as needed. You’ll sleep in a spacious 2-person tent with a comfy cot topped by a thick sleeping pad. Pricing is based on double occupancy.

Guided hikes led by the experts

You’ll have full access to experts from Discover Life in America, who will take you on guided hikes and answer your questions about life in the Smokies, the history and natural history of the region, and much more. We’ll point out all the incredible spring wildflowers that should be in bloom during the event as well as the fascinating insects that pollinate them.

What to bring

Required

sleeping bag towelday packhiking shoes/bootsrain jacketwater bottlecool weather clothing and jacketwell-fitting face mask

Recommended

travel pillowflashlight or headlamp with fresh batteriesinsect repellentsunscreentoiletries

Where & when to meet

Meet at Sugarlands Visitor Center, Bus parking lot (closest to Little River Road) at noon on Sunday. We will send out instructions and follow-up information to ticket holders as the event approaches.

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 dramatically 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. What COVID precautions will be in place?

Each attendee is required to show either proof of COVID-19 vaccination or to present a negative COVID-19 test result taken no more than 3 days prior to the event. Attendees should bring a mask for times when we’re together inside a vehicle or other indoor spaces. These precautions aside, the nature of this event—being mostly outdoors—renders it fairly low-risk in the COVID era. All activities will take place in covered open-air facilities or on open trails with lots of airflow.

Q. How many people will be in attendance?

Space is limited to 20 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 flowers, insects, mushrooms, and lots of other sites to see. As long as you are able to walk around 5 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 vegan options), alcoholic and non-alcoholic beverages, and expert-led hikes from noon Sunday through Tuesday afternoon.

Q. What do I need to bring?

Tents, cots, sleeping pads, and other basics are all provided. 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. You can find a full list of required and recommended items above on this page. Attendees will receive additional information prior to the event via email.

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

Please contact Todd Witcher (todd@dlia.org) and he’ll be happy to answer your questions about the Eco-Adventure. You can also visit dlia.org to learn more about this event and DLiA’s work in the Smokies.

Blue Ridge Parkway Research and Science Symposium
2022-04-05 12:30 - 16:00 (America/New_York) | Tennessee
Blue Ridge Parkway Research and Science Symposium

The Blue Ridge Parkway issues around three dozen research permits each year, but research isn’t science until the results are shared with the broader community. The Blue Ridge Parkway Science Symposium is one way Parkway research partners can share their results and insights for the understanding and protection of our Parkway. The 3rd occasional Symposium will be offered virtually on Tuesday, April 5th, and will feature talks about geology, turtles, lichens, bats, rattlesnakes, bees, and other topics. The Symposium is free and though the talks will be scientific, the speakers have been asked to be sure that they give enough background that those who are not specialists in their fields can follow their talks.

Hosts: Blue Ridge Parkway, Appalachian Highlands Science Learning Center, Blue Ridge Parkway Foundation, and Discover Life in America

Location: virtual via Zoom

Registration, schedule and more information: >>here<<

iNaturalist Workshop for Teachers
2022-03-03 15:00 - 16:30 (America/New_York) | Tennessee
iNaturalist Workshop for Teachers

Join us for a free virtual workshop to learn about DLiA’s iScience program and how teachers and students can use the app iNaturalist to study biodiversity. The workshop is geared towards educators of iScience-age students in grades 5-8, but educators who work with different age groups, parents, and others are all welcome. It will follow the Park Science Colloquium (also free) and we encourage participants to attend both events.

Workshop registration

Science Colloquium

About the workshop

Discover the biodiversity that surrounds you! iScience is a schoolyard biodiversity program that invites students in grades 5-8 to learn about local species. Created in partnership by Discover Life in America and the Tennessee Valley Authority, iScience offers resources and training for biodiversity exploration. Students use the iNaturalist app to observe and identify species, learning about the plants, animals, and other organisms that make up local ecosystems. In this workshop, we will discuss the resources iScience offers, how to use the iNaturalist app to make an observation, and how the iNaturalist app is being used for data collection in Great Smoky Mountains National Park.

Questions? Contact aurora@dlia.org

Who can attend?

The workshop is open to anyone including teachers, other educators, and parents, but will be aimed toward those educating 5th to 8th graders.

Before the workshop

Before the workshop, please download iNaturalist on your Apple or Android device and follow instructions in the app to create an account. Feel free to explore the app beforehand and bring your questions about it to the workshop.

Join the Science Colloquium

We encourage participants to join the Great Smoky Mountains National Park Science Colloquium, a series of virtual presentations from scientists working in the Smokies. Talks will be on a variety of fascinating topics and are geared for a general audience. It will take place the same day (March 3rd) from 9:00 AM to 4:00 PM ET, also on Zoom. Learn more and register for that free conference at this page.

GSMNP Science Colloquium 2022
2022-03-03 09:00 - 16:00 (America/New_York) | Tennessee
2022 Park Science Colloquium

Great Smoky Mountains National Park and DLiA present the annual 2022 Science Colloquium virtually over Zoom. Learn about the science happening in Great Smoky Mountains National Park from the local and regional researchers that are making it happen! Registration is free and open to the public.

Location: virtual via Zoom

Registration: It’s free! Use the button below. Speakers DO NOT need to register and will receive a custom Zoom link via email.

Schedule & abstracts (PDF)

Teacher workshop

Missed the colloquium? No problem! Talk recordings are available on YouTube!

View recorded talks here

Updated 3/2/2022. Click to expand. Note: final schedule may vary slightly.

Join our teacher workshop

DLiA will be hosting a virtual workshop for teachers at the end of the colloquium. We welcome teachers, other educators, and parents to join both events.

Check out the workshop page for details and registration.

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.

Submitting a presentation: The deadline to submit a presentation for the 2022 Colloquium has now passed.

Important dates

December 16, 2021 – deadline to indicate intent to present. Send tentative title and presenter name to Paul Super (Paul_Super@nps.gov)February 4, 2021 – deadline to submit abstract, final title, and presenter/co-author names and affiliations to Paul SuperWeek of February 14, 2022 – presenters will receive a Zoom Webinar invitation via email; meeting registration will be available here for all 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 TBD 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.

Salamander Ball 2021
2021-10-23 18:00 - 22:00 (America/New_York) | Parkway Drive-in Theatre, Maryville, TN, 2909 E Lamar Alexander Pkwy, Maryville, Tennessee, 37804
Join us at the Parkway Drive-In Theatre in Maryville for our annual salamander bash, featuring live music, screening of freshwater nature films, silent auction of adventure packages, and more! All proceeds from this fundraising event will support Discover Life in America and its work to conserve the biodiversity of Great Smoky Mountains National Park.

PURCHASE TICKETS

SILENT AUCTION

Announcing Double Feature:

Attack of the Killer Tomatoes

Just in time for Halloween, we’ll screen the 1978 parody film about tomatoes becoming sentient and revolting against humanity!

Featuring beautiful films from Freshwaters Illustrated on the big screen!

RiverWebs

RiverWebs is an award-winning documentary about the interconnectedness between freshwater habitats and the forests that surround them. In Freshwaters Illustrated‘s gorgeous style, it features incredible underwater footage of the fish, amphibians, insects and other creatures that inhabit river systems woven together by the story of the scientists that explore these fascinating worlds. (56 minutes)

The Last Dragons

The Last Dragons is the story of Appalachia’s hellbender salamanders. Get an up-close look at these giant, bizarre looking Southern Appalachian natives. (10 minutes)

Image credit: Freshwaters Illustrated.

Musical guest, Bill Mize

“Guitars pine for the fingers of Bill Mize, who makes them weep, sing and rollaround like a cat at his feet. Thumpin’ good acoustic majesty.” – WDVX Knoxville

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.

Special reading of The Great Smoky Mountain Salamander Ball by author Lisa Horstman

Our beloved annual fundraiser gets it name from this delightful tale. In The Great Smoky Mountain Salamander Ball, written and illustrated by Lisa Horstman, we meet Sara, a young girl who is on vacation in the Great Smoky Mountains. Wandering from her tent late one summer night, Sara discovers an invitation she can’t resist, inviting her to the Salamander Ball! This book can be purchased here.

Adventure Auction

The auction is now live! Bid on exciting adventure packages online or the night of the event!

Take a guided nature hike from knowledgeable locals, see the synchronous fireflies at DLiA’s Fireflies Event at Norton Creek and spend the night at the luxurious venue, and much more. All auction proceeds will help us better study the biodiversity of the Smokies.

BID NOW!

Halloween Car-stume Contest

Take a ride on the wild side at the Salamander Ball on Wheels! With Halloween right around the corner, let your creativity shine and give your car a makeover with our Halloween Car-stume contest. The top best dressed cars will receive some great prizes. Categories include spookiest, funniest and most unique.

Tickets

$50 per carload of peoplelocal beer provided with ticket purchaseconcession stand will be open with food items available for additional purchase

PURCHASE TICKETS

Science at Sugarlands: Herbarium
2021-10-15 13:00 - 15:00 (America/New_York) | Tennessee
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: Elk
2021-09-17 13:00 - 15:00 (America/New_York) | Tennessee
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

BioBlitz @ Tennessee National Wildlife Refuge
2021-09-11 08:00 - 12:00 (America/Chicago) | 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

Great Smokies Eco-Adventure
2021-08-29 12:00 - 2021-08-31 17:00 (America/New_York) | Tennessee
Experience the Smokies like never before! Spend your days exploring the wilds of Great Smoky Mountains National Park and your nights glamorously camping off the grid. DLiA is partnering with A Walk in the Woods to bring you this exclusive 3-day, 2-night adventure that will include guided hikes and nature walks, camping in a luxurious off-grid setting, great 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.

PURCHASE TICKETS

Gain new insight into the rich biodiversity of the Smokies from experts in local flora and fauna!

Savor delicious local food & drink!

Enjoy s’mores around the campfire with live music by Elza Gate!

Curl up with a book, surrounded by natural wondersComfy glamping accomodationsSerene naturescapes + wine!S’mores by the campfireEnjoy fresh delights from our off-grid camp kitchenOff-grid, but with hot showers!

Tentative schedule

The 2-night adventure begins at noon Sunday, August 29th and will last and will conclude on the evening of Tuesday, August 31st. Here’s a look at what’s in store.

DAY 1 (SUNDAY, AUG 29) Guests will meet at Sugarlands Visitor Center at noon, and enjoy light snacks and a guided insect hike led by DLiA’s resident entomologist, Will Kuhn. In the late afternoon, we’ll head to A Walk in the Woods’ private off-the-grid camp located near Cosby and settle into our luxurious glamping accommodations. We’ll enjoy a cocktail party with heavy hors d’oeuvres, serenaded by local bluegrass duet, Elza Gate. We’ll finish off with s’mores around a campfire.

DAY 2 (MONDAY, AUG 30) We’ll have fresh coffee and an early breakfast at camp made with local ingredients and pack our sack lunches. Guests will then have a choice of day hikes: for the adventurous, an exclusive guided hike through old-growth forest to see some of the largest trees in the southern US (moderate difficulty, but gorgeous), or guests may choose an easier guided waterfall/swimming hole hike. We’ll arrive back at camp in early evening and enjoy southern fixins around the campfire.

DAY 3 (TUESDAY, AUG 31) We’ll start with a pancake breakfast, pack sack lunches, and pack up our gear. Guests will again have a choice between two day hikes: a more strenuous guided through-hike along Gabes Mountain Trail (8 miles) or an easier hike in the Cosby area of the Park. We’ll plan to arrive back at Sugarlands Visitor Center around 5PM where we’ll say our goodbyes and guests will depart.

Your hosts

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!

A Walk in the Woods has generously provided their camp, staff, and Smokies expertise to make this new and exciting fundraising event possible and we are so excited to work with them!

Tickets: $950 per person

All proceeds from this event will help DLiA continue its work in Great Smoky Mountains National Park. Tickets are $950 per person, which includes your travel, accommodation, food, and alcohol during the event (details below).

PURCHASE TICKETS

What does your ticket purchase support?

Biodiversity research in the SmokiesOur biology interships……and photo/videography internshipsBiodiversity educationPublic engagement through citizen scienceConservation of creatures great and small in the Smokies

Specifically, your support will fund

our continuing research work with the All Taxa Biodiversity Inventory, aimed cataloging, understanding, and ultimately conserving the remarkable diversity of life in the Smokiesour world-class summer internship program, where we train the next generation of conservationists through an immersive experience in the Smokiesour educational programming in and around Great Smoky Mountains NP, fostering nature literacy among our community (Science @ Sugarlands, iScience, Species SnapIt & MapIt)and much more!

Travel (included during event)

Ticket purchase includes private bus transportation during the event. Guests must arrange their own travel to and from the meeting place (Sugarlands Visitor Center in Great Smoky Mountains National Park) before and after the event.

Food & drink (included)

Food (including vegan options) and drinks (including beer and wine) are included. Guests should plan to eat lunch before arriving on Sunday (light snacks will be provided). Please specify any dietary restrictions during ticket purchase and we will do our best to accommodate your needs.

Accommodations (included)

This is a “glamping” (glamorous camping) event and accommodations are rustic, but comfortable. The camp is off-the-grid, but it has many of the amenities of home, including hot showers and running water, a well-stocked camp kitchen, and a battery pack for lighting and to charge your phone as needed. You’ll sleep in a large 2-person tent with a comfy cot. Pricing is based on double occupancy.

What to bring

Required

sleeping bag towelday packhiking shoes/bootsrain jacketwater bottlecool weather clothing and jacket

Recommended

travel pillowflashlight or headlamp with fresh batteriesinsect repellentsunscreentoiletries

Where & when to meet?

Meet at Sugarlands Visitor Center, Bus parking lot (closest to Little River Road) at noon on Sunday. We will send out instructions and follow-up information to ticket holders as the event approaches.

Cancellation Policy

Full payment is due at sign up. If you decide to cancel your spot, we are happy to refund your full payment if and only if we are able to fill your slot before the event.

Science at Sugarlands: Water Bears
2021-08-20 13:00 - 15:00 (America/New_York) | Tennessee
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 @ East Lakeshore Trail
2021-07-31 08:00 - 12:00 (America/New_York) | Tennessee
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

Bioblitz @ Cave Mountain Trail
2021-07-17 08:00 - 12:00 (America/New_York) | Tennessee
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

Science at Sugarlands: Birds
2021-07-16 13:00 - 15:00 (America/New_York) | Tennessee
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 at Abrams Creek
2021-06-26 09:00 - 2021-06-27 16:00 (America/New_York) | Tennessee
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: Arthropods
2021-06-18 13:00 - 15:00 (America/New_York) | Tennessee
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

Fireflies Event at Norton Creek 2021
2021-06-03 19:00 - 2021-06-06 23:00 (America/New_York) | Tennessee
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!

Virtual Fireflies Event 2021
2021-06-01 20:00 - 20:30 (America/New_York) | Tennessee
See blue ghosts and other fireflies of the Smokies during our second annual Virtual Fireflies Event! Award-winning firefly photographer and videographer Radim Schreiber will showcase never-before-seen footage of these magnificent creatures and DLiA science director Will Kuhn will talk about what makes fireflies so special. The video is free to view but we suggest making a $5 donation to help DLiA continue its research, education and conservation work in the Smokies.

Tune in June 1st at 8 pm ET!

All photos are copyright Radim Schreiber (fireflyexperience.org) and may not be used without express permission.

A virtual firefly extravaganza

Radim Schreiber (fireflyexperience.org)Dr. Will Kuhn, DLiA

Join entomologist Will Kuhn and firefly photographer and videographer Radim Schreiber as we witness the magic of the blue ghost firefly. What are they and what makes them special? How can you view and photograph them? Are there other kinds of fireflies in the Smokies? How can you help fireflies in your own backyard? Find out!

The presentation will showcase recordings of blue ghost fireflies recently captured by Radim Schreiber. Schreiber has won over a dozen film and photography awards for his gorgeous work capturing the displays of fireflies from around the world. He has also published Firefly Experience, a book of his photographs, and sells prints of his work from his website, fireflyexperience.org.

Last year’s inaugural Virtual Fireflies Event video has been viewed more than 157,000 times on YouTube! It was great, but this year’s will be even better!

Suggested donation: $5

We offer this presentation free of charge to anyone who loves fireflies. If you can, please consider making a donation to Discover Life in America. Your generous gift will help us continue our work to discover, understand and conserve biological diversity in Great Smoky Mountains National Park and beyond.

Donate Now

How to view

The video will premiere on YouTube June 1st at 8 pm ET at >>this YouTube link<<. While you wait, check out last year’s firefly video. Don’t forget to subscribe to our YouTube channel to be notified of new content about life in the Smokies!

FAQ

Q. Is this a live event?

A. No. This event marks the world premiere of a beautiful video created by award-winning firefly photographer and videographer Radim Schreiber (fireflyexperience.org). It does include never-before-seen footage of blue ghost fireflies, which was recently recorded in the Smokies. Also, DLiA Science Director Dr. Will Kuhn and Radim Schreiber will be on hand to answer your questions live in the comments.

Q. Can I still join your in-person firefly event?

A. Unfortunately, no. We have long since sold out tickets for our 2021 Fireflies Event at Norton Creek. You can sign up for the waiting list, but it’s rather long and your chances are pretty slim at this point. You should totally check out our 2022 in-person event though! Tickets go on sale January 2, 2022. We will posts the dates for that event in mid-June. Thanks for your interest!

Sponsors

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

Science at Sugarlands: Butterflies
2021-05-21 13:00 - 15:00 (America/New_York) | Tennessee
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.

iScience Workshop for Teachers
2021-03-04 15:00 - 17:00 (America/New_York) | Tennessee
iScience Workshop for Teachers

Join us for a free virtual workshop to learn about our iScience biodiversity program for middle schools. This workshop is open to all educators although iScience is specifically geared toward grades 5-8. It will follow the Science Colloquium (also free) and we encourage participants to attend both events.

Register for Zoom link

About the workshop

In this virtual workshop you will learn how to increase students’ awareness and appreciation for the incredible biodiversity around us through the iScience program. We’ll learn about iScience, DLiA’s schoolyard biodiversity program in cooperation with the Tennessee Valley Authority (TVA) for grades 5th-8th. This program uses the All Taxa Biodiversity Inventory (ATBI) model, bringing ATBIs to schoolyards within the TVA Program Area. We’ll also explore how to use the iNaturalist app into both in-person and virtual classroom settings. In the program, students use iNaturalist to conduct ATBIs on their school grounds, acting as citizen scientists and collecting real scientific data about their local biodiversity.

Who can attend?

The workshop is open to anyone including teachers, other educators, and parents but will be aimed toward those educating 5th to 8th graders.

Location and registration

The virtual workshop will take place on Zoom on Thursday, March 4th from 3:00 to 5:00 PM ET. Register below to receive a Zoom link.

Register for Zoom link

Before the workshop

Before the workshop, please download iNaturalist on your Apple or Android device and follow instructions in the app to create an account. Feel free to explore the app beforehand and bring your questions about it to the workshop.

Join the Science Colloquium

We encourage participants to join the Great Smoky Mountains National Park Science Colloquium, a series of virtual presentations from scientists working in the Smokies. Talks range from biology to meteorology and are geared for a general audience. It will take place the same day (March 4th) from 9:00 AM to 3:00 PM ET, also on Zoom. Learn more and register for that free conference at this page.

GSMNP Science Colloquium 2021
2021-03-04 09:00 - 15:00 (America/New_York) | Tennessee
Park Science Colloquium

Great Smoky Mountains National Park and DLiA present the annual 2021 Science Colloquium. This year’s colloquium will be a virtual event, taking place over Zoom. Learn about the science happening in Great Smoky Mountains National Park from the local and regional researchers that are making it happen! Registration is free and open to the public.

Timing: Thursday, March 4, 2021 from 9:00 am to 3:00 pm

Location: virtual via Zoom

Registration: To view the colloquium on March 4th, please register (button below) and you will receive a Zoom link via email. Registration is FREE.Speakers: do not register here. You should have received an email with instructions about how to participate as a speaker. Please contact Will (will@dlia.org) ASAP if you have not received this email.

Register here

Schedule and abstracts

Schedule and abstracts (PDF)

Join our teacher workshop

We will be holding a virtual workshop for teachers about our iScience biodiversity program on the same day (March 4th) from 3:00-5:00 PM ET. We welcome teachers, other educators, and parents to join both events. Find out more and register at this page.

Learn more

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.

Submitting a presentation: To submit your work for consideration in the Colloquium, please email your tentative title and presenter to Paul Super (Paul_Super@nps.gov) by December 17, 2020. Submitters will be notified soon after as to their acceptance in the Colloquium. Accepted presenters will be asked to submit an abstract (250 words max), as well as the final talk title, and names and affiliations of the presenter and co-authors, to Paul Super (paul_super@nps.gov) by February 5, 2021.

Important dates

December 17, 2020 – deadline to indicate intent to present. Send tentative title and presenter name to Paul Super (Paul_Super@nps.gov)February 5, 2021 – deadline to submit abstract, final title, and presenter/co-author names and affiliations to Paul SuperWeek of February 8, 2021 – presenters will receive a Zoom Webinar invitation via email; meeting registration will be available here for all attendees

Helpful information

Conference format: The 2021 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). FYI, the audience will be able to ask questions but only during special Q&A sessions and will be muted with video off otherwise. We’ll send presenters more information about what to expect closer to the colloquium.

Time slots: Presentation slots will be 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).

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.

Schoolyard Exploration, Smokies Style
2020-11-10 15:30 - 17:00 (America/New_York) | Tennessee
Join our biodiversity-themed virtual teacher workshop, co-organized by Discover Life in America and Great Smoky Mountains National Park Education Park Rangers. Participants will learn about activities that we use in Great Smoky Mountains National Park and how they can be adapted at home or around a schoolyard. This virtual workshop is free and open to teachers and educators for all grade levels in public, private, and home-school education.

Back by popular demand: This is a repeat of our September 29th and October 22nd virtual teacher workshops by the same name.

UPDATE: Apologies if you had trouble registering! The registration link below has been updated. As of Oct 28th at 2:45 PM, slots should be available, however the are expected to fill up fast.

REGISTER HERE

What to expect from the workshop

This 1.5-hour workshop will include an introduction to resources and a hands-on exploration that can be easily replicated at any schoolyard or at home. We will model the use of free virtual platforms that can enhance classroom and at-home learning. We will explore the world of the terrestrial macroinvertebrate, learn how to navigate the iNatualist app, and see how you and your students can participate in the Species SnapIt & MapIt project, which contributes to a public resource called Atlas of the Smokies.

Timing and location

The virtual workshop will take place over Zoom on Tuesday, November 10th, 2020 from 3:30 to 5:00 p.m. ET

Who can participate

The workshop is open to any teacher or educator, for any grade level in public, private, home-school education, informal education, etc. Attendance will be limited, so please register early.

How to register

This workshop is free but you must fill out the registration form to participate. Spots are limited, so please register early. We will send out a Zoom meeting link with your registration confirmation and additional information as the workshop approaches.

REGISTER HERE

Before the workshop

Get to know iNaturalist! Please download and set up the free iNaturalist app to your mobile device before the workshop. We’ll use it during the workshop, and it is a generally useful app.

Download and install iNaturalist: Google Play store or Apple App store or just search for iNaturalistFollow the prompts to create an account and sign into the appOptional: Play around with the app. Explore and add an observation of an organism in your yard.

Watch this video to get a primer on using the iNaturalist app:

Resources

The following are materials that will either be used directly during the workshop or that participants may find helpful later on.

Terrestrial macroinvertebrates:

Terrestrial Invertebrate Study – detailed instructions and resourcesIdentification guide for terrestrial macroinvertebrates (PDF)Inventory datasheet (PDF)Data collection worksheet – elementary (DOCX)Parks as Classrooms: Terrestrial Macro-invertebrates (YouTube video)Parks as Classrooms: Observation Skills – High School level (YouTube video)Parks as Classrooms: Observation Skills – Elementary School level (YouTube video)

Species SnapIt & MapIt project:

Species SnapIt & MapIt community science projectAtlas of the Smokies (free NPS web tool)iNaturalist project for Great Smoky Mountains National Park

Other helpful resources:

iScience – DLiA’s biodiversity program for middle schoolsEducation at Great Smoky Mountains National ParkSmokiEEEs at HomeTremont Institute‘s programs for educatorsHands on the Land Terrestrial Invertebrate StudySeek app by iNaturalist

Questions

Ask Haley (haley@dlia.org)

Schoolyard Exploration, Smokies Style
2020-10-22 15:30 - 17:00 (America/New_York) | Tennessee
Join our biodiversity-themed virtual teacher workshop, co-organized by Discover Life in America and Great Smoky Mountains National Park Education Park Rangers. Participants will learn about activities that we use in Great Smoky Mountains National Park and how they can be adapted at home or around a schoolyard. This virtual workshop is free and open to teachers and educators for all grade levels in public, private, and home-school education.

Back by popular demand: This is a repeat of our September 29th virtual teacher workshop by the same name.

REGISTER HERE

What to expect from the workshop

This 1.5-hour workshop will include an introduction to resources and a hands-on exploration that can be easily replicated at any schoolyard or at home. We will model the use of free virtual platforms that can enhance classroom and at-home learning. We will explore the world of the terrestrial macroinvertebrate, learn how to navigate the iNatualist app, and see how you and your students can participate in the Species SnapIt & MapIt project, which contributes to a public resource called Atlas of the Smokies.

Timing and location

The virtual workshop will take place over Zoom on Thursday, October 22nd, 2020 from 3:30 to 5:00 p.m. ET

Who can participate

The workshop is open to any teacher or educator, for any grade level in public, private, home-school education, informal education, etc. Attendance will be limited, so please register early.

How to register

This workshop is free but you must fill out the registration form to participate. Spots are limited, so please register early. We will send out a Zoom meeting link with your registration confirmation and additional information as the workshop approaches.

REGISTER HERE

Before the workshop

Get to know iNaturalist! Please download and set up the free iNaturalist app to your mobile device before the workshop. We’ll use it during the workshop, and it is a generally useful app.

Download and install iNaturalist: Google Play store or Apple App store or just search for iNaturalistFollow the prompts to create an account and sign into the appOptional: Play around with the app. Explore and add an observation of an organism in your yard.

Watch this video to get a primer on using the iNaturalist app:

Resources

The following are materials that will either be used directly during the workshop or that participants may find helpful later on.

Terrestrial macroinvertebrates:

Terrestrial Invertebrate Study – detailed instructions and resourcesIdentification guide for terrestrial macroinvertebrates (PDF)Inventory datasheet (PDF)Data collection worksheet – elementary (DOCX)Parks as Classrooms: Terrestrial Macro-invertebrates (YouTube video)Parks as Classrooms: Observation Skills – High School level (YouTube video)Parks as Classrooms: Observation Skills – Elementary School level (YouTube video)

Species SnapIt & MapIt project:

Species SnapIt & MapIt community science projectAtlas of the Smokies (free NPS web tool)iNaturalist project for Great Smoky Mountains National Park

Other helpful resources:

iScience – DLiA’s biodiversity program for middle schoolsEducation at Great Smoky Mountains National ParkSmokiEEEs at HomeTremont Institute‘s programs for educatorsScience @ Sugarlands recorded talksScience @ Sugarlands talk detailing Species SnapIt & MapIt community science project in the Smokies

Questions

Ask Haley (haley@dlia.org)

Science at Sugarlands
2020-10-16 13:00 - 15:00 (America/New_York) | Tennessee
Help your park map its species through citizen science!

Will Kuhn, DLiA’s Science & Research Director

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

Great Smoky Mountain Salamander Ball on Wheels!
2020-10-15 18:00 - 21:30 (America/New_York) | Parkway Drive-In Theatre, 2909 E Lamar Alexander Pkwy, Maryville, Tennessee, 37804, United States
Join us at the Parkway Drive-In Theatre in Maryville for a COVID-adapted version of our annual spectacular salamander selebration: the Great Smoky Mountain Salamander Ball on Wheels! This event will feature live music from guitarist Bill Mize and a screening of beautiful nature film, Hidden Rivers. All proceeds from this fundraising event will support Discover Life in America and its biodiversity conservation work in Great Smoky Mountains National Park. Tickets are $40 per car.

UPDATE – FILM CHANGE: We are excited to announce that we will now be screening Hidden Rivers at the Salamander Ball on Wheels! This gorgeous film, created by the non-profit Freshwaters Illustrated, showcases several waterways in our region and fits exceedingly well with our mission of biodiversity conservation. And it is a delightful film that we are sure you and your family will love!

Purchase Tickets

Featuring Hidden Rivers

Discover America’s Richest Waters

Hidden Rivers is a 1-hour film that explores the rivers and streams of the Southern Appalachian region, North America’s most biologically rich waters. The film follows the work of conservation biologists and explorers throughout the region – revealing both the beauty and vulnerability of this aquatic life – and how many people are finding ways to protect these ecosystems.

Read more about the film here and checkout the Hidden Rivers Guidebook and T-shirt here (sales of those items support the nonprofit that made the film).

Check out the Hidden Rivers trailer:

Check out our auction of unforgettable experiences!

We have an offering of experience packages that you can bid on as part of this event. Auction opens Friday October 9th and ends Thursday, October 15th at 9:00 PM ET. All proceeds go to DLiA. Thanks to FOTS for hosting!

Text the words Salamander Ball to 243725or click here to participate!

Musical guest, Bill Mize

“Guitars pine for the fingers of Bill Mize, who makes them weep, sing and rollaround like a cat at his feet. Thumpin’ good acoustic majesty.” – WDVX Knoxville

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 Conservation Hero Richard Powers

Richard lives in Townsend, TN and is likely the first novelist ever to win the Pulitzer Prize (2019) for a book about trees. His New York Times best selling book, The Overstory, received universal acclaim, especially among members of the environmental community. The book explores complex characters and their lifelong relationship with trees and forest ecosystems. Within the novel, his characters search for a story that will help humanity understand how dangerous it is to treat the Earth the way we do. Find out more at richardpowers.net.

Special reading of The Great Smoky Mountain Salamander Ball by author Lisa Horstman

Our beloved annual fundraiser gets it name from this delightful tale. In The Great Smoky Mountain Salamander Ball, written and illustrated by Lisa Horstman, we meet Sara, a young girl who is on vacation in the Great Smoky Mountains. Wandering from her tent late one summer night, Sara discovers an invitation she can’t resist, inviting her to the Salamander Ball! This book can be purchased here.

Halloween Car-stume Contest

Take a ride on the wild side at the Salamander Ball on Wheels! With Halloween right around the corner, let your creativity shine and give your car a makeover with our Halloween Car-stume contest. The top best dressed cars will receive some great prizes. Categories include spookiest, funniest and most unique.

COVID-19 safety measures

We have redesigned this annual event to make it safer for everyone. As such, we will be following CDC guidelines for COVID-19 safety. Attendees will be required to wear masks while in public spaces like the restroom area and to otherwise remain with your car group. Cars will be parked every other space in the lot to allow distancing.

Food and drink: We will not serve food or drink at this event and concessions will not be open. However, you are welcome to bring your own food and drink.

Tickets

Tickets for this event are $40 per carload of people.

Purchase Tickets

Sponsored by

Thanks to the following organizations and donors for supporting the Salamander Ball on Wheels!

Virtual BioBlitz @ Johnson Ridge Trail
2020-10-10 10:00 - 2020-11-10 23:59 (America/New_York) | Tennessee
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

Schoolyard Exploration...Smokies Style
2020-09-29 16:00 - 17:30 (America/New_York) | Tennessee
Join our biodiversity-themed virtual teacher workshop, co-organized by Discover Life in America and Great Smoky Mountains National Park Education Park Rangers. Participants will learn about activities that we use in Great Smoky Mountains National Park and how they can be adapted at home or around a schoolyard. This virtual workshop is free and open to teachers and educators for all grade levels in public, private, and home-school education.

UPDATE SEPT 21: Wow! We’re excited that we’ve had some much interest in this workshop! Unfortunately, all available slots and our waiting list are now both filled. Please stay tuned to our Facebook and events page, where we will announce our next workshop very soon. Thank you for your interest!

What to expect from the workshop

This 1.5-hour workshop will include an introduction to resources and a hands-on exploration that can be easily replicated at any schoolyard or at home. We will model the use of free virtual platforms that can enhance classroom and at-home learning. We will explore the world of the terrestrial macroinvertebrate, learn how to navigate the iNatualist app, and see how you and your students can participate in the Species SnapIt & MapIt project, which contributes to a public resource called Atlas of the Smokies.

Timing and location

The virtual workshop will take place over Zoom on Tuesday, September 29, 2020 from 4 to 5:30 p.m. ET

Who can participate

The workshop is open to any teacher or educator, for any grade level in public, private, home-school education, informal education, etc. Attendance will be limited, so please register early.

How to register

This workshop is free but you must fill out the registration form to participate. Spots are limited, so please register early. We will send out a Zoom meeting link with your registration confirmation and additional information as the workshop approaches.

Registration for this workshop is now closed. All available slots and our waiting list are now both filled. Please stay tuned to our Facebook and events page, where we will announce our next workshop very soon. Thank you for your interest!

Before the workshop

Please download and set up the iNaturalist app to your mobile device before the workshop. It’s free and useful!

Download and install iNaturalist: Google Play store or Apple App store or just search for iNaturalistFollow the prompts to create an account and sign into the appOptional: Play around with the app. Explore and add an observation of an organism in your yard.

Watch this video to get a primer on using the iNaturalist app:

Resources

The following are materials that will either be used directly during the workshop or that participants may find helpful later on.

Terrestrial macroinvertebrates:

Terrestrial Invertebrate Study – detailed instructions and resourcesIdentification guide for terrestrial macroinvertebrates (PDF)Inventory datasheet (PDF)Data collection worksheet – elementary (DOCX)Parks as Classrooms: Terrestrial Macro-invertebrates (YouTube video)Parks as Classrooms: Observation Skills – High School level (YouTube video)Parks as Classrooms: Observation Skills – Elementary School level (YouTube video)

Species SnapIt & MapIt project:

Species SnapIt & MapIt community science projectAtlas of the Smokies (free NPS web tool)iNaturalist project for Great Smoky Mountains National Park

Other helpful resources:

iScience – DLiA’s biodiversity program for middle schoolsEducation at Great Smoky Mountains National ParkSmokiEEEs at HomeTremont Institute‘s programs for educators

Questions

Ask Haley (haley@dlia.org)

Science at Sugarlands
2020-09-18 13:00 - 15:00 (America/New_York) | Sugarlands Visitor Center, 107 Sugarlands Visitor Center Loop Rd, Gatlinburg, TN, 37738, United States
CANCELLED: Wetlands and seeps in the Smokies

Alix Pfennigwerth, Great Smoky Mountains National Park, National Park Service

UPDATE: The September Science @ Sugarlands talk has been cancelled but the October talk is still on. Join us next month for our final talk of the season!

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