Discover Life in America

A Pint & A Purpose, a MINI of Knoxville Event
2019-05-01 17:00 - 21:00 (America/New_York) | Elkmont Exchange, 745 N Broadway, Knoxville, TN, 37917, United States
A Pint & A Purpose, a MINI of Knoxville Event
Elkmont Exchange is generously donating $1 to DLiA for every pint they sell on Wednesday, May 1st! Come out any time that day to have a beer and support our work in the Smokies! We’ll have a special event from 5:00-9:00 where you can meet our staff and board and learn about the wondrous biodiversity living in Great Smoky Mountains National Park. Thanks to MINI of Knoxville for sponsoring this event!

BioBlitz @ Marbut Bend Trail
2019-05-04 08:00 - 12:00 (America/Chicago) | Marbut Bend, 26790-27208 Buck Island Rd, Elkmont, AL, 35620, United States
BioBlitz @ Marbut Bend Trail
DLiA has partnered with TVA and regional scientists to engage people in a biological inventory of TVA’s public lands through BioBlitzes. Join us for this free, family-friendly event. It’s a fun, hand-on opportunity to learn about the flora and fauna in our area! No experience is necessary.
BioBlitzes incorporate field collection, specimen identification and education. They offer an opportunity to get to know the biodiversity in our backyard and help TVA to better manage natural areas through species occurrence data. Participants will survey birds, insects, plants, and other organisms using nets and provided collection and preservation equipment. Experts will be on hand to train participants and identify species. We use the smartphone application, iNaturalist, to document biodiversity and ask that you install it on your phone beforehand, if possible. (It’s a very useful app, in general!)
REGISTER
Event details
Timing: May 4, 2019 from 8:00 – NOON local time (CDT)
Location: Marbut Bend Trail off Buck Island Road in Elkmont, Alabama (map). Trail maps available here
Parking: Parking is available on-site
Registration: This event is free, but we do ask that you register (using the button above)
Preparation: Download the iNaturalist app to your smart device and follow prompts to sign into iNaturalist. Cell coverage is limited at this site, so this MUST be done ahead of time in a coverage area
Project on iNaturalist: TVA/DLiA BioBlitz @ Marbut Bend Trail
Have questions? Ask Todd: todd@dlia.org or (865)-430-4757

Science at Sugarlands: Wildflowers
2019-05-17 13:00 - 15:00 (America/New_York) | Sugarlands Visitor Center, 107 Sugarlands Visitor Center Loop Rd, Gatlinburg, TN, 37738, United States
Wildflowers: Gems of the Smokies
Janet Rock, retired Botanist, Great Smoky Mountains NP
For more information about this free event and to register, please visit our main Science at Suglarlands page.

Fireflies Event at Norton Creek 2019
2019-06-07 19:00 - 2019-06-09 23:00 (America/New_York) | Norton Creek Sanctuary
Fireflies Event at Norton Creek
This is the events page for the 2019 event. >>Click here<< for the 2020 event.
Join DLiA at our annual Fireflies Event at Norton Creek! We’ll start with food and drink at a gorgeous, intimate venue, followed by a presentation and Q&A about fireflies. At dusk we’ll descend to our favorite firefly viewing spot on the property, where we’ll see the light show put on by a happy, healthy population of synchronous fireflies (rivaled in number only by those at Elkmont), as well as blue ghost fireflies and a few other glowing critters. Tickets for this event are $150 per person and all proceeds go to support the work of DLiA. This is a fundraising event, held at a private reserve adjacent to Great Smoky Mountains National Park, and is not associated with the Park or its synchronous firefly lottery at Elkmont.

Event details
General information:

An entomologist will talk about fireflies of the Smokies and answer your burning firefly questions
This is a rain or shine event (see FAQs below)
Sorry but pets are not allowed at this event
There will be a little walking on paved and gravel surfaces
We email ticket holders details, including directions to the event, as the event approaches
Please purchase tickets early as they are limited and usually sell out

Timing: The event will be held on the following three evenings:

Friday, June 7, 2019 from 7:00 to 11:00 PM SOLD OUT
Saturday, June 8, 2019 from 7:00 to 11:00 PM SOLD OUT
Sunday, June 9, 2019 from 7:00 to 11:00 PM SOLD 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 and 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 will be accepted.
Ticket information: Fireflies Event tickets are $150 per person and are open to anyone 10 years of age or older. Each ticket is for a single night of the event (Friday, Saturday, or Sunday). Your ticket purchase helps DLiA carry out its mission!
Have questions? Need help purchasing tickets? Please first read our FAQs below, then ask Todd: todd@dlia.org or (865)-430-4757.
Fireflies Event FAQs
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, 2019 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. $150 per person seems expensive. Is this event really worth it?
A. We certainly think so! For the price of $150 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. That’s a great question! I’m so glad you asked! 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 also Pigeon Forge. They are more-or-less equidistant from the venue.

BioBlitz @ Douglas Dam
2019-06-15 08:00 - 12:00 (America/New_York) | Douglas Dam, Sevierville, TN, United States
BioBlitz @ Douglas Dam
DLiA has partnered with TVA and regional scientists to engage people in a biological inventory of TVA’s public lands through BioBlitzes. Join us for this free, family-friendly event. It’s a fun, hand-on opportunity to learn about the flora and fauna in our area! No experience is necessary.

BioBlitzes incorporate field collection, specimen identification and education. They offer an opportunity to get to know the biodiversity in our backyard and help TVA to better manage natural areas through species occurrence data. Participants will survey birds, insects, plants, and other organisms using nets and provided collection and preservation equipment. Experts will be on hand to train participants and identify species. We use the smartphone application, iNaturalist, to document biodiversity and ask that you install it on your phone beforehand, if possible. (It’s a very useful app, in general!)
REGISTER
Event details
Timing: June 15, 2019 from 8:00 AM – noon

Location: Trotter Bluff Trail at Douglas Dam off Boat Launch Road in Sevier County, Tennessee (map). Trail maps available here

Parking: Parking is available on-site

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

Preparation: Download the iNaturalist app to your smart device and follow prompts to sign into iNaturalist

Project on iNaturalist: TVA/DLiA BioBlitz @ Douglas Dam

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

Science at Sugarlands: Restoring fish
2019-06-21 13:00 - 15:00 (America/New_York) | Sugarlands Visitor Center, 107 Sugarlands Visitor Center Loop Rd, Gatlinburg, TN, 37738, United States
Restoring fish to the Smokies’ most diverse stream
Pat Rakes, Co-founder & Director, Conservation Fisheries
For more information about this free event and to register, please visit our main Science at Suglarlands page.

Smokies Species Day
2019-06-29 10:00 - 14:00 (America/New_York) | Sugarlands Visitor Center, 107 Sugarlands Visitor Center Loop Rd, Gatlinburg, TN, 37738, United States
Come learn about the plants, animals, and other organisms of the Smokies at this FREE, family friendly event! You’ll find out about pollinators, fungi, many kinds of insects, and other species that call Great Smoky Mountains National Park their home.

Science at Sugarlands: NEON Observatory
2019-07-19 13:00 - 15:00 (America/New_York) | Sugarlands Visitor Center, 107 Sugarlands Visitor Center Loop Rd, Gatlinburg, TN, 37738, United States
The National Ecological Observatory Network (NEON) and its work in the Smokies
WP “Bill Martin, Field Operations Manager, NEON-Battelle Ecology
For more information about this free event and to register, please visit our main Science at Suglarlands page.

Science at Sugarlands: Appalachian Balds
2019-08-16 13:00 - 15:00 (America/New_York) | Sugarlands Visitor Center, 107 Sugarlands Visitor Center Loop Rd, Gatlinburg, TN, 37738, United States
Appalachian Balds: ecological enigma & conservation dilemma
Jesse Webster, Forester, Great Smoky Mountains NP
For more information about this free event and to register, please visit our main Science at Suglarlands page.

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

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

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

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

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

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

PURCHASE TICKETS

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

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

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

Event details

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

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

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

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

Schedule and abstracts:

Click for full program with abstracts (PDF)

2020 schedule and abstracts (PDF)

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

Register Now (FREE)

Information for presenters

Submit a talk or poster

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

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

Deadlines

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

Helpful information

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

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

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

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

Upload your presentation here

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

Smokies Science Teacher Workshop

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

Workshop materials

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

POSTPONED: Great Smokies Eco-Adventure
2020-04-21 17:00 (America/New_York) | A Walk in the Woods, Gatlinburg, TN, United States
*** This event has been postponed until further notice due to health concerns regarding COVID-19. Registrants will be refunded in full. We plan to reschedule this event and will post updates here and on our Facebook page. ***

Join DLiA and A Walk in the Woods for this exclusive 3-day, 2-night adventure that will include off-grid glamping, guided nature hikes, and much more. Experience the Smoky Mountains from a unique biodiversity-focused perspective while helping DLiA continue to conserve the abundant life in the Smokies!

See the famous Smokies wildflowers at their peak!

Gain new insight into the rich biodiversity of the Smokies from local wildlife & wildflower experts!

Savor delicious local food & drink!

Enjoy s’mores around the campfire, complete with live music!

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!

Rough schedule

Your Great Smokies Eco-Adventure will begin at noon Sunday, April 19th and conclude Tuesday evening, April 21st (3 days, 2 nights). Here’s a look at what’s in store…

DAY 1 (SUNDAY, APRIL 19) 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, APRIL 20) 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 wildflower hike. We’ll arrive back at camp in early evening and enjoy southern fixins around the campfire.

DAY 3 (TUESDAY, APRIL 21) 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 21 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: $1500 per person

*** This event has been postponed until further notice due to health concerns regarding COVID-19. Registrants will be refunded in full. We plan to reschedule this event and will post updates here and on our Facebook page. ***

The Great Smokies Eco-Adventure is a fundraising event for Discover Life in America. All proceeds from this event help DLiA continue its work in Great Smoky Mountains National Park. Tickets are $1,500 per person, which includes your travel, accommodation, food, and alcohol during the event (details below).

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 funds

our continuing research work with the All Taxa Biodiversity Inventory, aimed at discovering, understanding, and conserving all life in the Smokiesour fantastic 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 Mtns NP, to bring awareness to the incredible biodiversity of the Smokies (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 April 19th. 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.

CANCELLED: Science at Sugarlands
2020-05-08 13:00 - 15:00 (America/New_York) | Sugarlands Visitor Center, 107 Sugarlands Visitor Center Loop Rd, Gatlinburg, TN, 37738, United States
Butterflies of Cades Cove

Warren Bielenberg, Great Smoky Mountains National Park, National Park Service

** CANCELLED: Our May 8 talk has been cancelled due to COVID-19. We will try to reschedule this talk for the 2021 season. **

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

Fireflies Event at Norton Creek 2020
2020-05-29 19:00 - 2020-05-31 23:00 (America/New_York) | Norton Creek Sanctuary
This event has now passed. Check out the 2021 event page for the latest event.

Join DLiA for a firefly-centered evening! We’ll start with food and drink at a gorgeous, intimate venue, followed by a presentation and Q&A about fireflies. At dusk we’ll descend to our favorite firefly viewing spot on the property, where synchronous fireflies and other glowing critters will put on a light show that you’ll never forget!

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

UPDATE MAY 12: At present, we plan to hold this event as scheduled, but with modifications to minimize the risk for all participants (see details below). We will continue to monitor the coronavirus situation and make additional changes, as needed to keep everyone safe. Current ticket holders also have the option of transferring their tickets to our 2021 event or receiving a full refund. Stay safe, stay healthy, and thank you for your support!

Modifications for coronavirus

We are making the following changes to this event to minimize the risk of coronavirus transmission at this event:

Attendance will be limited to 30 guests (approx. 50% capacity) and all attendees will be required to stay with their group throughout the night

We will not gather at the house where we usually start the event, but will instead meet at the viewing site (on the same private property)

We will not serve food or alcohol, but will give attendees a gift certificate to redeem later on their own

The firefly presentation will be available online in advance of the event so that folks can view it before they arrive

We will require every attendee to wear a mask and to practice social distancing

We will check temperatures on arrival and turn attendees away if they present fever or other COVID-19-like symptoms

Attendees will be required to sign a form agreeing to follow these guidelines for the safety of our guests, volunteers, and staff

Any attendee that does not follow these safety guidelines will be asked to leave the property immediately and will not be given a refund

The event could still be cancelled if the outbreak worsens over the next few weeks, at which point attendees will have the option to carry their ticket over to the 2021 fireflies event or receive a refund

If you are interested in attending this event, please purchase your tickets now and we will email you further guidance and updates as the event approaches.

General information

An entomologist will talk about fireflies of the Smokies and 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 surfaces

We’ll email ticket holders details, including directions to the event, as the event approaches

Please purchase tickets early as they are limited and usually sell out

Timing

Friday, May 29, 2020 from 7:00 to 11:00 PM

Saturday, May 30, 2020 from 7:00 to 11:00 PM

Sunday, May 31, 2020 from 7:00 to 11:00 PM

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. Each ticket is for a single night of the event (Friday, Saturday, or Sunday). Your ticket purchase helps DLiA carry out its mission!

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.

UPDATE MAY 12: At present, we plan to hold this event as scheduled, but with modifications to minimize the risk for all participants (see details listed above). We will continue to monitor the coronavirus situation and make additional changes, as needed to keep everyone safe. Current ticket holders also have the option of transferring their tickets to our 2021 event or receiving a full refund. Stay safe, stay healthy, and thank you for your support!

Have questions?

Need help purchasing tickets? Please first read our FAQ below 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, 2019 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 also Pigeon Forge. They are about equidistant from the venue.

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

TUNE IN ON YouTube

DONATE NOW

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

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

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

Science at Sugarlands
2020-06-19 13:00 - 15:00 (America/New_York) | Tennessee
Appalachian Grasslands

Dwayne Estes, Southeastern Grasslands Initiative, Austin Peay State University

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

COVID-19 UPDATE: This event is now online (formerly in person at Sugarlands Visitor Center). Register via the Science at Sugarlands page and we will send you a Zoom link to participate from your computer or mobile device.

Science at Sugarlands
2020-07-17 13:00 - 15:00 (America/New_York) | Sugarlands Visitor Center, 107 Sugarlands Visitor Center Loop Rd, Gatlinburg, TN, 37738, United States
CANCELLED: Elk of the Smokies

Joseph Yarkovich, Great Smoky Mountains National Park, National Park Service

UPDATE JULY 6: This Science @ Sugarlands talk has been cancelled. Apologies to anyone who has already registered for this event. We will try to have Joe Yarkovich present at next year’s series.

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

Science at Sugarlands
2020-08-21 13:00 - 15:00 (America/New_York) | Sugarlands Visitor Center, 107 Sugarlands Visitor Center Loop Rd, Gatlinburg, TN, 37738, United States
Dung beetles

Maggie Mamantov, Department of Ecology & Evolution, University of Tennessee

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

This event has gone virtual! The event will be hosted via Zoom. A Zoom link will be sent to you upon registration. Registration can be found here. After the event, we’ll post a recording on our YouTube channel.

Virtual BioBlitz @ Osceola Island
2020-08-22 10:00 - 2020-09-22 23:59 (America/New_York) | Tennessee
Virtual BioBlitz @ Osceola Island

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

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

What is this event?

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

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

Here’s how to participate:

(1) WATCH THE VIDEO

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

(2) VISIT OSCEOLA ISLAND

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

Osceola Island parking (Google Maps)

(3) COMPLETE THE SCAVENGER HUNT

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

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

Printable version of this checklist with instructions: PDF

(4) WE SEND YOU A THANK YOU GIFT!

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

Form for thank you gift (Google Forms)

About iNaturalist

What is it?

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

Getting started with iNaturalist

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

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

What life have we found at Osceola Island?

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

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

Featured in YouTube video

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

Resources

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

Have questions?

Ask Will: will@dlia.org

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.

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)

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

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!

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.

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)

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)

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.

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.
