Discover Life in America

Fireflies at Norton Creek 2023
2023-06-08 19:00 - 2023-06-11 23:00 (America/New_York)
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. TICKETS AVAILABLE JAN 2ND!

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.

WHAT TO EXPECT // TICKET INFO // CANDLELIGHT DINNER // FAQs

Limited tickets for Saturday, June 10th and Sunday, June 11th now available!

A gorgeous venue

Hemlock House

Hors d’oeuvres by Whole Earth Grocery //Luca Pfeiffer

//Luca Pfeiffer

Incredible interior //Luca Pfeiffer

Glow-in-the-dark firefly blankets for sale! //Luca Pfeiffer

A magnificent ravine for fireflies

//Luca Pfeiffer

Fireflies, galore!

Synchronous firefly //Abbott Nature

Light trails of blue ghosts //Abbott Nature

Blue ghost male //Abbott Nature

Blue ghost female //Abbott Nature

Firefly larva //Abbott Nature

Blue glow of fungus gnats //Luca Pfeiffer

Synchronous fireflies’ woodland display //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 options

Drinks 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 questions

Light, uphill walking will be involved on paved and gravel surfaces

Rain or shine: we’ll hold the event even if rain is forecast (see FAQs)

No pets allowed

Open to kids 10 and up (ticket required for each child)

More information: ticketholders will receive directions and details via email in mid-May

FAQs: read our list of frequently asked questions for more information

COVID-19 POLICY: We believe in science and things are changing fast with COVID-19! 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 may be required to wear a mask during the indoor part of the event.

//Luca Pfeiffer

Candlelight DinnerFriday, June 9 at 6:00 pm

Take your firefly experience to the next level with an over-the-top, extravagant evening centered around the Smokies’ famous synchronized fireflies.Earl and Margit Worsham will receive you in their home together with Lee Naughton (DLiA board member) and husband Eugene (Dollywood Company President) for a special dinner and drinks prepared by Dollywood’s own Master Chef.INCLUDES full bar with signature cocktails, special dinner, live auction, and guided firefly viewing. Tickets are $750 per person; quantity is limited.

//Joseph Roberts

//Joseph Roberts

//Joseph Roberts

//Joseph Roberts

//Joseph Roberts

//Joseph Roberts

//Joseph Roberts

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 8 @ 7pm – $250 per person

Friday, June 9 @ 6pm – candlelight dinner, $750 per person

Saturday, June 10 @ 7pm – $250 per person

Sunday, June 11 @ 7pm – $250 per person

Tickets

Tickets for Thursday, Saturday, and Sunday nights are $250 per person and $750 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. Tickets for Thursday June 8th, Saturday, June 10th and Sunday, June 11th are currently sold out. Join the waiting list below to be contacted if spots become available. All proceeds from this event support DLiA and our work in Great Smoky Mountains National Park (learn more).

Cancellation policy

Full payment is due at checkout. We will be happy to refund your payment if and only if we are able to fill your slot, up until May 23rd, 2023. After that date, no refunds will be given.

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. $250 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 lots of hotel options in Gatlinburg and Pigeon Forge. These are the two closest large communities to the venue and they’re about equal distance from the venue. 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. Will the event be canceled if rain is in forecast?

A. Nope. The Smokies region gets lots of rain (one of the reasons it’s so rich in fireflies) but it has not affected our firefly viewing. The first part of the event takes places inside, under cover, and the viewing is outside under decent canopy cover. We highly recommend that you bring a light rain jacket in case we get a little rain during viewing. 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 synchronous fireflies (Photinus carolinus) and 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 region’s 9 other glowing firefly species, too, as we wait for the synchronous and blue ghost fireflies to start their show. We usually find the glowing larvae of a number of firefly species, as well. So much bioluminescence to see and we’ll point glowers out to you as we encounter them!

Q. Other questions?

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

Bioblitz @ Lady's Bluff Trail
2023-05-19 18:00 - 2023-05-20 08:00 | TVA Lady Bluff Trail, 398 Lady's Bluff Road, Linden, Tennessee, 37096
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 Lady’s Bluff Trail.

Lady’s Bluff Small Wild Area offers views of unique gnarled old cedars, limestone outcrops and sinkholes as well as spectacular views of the Tennessee River and the Tennessee National Wildlife Refuge’s Busseltown Unit on the opposite shore. If you are a wildflower hunter, this is a great place to be in the spring.

Two chances to ‘blitz!

Friday, May 19th: 6pm to 10pm Central: Join us for an evening of discoveries…we will continue in the dark, as we will set up a black light to monitor insect populations!

Saturday, May 20th: 8am to 12pm Central: The morning is a great time to look for birds and we will continue to look for other flora and fauna throughout the morning!

REGISTER HERE

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 the trails, 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 Lady’s Bluff Trail project on iNaturalist, which will be left up indefinitely. We encourage you to revisit the Lady’s Bluff Trail Project 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 account

Bring water and some snacks (we’ll also provide water)

Wear weather-appropriate clothing and sturdy shoes for hiking

Meeting Location: Lady’s Bluff Trailhead Parking Lot in Linden, TN 37096

GPS Coordinates to the meeting location: 35.688261 -88.012921

Website: TVA Lady’s Bluff Trail

Conservation on Tap, May 2023
2023-05-10 19:00 | Albright Grove Brewing Company, 2924 Sutherland Ave, Knoxville, Tennessee, 37919
Conservation on Tap

Wednesday, May 10, 2023. 7:00 p.m.

Albright Grove Brewing Company, Knoxville

FREE!

652 Miles of Riverside Bliss!

Call them crazy, but Lila Honaker and Tennessee RiverLine are working to create a continuous system of paddling, hiking and biking experiences along the Tennessee River’s 652-mile reach from Knoxville, TN, to Paducah, KY. Tennessee RiverLine reframes the river, adjacent public lands, and river communities as a 1.2 million acre “river park.” By elevating the region as an international destination for long-distance flatwater paddling and outdoor recreation, the Tennessee RiverLine is a catalyst for economic development, public health, resource stewardship and equitable access to river spaces and experiences.

What’s not to like about that?!

25th Anniversary Celebration
2023-04-22 10:00 - 14:00
Twin Creeks Pavilion in GSMNP

DLiA will kick off a year of celebration with free, family-friendly events on Earth Day, April 22, 2023. The organization’s past and present supporters are invited to an open house from 10am to 2pm to celebrate at the Twin Creeks Pavilion in Great Smoky Mountains National Park. There will be live music, lunch, tours of the natural history collections, nature programs, and meet and greet opportunities with scientists and park biologists.

Register for the Open House

An Evening with Doug Tallamy

The celebration will continue into the evening at the Park Vista in Gatlinburg with a reception at 6pm and keynote speaker, Doug Tallamy, at 7pm.

Dr. Tallamy’s books will be available for purchase and a book signing will follow.

A Guide to Restoring the Little Things that Run the World

A recent UN report predicts that as many as 1 million species will disappear from planet earth because of human activities. Many of these are insects and nearly all species at risk rely on insects. Insects have already declined 45% since 1974. The most alarming part of this statistic is that we don’t seem to care, despite the fact that a world without insects is a world without humans! So how do we create beautiful landscapes brimming with life; landscapes that support the pollinators, herbivores, detritivores, predators and parasitoids that run the ecosystems we depend on? Tallamy will remind us of the many essential roles insects play, and describe the simple changes we must make in our landscapes and our attitudes to keep insects on the ground, in the air and yes, on our plants.

Doug Tallamy is the T. A. Baker Professor of Agriculture in the Department of Entomology and Wildlife Ecology at the University of Delaware, where he has authored 111 research publications and has taught insect related courses for 41 years. Chief among his research goals is to better understand the many ways insects interact with plants and how such interactions determine the diversity of animal communities. His books include Bringing Nature Home, The Living Landscape, co-authored with Rick Darke, Nature’s Best Hope, a New York Times Best Seller, The Nature of Oaks, winner of the American Horticultural Society’s 2022 book award. In 2021 he co-founded Homegrown National Park with Michelle Alfandari. His awards include recognition from The Garden Writer’s Association, Audubon, The National Wildlife Federation, Allegheny College, Ecoforesters, The Garden Club of America and The American Horticultural Association.

Tickets are $10 and may be purchased below

Tickets for “An Evening with Doug Tallamy

The Park Vista

705 Cherokee Orchard Road

Gatlinburg, TN 37738

Conservation on Tap
2023-04-12 19:00 | Albright Grove Brewing Company, 2924 Sutherland Ave, Knoxville, Tennessee, 37919
Discover Life in America: Dig Deeper into Our National Park

Great Smoky Mountains National Park comprises more than 522,000 acres,half of which are in Tennessee and half in North Carolina. The park is themost biologically diverse in the entire U.S. national park system. It’s also themost well-studied, thanks to the ongoing All Taxa Biodiversity Inventory(ATBI). From Discover Life in America—the organization tasked withmanaging the ATBI—Will Kuhn and Todd Witcher will talk about this ground-breaking project, how it helps the park, and some of its most excitingdiscoveries. You’ll also learn how you can get involved including using theiNaturalist nature app to help identify and document life by recording speciesyou encounter in the park and in your own backyard.

Speaker Bios

Dr. Will Kuhn is Director of Science and Research at Discover Life in America. He’s an entomologist and aspiring naturalist, who loves learning about the flora and fauna of the Great Smoky Mountains.

Todd Witcher is Executive Director of Discover Life in America. He’s a biologist, educator, naturalist, and conservationist who’s worked in this field for almost 40 years.

Class Series: Smokies Most Wanted
2023-03-25 10:00 - 16:00 | REI Co-op Pigeon Forge, 2655 Teaster Ln Suite 310, Pigeon Forge, Tennessee, 37863, United States
Are you looking for new ways to make outdoor adventures more fun and educational? DLiA will be set up at REI in Pigeon all day on Saturday, March 25th providing hands-on instruction and short classes on how you can use a nature app called iNaturalist to become community scientists!

We will teach you how to document the plants and animals you encounter whether you are in Great Smoky Mountains National Park or in your own backyard. Join us at the top of each hour for instructions on how to set up and use the app, then take a walk outside with us around the store to put what you’ve learned to the test! It’s fun, easy, and great for kids and families!

Free event and no registration necessary!

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

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

Location: Virtual via Zoom

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

Free registration

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

2023 schedule & abstracts (PDF)

2022 recorded talks (YouTube)

Information for presenters

Submit a talk

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

Important dates

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

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

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

Helpful information

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

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

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

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

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

Conservation on Tap
2023-02-08 19:00 | Albright Grove Brewing Company, 2924 Sutherland Ave, Knoxville, Tennessee, 37919
Conservation on Tap

Wednesday, February 8, 7:00 p.m.

Albright Grove Brewing Company, Knoxville

Wells Holbrook of Team BUSAR (Backcountry Unit Search & Rescue) will present on the volunteers’ role in rescuing lost and injured persons in Great Smoky Mountains National Park. He’ll include tips and insights on avoiding disaster during your wilderness travels. Wells has quite the resume: Air Force survival instructor, wilderness EMT/physician assistant, and SAR responder! He likes to encourage safe exploration and interaction with the outdoors and can share knowledge that will help you survive when things go awry.

“As a parent, I could not have spent another night with my son in the woods and was so thankful these men were willing to help him and his friend make it home safely. As a mother, their service was priceless.”

Conservation on Tap
2023-01-10 19:00 - 20:30
SMOKY MOUNTAIN BROOK TROUT RESTORATION & BEER

Join long-time Great Smoky Mountains National Park fisheries biologist Matt Kulp for an important update on the Smokies brook trout restoration project, endangered fish recovery effort, and recent large stream surveys. You’ll also hear about fascinating work being done on brook trout genetics, water quality, and yes, where park anglers are catching the most and largest fish. Door prizes for those who pay attention!!!

Proceeds from this event benefit Discover Life in America, the national park’s biological science and conservation partner. Visit DLiA.org to learn more.

REI Co-op Class Series: Smokies Most Wanted
2022-11-19 13:00 - 14:00 | REI Co-op Pigeon Forge, 2655 Teaster Ln Suite 310, Pigeon Forge, Tennessee, 37863, United States
Saturday, November 19th at 1pmSmokies Most Wanted: Opt Outside with iNaturalist “Opt Outside” this year by doing community science! In this program, you’ll learn how to use a nature app called iNaturalist to document the animals and plants you encounter wherever you decide to #optoutside this year. We will also share how you can participate and make the most of iNaturalist, by seeking out specific species in a virtual scavenger hunt in the Great Smoky Mountains National Park, and how your contributions will help the park better protect its natural resources. It’s fun, easy, and great for all ages! (Parent/guardian permission required for kids under 13.) Register here for November 19th:https://www.rei.com/…/smokies-most-wanted-opt…/318157

Conservation on Tap
2022-11-09 19:00 - 20:00 | Albright Grove Brewing Company, 2924 Sutherland Ave, Knoxville, Tennessee, 37919
Saving Wildlands & Farms: The Foothills Land Conservancy

The Foothills Land Conservancy’s Executive Director Bill Clabough will highlight the Conservancy’s wide range of conservation successes and partnerships with both individual landowners and public entities.

FLC has assisted in the preservation of over 140,000 acres of mountains, working farms, and rural landscapes in 47 Tennessee counties and across 6 additional states. Local examples include Jarvis Park in Maryville and the Stella Moore Collier Preserve in Knoxville. Stop by and climb on the preservation bandwagon!

Proceeds from this event benefit Discover Life in America, the national park’s biological science and conservation partner. Visit DLiA.org to learn more.

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

Erin Canter, Great Smoky Mountains Institute at Tremont

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

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

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

Smokies Most Wanted at Sugarlands Visitor Center
2022-10-20 10:00 - 14:00 | Sugarlands Visitor Center, 107 Sugarlands Visitor Center Loop Rd, Gatlinburg, TN, 37738, United States
Join Discover Life in America at Sugarlands Visitor Center to learn about using iNaturalist and the Smokies Most Wanted Program! Help us record life in the Smokies as a community scientist! Use the iNaturalist app to record any animal, plant and other lifeform you find in the National Park. Want to take things up a notch? Look for the 100+ high priority species found in our Smokies Most Wanted Guide.

REI Co-op Class Series: Smokies Most Wanted
2022-10-15 01:00 - 14:00 | REI Co-op Pigeon Forge, 2655 Teaster Ln Suite 310, Pigeon Forge, Tennessee, 37863, United States
October 15th at 1pmSmokies Most Wanted: Community Science for the Whole Family

Are you looking for new ways to make family outdoor adventures more fun and educational? In this program, you’ll learn how to use a nature app called iNaturalist to become community scientists! We will teach you and your family how to document the animals and plants you encounter whether you are in Great Smoky Mountains National Park or even in your own backyard. It’s fun, easy, and great for kids and families! (Parent/guardian permission required for kids under 13.)

Register here for October 15th:https://www.rei.com/…/smokies-most-wanted…/318156

Salamander Ball on Wheels 2022
2022-10-07 18:00 - 21:30 | Parkway Drive-in Theatre, Maryville, TN, 2909 E Lamar Alexander Pkwy, Maryville, Tennessee, 37804
Come one, come all, to the Salamander Ball! Our third annual “Salamander Ball on Wheels” is an appreciation event to thank our volunteers, sponsors and supporters, past and present.Save the date October 7th for an evening of family-friendly fun and our featured movie, The Lorax at the Parkway Drive-in Movie Theater in Maryville, TN!

It’s free, but donations are welcome to support this event!

National Public Lands Day Celebration!
2022-09-24 09:00 | Oconoluftee Vistor Center, 1194 Newfound Gap Rd, Cherokee, North Carolina, 28719, United States
Join Discover Life in America to “Record life in the Smokies” as part of our Smokies Most Wanted program at Oconoluftee Visitor Center in GSMNP!

Established in 1994 and held annually on the fourth Saturday in September, National Public Lands Day is traditionally the nation’s largest single-day volunteer effort. It celebrates the connection between people and green space in their community, inspires environmental stewardship, and encourages use of open space for education, recreation, and health benefits. This year, National Public Lands Day falls on September 24, 2022.

Record Life in the Smokies at Sugarlands Visitor Center
2022-09-22 10:00 - 14:00 | Sugarlands Visitor Center, 1420 Fighting Creek Gap Road, Gatlinburg, Tennessee, 37738, United States

REI Co-op Class Series: Smokies Most Wanted
2022-09-17 13:00 - 14:30 | REI Co-op Pigeon Forge, 2655 Teaster Ln Suite 310, Pigeon Forge, Tennessee, 37863, United States
September 17th at 1pm ESTSmokies Most Wanted: Help Record Life in the Smokies!

October 15th at 1pm ESTSmokies Most Wanted: Community Science for the Whole Family!

November 19th at 1pm ESTSmokies Most Wanted: #OptOutside with iNaturalist!

September 17th at 1pmSmokies Most Wanted: Help Record Life in the Smokies!

In this program, you’ll learn how to use a nature app called iNaturalist to document the animals and plants you encounter in Great Smoky Mountains National Park, through a community science project called Smokies Most Wanted. You’ll learn how to participate and make the most of iNaturalist, how you can seek out specific Smokies species in a virtual scavenger hunt, and how your contributions will help the park better protect its natural resources. (Parent/guardian permission required for kids under 13.)

Register here for September 17th: https://www.rei.com/…/smokies-most-wanted-help…/318113

October 15th at 1pmSmokies Most Wanted: Community Science for the Whole Family

Are you looking for new ways to make family outdoor adventures more fun and educational? In this program, you’ll learn how to use a nature app called iNaturalist to become community scientists! We will teach you and your family how to document the animals and plants you encounter whether you are in Great Smoky Mountains National Park or even in your own backyard. It’s fun, easy, and great for kids and families! (Parent/guardian permission required for kids under 13.)

Register here for October 15th:https://www.rei.com/…/smokies-most-wanted…/318156

November 19th at 1pmSmokies Most Wanted: Opt Outside with iNaturalist

“Opt Outside” this year by doing community science! In this program, you’ll learn how to use a nature app called iNaturalist to document the animals and plants you encounter wherever you decide to #optoutside this year. We will also share how you can participate and make the most of iNaturalist, by seeking out specific species in a virtual scavenger hunt in the Great Smoky Mountains National Park, and how your contributions will help the park better protect its natural resources. It’s fun, easy, and great for all ages! (Parent/guardian permission required for kids under 13.)

Register here for November 19th:https://www.rei.com/…/smokies-most-wanted-opt…/318157

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

Joey Shaw, University of Tennessee at Chattanooga

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

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

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

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

Tom Powers, University of Nebraska-Lincoln

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

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

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

Science at Sugarlands: African American Experience
2022-07-15 13:00 - 15:00
The African American Experience in the Smokies: making the invisible visible

Atalaya Dorfield, Great Smoky Mountains National Park

Do you remember the time when you were sitting on the front porch with your grandparents, and they told you a story? Not just any story, but a story that made you ask more questions, read more books, or share those stories that you learned as a child with your grandchildren. In 2018, Great Smoky Mountains National Park realized that there was a missing piece to its rich puzzle of history, which led to the park’s new project, the African American Experience Project. This project is a collaborative effort with park partners and the community to document and share the untold stories of African Americans in and outside the Smokies. These stories have been shared by many African Americans around crackling campfires, sun-beaten front porches, and the lamp lit bedrooms, but they have yet to be shared with the world. To tell this story, the park is conducting research into African American experiences in the Great Smoky Mountains region of Appalachia from constructed 1540s to the present-day. Research topics in this framework include slavery, the American Civil War, social dynamics, laws and policies, careers, recreation, and oral histories. These are a few of the many key topics that will help park visitors understand this important, yet untold story.

Learn about the African American Experience Project from Atalaya Dorfield, one of the folks working to reveal the missing pieces of this puzzle of Smokies history!

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

// Cover photo: Job Corpsmen. Provided by National Park Service

Bioblitz @ Nottely Tailwater Trail
2022-06-24 18:00 - 2022-06-25 12:00
Bioblitz @ Nottely Tailwater 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 Nottely Tailwater Trail at Nottely Dam, in Blairsville, Georgia.

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 the Nottely Tailwater 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 Nottely Tailwater Trail project on iNaturalist, which will be left up indefinitely. We encourage you to revisit the 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 night (June 24) 6-10 pm to see what evening critters we can find, or join us Saturday morning (June 25) 8 am-noon, or come for both! We’ll meet at the same location for both.

Where to meet?

Meet at the BOTTOM of the Nottely Tailwater Trail (not the trailhead at the top). Park along the road near the picnic tables that mark the end of the trail.

Meet at the orange X at the river end of trail.

Nottely Tailwater Trail is a mile long trail that follows a babbling creek. It exits along Nottely River (where we’ll meet).

Google Maps link meeting spot

Helpful links

Nottely Tailwater Trail iNaturalist projectNottely Tailwater 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

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

Jeff Hunter, National Parks Conservation Association

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

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

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

Fireflies at Norton Creek 2022
2022-06-09 19:00 - 2022-06-12 23:00
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
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
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
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
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
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
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.
