Science at Sugarlands: Elk

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

  • Date: September 17, 2021
  • Timing: 1:00pm - 3:00pm
  • Address: , .

Science at Sugarlands: Herbarium

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

  • Date: October 15, 2021
  • Timing: 1:00pm - 3:00pm
  • Address: , .

Salamander Ball 2021

Join us at the Parkway Drive-In Theatre in Maryville for our annual spectacular salamander selebration: the Great Smoky Mountain Salamander Ball on Wheels!

  • Date: October 23, 2021
  • Timing: 6:00pm - 10:00pm
  • Address: 2909 E Lamar Alexander Pkwy, Maryville.

GSMNP Science Colloquium 2022

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 […]

  • Date: March 3, 2022
  • Timing: 9:00am - 4:00pm
  • Address: , .

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 […]

  • Date: March 3, 2022
  • Timing: 3:00pm - 4:30pm
  • Address: , .

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 […]

  • Date: April 5, 2022
  • Timing: 12:30pm - 4:00pm
  • Address: , .

Great Smokies Eco-Adventure 2022

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 […]

  • Date: April 10, 2022
  • Timing: 12:00pm - 4:00pm
  • Address: , .

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 […]

  • Date: May 6, 2022
  • Timing: 5:30pm - 12:00pm
  • Address: , .

Science at Sugarlands: Beetles

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 […]

  • Date: May 20, 2022
  • Timing: 1:00pm - 3:00pm
  • Address: , .

Fireflies at Norton Creek 2022

Enjoy guided firefly viewing in style at DLiA’s annual fundraising event in the Smokies.

  • Date: June 9, 2022
  • Timing: 7:00pm - 11:00pm
  • Address: , .