Plants of the Smokies – FULL
Great Smoky Mountains Institute at Tremont 9275 Tremont Road, Townsend, TN, United StatesThe Smokies are a wonderful place to learn—especially when it comes to plants! This region is a hotspot of botanical diversity, and spring is the perfect time to notice and observe wildflowers and fresh growth.
Birds of the Smokies – FULL
Great Smoky Mountains Institute at Tremont 9275 Tremont Road, Townsend, TN, United StatesFrom high, exposed peaks, to warmer sheltered lowlands, around 240 species of birds have been found inside Great Smoky Mountains National Park, including 60 year-round residents. Get to know this abundance of avifauna during a spectacular weekend of discovery, exploration, and learning.
Wilderness Adventure Trek I – FULL
Great Smoky Mountains Institute at Tremont 9275 Tremont Road, Townsend, TN, United StatesDuring this true backcountry wilderness experience, campers will sleep in the woods, swim in a mountain stream, kick back around the campfire, and make new friends to last a lifetime.
Discovery Camp I – Full
Great Smoky Mountains Institute at Tremont 9275 Tremont Road, Townsend, TN, United StatesDiscovery Camp is where kids go to be kids - getting curious, asking questions, exploring new places, and feeling free - all while living inside Great Smoky Mountains National Park and gaining a deeper appreciation for nature.
Girls in Science Camp
Great Smoky Mountains Institute at Tremont 9275 Tremont Road, Townsend, TN, United StatesWe’re taking science out of the classroom and into the great outdoors! Join us in an adventure to explore the Smokies, from the valleys of Cades Cove to the tallest mountains of the national park.
Naturalist Week: Summer Camp for Adults
Great Smoky Mountains Institute at Tremont 9275 Tremont Road, Townsend, TN, United StatesGet ready to embark on the adventure of a lifetime at Naturalist Week, the ultimate summer camp for adults, hosted by Tremont! Step out of your daily routine and dive deep into the breathtaking Great Smoky Mountains National Park. This one-of-a-kind program is designed to unleash your inner naturalist and provide you with an unforgettable experience of living, learning, and playing in the midst of North America’s most biologically diverse region.
John Thurman Trout Adventure Camp
Great Smoky Mountains Institute at Tremont 9275 Tremont Road, Townsend, TN, United StatesThe John Thurman Smoky Mountain Trout Adventure Camp promotes an appreciation of cold-water conservation by teaching campers the sport of fly fishing in mountain streams.
Wilderness Adventure Trek II – FULL
Great Smoky Mountains Institute at Tremont 9275 Tremont Road, Townsend, TN, United StatesDuring this true backcountry wilderness experience, campers will sleep in the woods, swim in a mountain stream, kick back around the campfire, and make new friends to last a lifetime.
Discovery Camp II – FULL
Great Smoky Mountains Institute at Tremont 9275 Tremont Road, Townsend, TN, United StatesDiscovery Camp is where kids go to be kids - getting curious, asking questions, exploring new places, and feeling free - all while living inside Great Smoky Mountains National Park and gaining a deeper appreciation for nature.
Backcountry Ecological Expedition – FULL
Great Smoky Mountains Institute at Tremont 9275 Tremont Road, Townsend, TN, United StatesExplore the wild side of the Smokies during an adventure like no other. During this 6-day, 5-night canoe expedition, you’ll camp in the woods, paddle to remote locations, and document the biodiversity of the Smokies.
Firefly Camp – FULL
Great Smoky Mountains Institute at Tremont 9275 Tremont Road, Townsend, TN, United StatesBond with your child while playing games that build confidence and awaken the senses during this one-of-a-kind family camp in Great Smoky Mountains National Park.
Reptiles and Amphibians – FULL
Great Smoky Mountains Institute at Tremont 9275 Tremont Road, Townsend, TN, United StatesDiscover the secret lives of reptile and amphibian species in the southern Appalachian mountains. Immerse yourself in a weekend of exploration and learning about these fascinating, secretive, and often feared and misunderstood creatures.
Smoky Mountain Family Camp – FULL
Great Smoky Mountains Institute at Tremont 9275 Tremont Road, Townsend, TN, United StatesSpend your family vacation in Great Smoky Mountains National Park and experience the magic of the mountains as you hike ridges, study wildlife, explore secret places, and take afternoon dips in the Middle Prong.
Teen High Adventure
Great Smoky Mountains Institute at Tremont 9275 Tremont Road, Townsend, TN, United StatesVenture into the heart of the Great Smoky Mountain backcountry, spending 10 days and 9 nights among a community of teenage outdoor enthusiasts like yourself! Grow your understanding of outdoor living ethics, and learn firsthand about the animals and plants that call these mountains home.
Great Smokies Experience
Great Smoky Mountains Institute at Tremont 9275 Tremont Road, Townsend, TN, United StatesGo on breathtaking hikes, take a canoe trip to the Tellico Reservoir, take scientific species surveys, explore the national park at night, climb up Mt. LeConte and so much more - all while earning college credit!
Aquatic Natural History – FULL
Great Smoky Mountains Institute at Tremont 9275 Tremont Road, Townsend, TN, United StatesWhere does the river begin and end? It may sound simple, but this course will challenge your preconceptions as you explore the unique ecology of aquatic systems in the southern Appalachian mountains, particularly as it relates to Great Smoky Mountains National Park.
Teacher Escape Weekend I
Great Smoky Mountains Institute at Tremont 9275 Tremont Road, Townsend, TN, United StatesKick off the new school year with a refreshing and reinvigorating trip to the Smokies - designed with teachers in mind! This weekend is an opportunity to meet other teachers, share ideas for engaging students, and learn from Tremont’s vast experience leading outdoor exploration.
Teacher Escape Weekend II
Great Smoky Mountains Institute at Tremont 9275 Tremont Road, Townsend, TN, United StatesKick off the new school year with a refreshing and reinvigorating trip to the Smokies - designed with teachers in mind! This weekend is an opportunity to meet other teachers, share ideas for engaging students, and learn from Tremont’s vast experience leading outdoor exploration.
Teacher Escape Weekend III
Great Smoky Mountains Institute at Tremont 9275 Tremont Road, Townsend, TN, United StatesKick off the new school year with a refreshing and reinvigorating trip to the Smokies - designed with teachers in mind! This weekend is an opportunity to meet other teachers, share ideas for engaging students, and learn from Tremont’s vast experience leading outdoor exploration.
Naturalist Skills
Great Smoky Mountains Institute at Tremont 9275 Tremont Road, Townsend, TN, United StatesThe natural world is teeming with mystery, beauty, and wonder, often only experienced only through fleeting glimpses. Become a better observer of natural phenomena, learn how to provoke your curiosity and ask meaningful questions, and discover new ways to document your outdoor experiences so you can learn and grow as a naturalist.
Southern Appalachian Ecology – FULL
Great Smoky Mountains Institute at Tremont 9275 Tremont Road, Townsend, TN, United StatesThe physio-geographic characteristics of the Southern Appalachian mountains have contributed to creating an amazing diversity of plant communities, which, in turn, support an astonishing variety of organisms. In this course, you will gain a deeper understanding of the mountains, including the flora and fauna that call this place home – skills that can also be applied to your surroundings in any natural environment.
Women’s Fall Backpack – FULL
Great Smoky Mountains Institute at Tremont 9275 Tremont Road, Townsend, TN, United StatesWhat better way is there to enjoy early fall than with a group of adventurous women on the trail and around the campfire? Climb mountains, ford streams, and recharge your batteries while marveling at the natural wonders around you.
Autumn Glory in the Smokies with the Sierra Club
Great Smoky Mountains Institute at Tremont 9275 Tremont Road, Townsend, TN, United StatesHike the Great Smoky Mountains with fellow outdoor enthusiasts with the Sierra Club National Outings Program.
Tremont Writers Conference
Great Smoky Mountains Institute at Tremont 9275 Tremont Road, Townsend, TN, United StatesJoin renowned authors and professional park educators for a writers conference like no other set on a lush, secluded campus nestled within America’s most-visited national park.
Autumn Brilliance Photography Workshop
Great Smoky Mountains Institute at Tremont 9275 Tremont Road, Townsend, TN, United StatesWhat better place to celebrate fall and improve your nature photography skills than in Great Smoky Mountains National Park? Capture remarkable colors as the leaves change in our Autumn Brilliance Photography Workshop.
Mammals of the Smokies – Full
Great Smoky Mountains Institute at Tremont 9275 Tremont Road, Townsend, TN, United StatesFrom bears and bats to skunks and cottontails, the Smokies are home to a plethora of furry friends. In this course, you’ll explore the diversity of mammal species in the southern Appalachian mountains, from charismatic megafauna to smaller species that are often overlooked.
Geology
Great Smoky Mountains Institute at Tremont 9275 Tremont Road, Townsend, TN, United StatesExplore the hidden backbone of the mountains while immersing yourself in this overlooked — yet vital— aspect of Smokies’ natural history. In this course, you’ll use field geology techniques to investigate both popular and lesser-known locales in the park, examine sedimentary and metamorphic outcrops, and discuss geologic structures like folds and faults. The workshop will conclude by compiling our collective observations to illustrate the geologic history of the Smokies.