An Ode to Tremont from the Natural Resources College Consortium

Last fall, students from the University of Central Florida joined Tremont’s annual Natural Resources College Consortium for the first time. They teamed up with students from the University of Georgia and Purdue University Northwest for a seven-day, immersive course focused on park management in one of the most biodiverse landscapes in the country.

During the week, students hiked Spruce Flats and Lumber Ridge trails, toured Twin Creeks Science Lab, explored Cades Cove, and learned directly from National Park Service professionals, including Jim Renfro (air quality) and Ryan Williamson (wildlife management). They also explored the complexity of real-world decision-making through a role-playing exercise on public land policy, grappling with the competing priorities that shape how parks are managed.

What makes the Natural Resources College Consortium distinctive is not just the setting – though living and learning inside Great Smoky Mountains National Park is hard to beat. The consortium brings together students and faculty from multiple universities, fostering peer-to-peer learning and collaboration. Participants also have the chance to connect with professionals working across natural resources, park management, and ecology, helping them see how classroom learning translates into careers.

One of the students in the University of Central Florida cohort, Brooklyn Bolkosky, captured her experience in a short video she created during the course, An Ode to Tremont.

If you’re interested in bringing a college course to Tremont or exploring opportunities to collaborate with other higher education institutions, please contact Jeremy.

Cover image: a still shot from Brooklyn Bolkosky’s video.