How do you inspire others to love the outdoors as much as you do? This weekend course helps you develop the art of interpreting nature – weaving meaning, relevance, and joy into every outdoor experience. Through activities, discussions, and hands-on practice, you’ll grow more confident in engaging others, whether you’re leading a hike, teaching a class, or guiding your own family outside.
Course highlights:
- Experiment with different strategies for engaging groups in outdoor spaces.
- Explore the principles of interpretation and why relevance matters.
- Build your own toolkit of activities and resources to use in your community.
- Practice creating experiences that help others connect emotionally and intellectually with nature.
Whether you’re a teacher, ranger, mentor, or parent, this course equips you with tools that make a lasting impact.
This course is part of Tremont’s Southern Appalachian Naturalist Certification Program, which consists of eight core courses. You have the option to enroll in individual courses or complete all eight to earn certification awarded by the University of Tennessee.
Registration includes instruction, food, and lodging in our dorm inside Great Smoky Mountains National Park.
Photos by David Bryant and Shannon Keizer.
Cover photo by David Bryant.
Skills for Sharing Nature at a Glance
Date: February 12, 2027 - February 14, 2027
Ages: Adults
Location: Tremont’s Smokies Campus
9275 Tremont Road
Townsend, TN 37882
Already Registered? Check out the welcome letter for a tentative schedule, packing information, and other essential details for your Tremont program.
Meet the Instructors
Grayson Shelor
Grayson Shelor is the Lead Teacher Naturalist at Tremont Institute, where she serves as an instructor for both school-based youth programs and educator professional development. She has designed programming and taught lessons on farms and in Middle Schools, farmers markets, community kitchens, forests, rivers, and mountain tops. Grayson earned her B.A. in English from the University of Richmond and Masters in Education from Vanderbilt University, with a focus on instructional design.
Anne Thomas-Abbott
Anne Thomas-Abbott is the Smokies School Coordinator at Tremont Institute. She graduated from Emory & Henry College with a B.A. in English literature and writing and from the University of Tennessee, Knoxville with an M.S. in Curriculum and Instruction. For thirty years before coming to Tremont, she taught high school English in Knox County, and she is now enjoying the opportunities and challenges of translating and adapting her classroom experience into outdoor settings.
Meet the Instructors
Grayson Shelor
Grayson Shelor is the Lead Teacher Naturalist at Tremont Institute, where she serves as an instructor for both school-based youth programs and educator professional development. She has designed programming and taught lessons on farms and in Middle Schools, farmers markets, community kitchens, forests, rivers, and mountain tops. Grayson earned her B.A. in English from the University of Richmond and Masters in Education from Vanderbilt University, with a focus on instructional design.
Anne Thomas-Abbott
Anne Thomas-Abbott is the Smokies School Coordinator at Tremont Institute. She graduated from Emory & Henry College with a B.A. in English literature and writing and from the University of Tennessee, Knoxville with an M.S. in Curriculum and Instruction. For thirty years before coming to Tremont, she taught high school English in Knox County, and she is now enjoying the opportunities and challenges of translating and adapting her classroom experience into outdoor settings.
YOUR HOME BASE IN THE SMOKY MOUNTAINS
At Tremont, the setting is part of the experience. Nestled inside Great Smoky Mountains National Park, our Walker Valley campus is surrounded by forest, mountain streams, and opportunities for discovery around every corner. From shared meals and cozy accommodations to spaces for learning and gathering, get a feel for the place before you arrive.
YOUR HOME BASE IN THE SMOKY MOUNTAINS
At Tremont, the setting is part of the experience. Nestled inside Great Smoky Mountains National Park, our Walker Valley campus is surrounded by forest, mountain streams, and opportunities for discovery around every corner. From shared meals and cozy accommodations to spaces for learning and gathering, get a feel for the place before you arrive.
