Adults
Campus Cleanup Volunteer Days
Great Smoky Mountains Institute at Tremont 9275 Tremont Road, Townsend, TN, United StatesAt the end of March, a powerful storm took down dozens of trees on and around Tremont's campus. Read Jeremy's account and check out pictures of the damage here. Thankfully, our staff and program participants are safe and programs are able to continue, but there is a significant mess to clean up. We're calling on [...]
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
