Lessons and Curriculum
Our lessons emphasize hands-on exploration of the national park and are generally three hours or longer. Most lessons can be adapted for all age groups. Contact our school program coordinator at (865) 448-6709 to learn more.
A Tremont Teacher Naturalist will teach cooperatively with your school’s staff as well as assist teachers with materials, trails, and questions.
Day Classes
Making observations, asking questions, and doing initial explorations of the national park. This is every group’s first class at Tremont.
Wrapping up their time at Tremont through reflection, discussion, and sharing. This is every group’s last class at Tremont.
Uncovering questions, following curiosity, and designing student-driven investigations to learn more about salamanders.
Geology Hike to the Falls
Hiking to a scenic waterfall. Piecing together the geologic story of the Smokies through evidence found on the Falls Trail.
Using a map and compass to navigate through an orienteering course both on Tremont campus and off-trail in the wilderness.
Investigating water quality through collection of bio-indicators (aquatic macro-invertebrates) and abiotic water quality testing. Stream class– students will get wet!
Stream Life
Catching aquatic organisms and finding out how their structures and behaviors help them live. Stream class– students will get wet!
Stream Physics
Measuring the flow rate of the Middle Prong without a stream flow meter. Exploring the power of water in shaping the landscape. Stream class– students will get wet!
Aquatic Salamander Monitoring
Participating in a long-term salamander population study by catching salamanders, collecting data and discussing results. Stream class– students will get wet!
Life in the Forest
Exploring the vast, diverse hardwood forests of the national park…
Air Quality
Monitoring air quality in the Smoky Mountains through citizen science projects and investigations.
Biodiversity Blitz
Counting and cataloguing every living thing in a small plot of Smokies forest. Cultivating an understanding of biodiversity.
Explorations
Building shelters, packing for expeditions, discovering the unknown.
All Day Hike
Setting off on an all-day adventure on the trails. Choose either a 4 or 8 mile hike.
Walker Valley Living History
Interviewing inhabitants of Walker Valley in 1926 to see how their lives would be affected by the creation of Great Smoky Mountains National Park.
All Day Trip to Cades Cove
Exploring home-sites, church yards, fields, and forest to relive life in the late 1800’s in the Cades Cove community. School arranges transportation to and from Cades Cove. 60 students max.
All Day Hike: High Country Exploration
Heading up to the high peaks of the Smokies to explore and understand the unique ecology of the ridge line forests. School provides transportation. 60 students max.
All Day Forest Investigations
Embarking on an all day investigation of the most biodiverse forest in US. Students may discover food webs, life cycles, and other patterns of forest ecology.
All Day Stream Investigations
Embarking on an all day investigation of the streams that fill Walker Valley. Students may investigate watersheds, stream dynamics, water quality, aquatic life, and more.
All Day Landscape Investigations
Embarking on an all day investigation of how the interactions of water and land gave shape to the Smoky Mountains. Stream class– students will get wet!
Evening Classes
Night Walk/Crepuscular Crawl
Searching for nocturnal animals, testing the limits of our senses, exploring the wilderness of the dark. Tremont staff leads class.
Campfire
Gathering in a campfire circle to sing, play games, laugh, listen to stories, and watch the flames burn to coals. Tremont staff leads class.
Astronomy
Search the night sky for constellations and hear the stories connected with them. Investigate the phases of the moon and other celestial phenomena. Tremont staff leads class.
Cooperation Course
Navigating a series of team-building challenges to work on communication and leadership. Led by school staff. Can be two hours upon request.
Smoky Mountain Bingo Night
Playing a combination trivia/bingo game! Led by school staff.
Eco-Jeopardy
Testing nature knowledge through a game show format! Led by school staff.
Freddie the Fungus
Acting out a courtroom trial of a fungus accused in the death of an oak tree. Led by school staff.
Nature Quiz Show
Playing a natural knowledge quiz show that incorporates a series of challenges. Led by school staff.
Egg Drop
Taking on a classic engineering challenge of protecting a falling egg using only given or natural materials. Led by school staff.
Values Auction
Playing an auction game as a way to discuss values and conservation. Led by school staff.
Special Presentations
Elizabeth Rose
Stories
Sheri Liles
Fiber Fun Demo, Bees to Candles, Storytelling
Bob Grimac
Folk Dance Party
Lost Mill String Band
Old Timey Music
Sean McCollough
Music & Stories
Faye Wooden
Storyteller
Anna Uptain
Old Timey Music
Steve Kopman
Square Dancing
Kristin Botzet
Black Bear Research Presentation
Boogertown Gap
String Band