TOWNSEND, TN — On June 20-25, 2022, Great Smoky Mountains Institute at Tremont is hosting Naturalist Week, a virtual event designed to connect people with nature from wherever they are. Throughout the week, kids and adults are encouraged to explore their backyard, local park, neighborhood garden, schoolyard, or any other patch of green they can find to start noticing nature around them.
“Research from the Environmental Protection Agency shows that people, on average, spend 90 percent of their time indoors,” says Tremont representative Erin Rosolina. “We know, however, that spending time outside provides a host of health benefits, both mental and physical. It also helps people feel more connected to the environment and their planet. Naturalist Week is our call to action to experience and appreciate nature, wherever you are.”
A program participant identifies a flower using an app like iNaturalist. Photo by David Bryant
To provide some guidance and incentive for participation, Tremont is hosting the Level Up Challenge, where individuals can earn points for their nature-based activities during Naturalist Week. Points can also be earned for climbing trees, watching a sunrise, using a field guide, catching fireflies, or many other outdoor activities. Those who earn 25 points during the week will receive a small prize, and one lucky winner will be selected for a custom Tremont experience.
To kick off Naturalist Week, Tremont is hosting a viewing of Hidden Rivers, a 1-hour film that explores the rivers and streams of the Southern Appalachian region, North America’s most biologically rich waters. The film follows the work of conservation biologists and explorers throughout the region, revealing both the beauty and vulnerability of aquatic life. Representatives from Conservation Fisheries, a Knoxville nonprofit featured in the film that is dedicated to the preservation and restoration of native fish populations, will join Tremont staff to answer questions following the screening. The screening will take place on Monday, June 20, at 6:30 p.m. at Hi-Wire Brewing at 2020 Barber Street in Knoxville. This event is free and open to the public; Hi-Wire Brewing will donate $1 from each flagship beer purchased during the event to support Tremont’s work.
On Wednesday, June 22, Tremont is hosting The Big Day, a twist on a birding “big day,” where they are challenging people to document as many species as they can find – including plants, mammals, fungi, insects, birds, and lichens – and share their findings on Tremont’s social media.
“We want to highlight the amazing biodiversity that can be found across our region, not just in the Smokies,” says Rosolina. “So many people think of nature as a place that they go to visit, but we want folks to recognize that nature is everywhere – we can’t separate ourselves from it.”
Those participating in the Level Up Challenge will earn 10 points for attending the Hidden Rivers showing, and can earn one point per species observation that they share on iNaturalist, a free app that supports community science research.
The virtual Naturalist Week is taking place at the same time as an in-person Naturalist Week on Tremont’s campus inside Great Smoky Mountains National Park. The in-person event is an overnight environmental camp for adults, and campers will be participating in many of the same activities that virtual participants will be doing, including The Big Day.
“This is an exciting week for us,” says Rosolina. “This will be the first time we’ve ever had this adult summer camp, and we’ll be able to share some of the activities and lessons the adults are experiencing on campus throughout the week with our virtual audience. It’s a way to share the Tremont magic with those who aren’t able to attend in person.”
A few spots remain for the in-person Naturalist Week camp; learn more at gsmit.org/event/naturalist-week.
Though not required to participate, Tremont does encourage making a donation to RSVP for Naturalist Week; the funds raised throughout the week will support the nonprofit’s year-round work to connect people of all ages with nature, both through on-campus experiences in the Smokies and through educational outreach in the surrounding communities.
To learn more about Naturalist Week activities, including the Level Up Challenge point system and reporting, visit gsmit.org/naturalist.
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Great Smoky Mountains Institute at Tremont provides in-depth experiences through educational programs that celebrate ecological and cultural diversity, foster stewardship, and nurture appreciation of Great Smoky Mountains National Park. Learn more at www.gsmit.org.
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FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
June 13, 2022
Contact:
Erin Rosolina, Marketing Manager
[email protected]
(865) 448-6709
