Summer Camp in the Smokies with WBIR

This week, we had the joy of welcoming WBIR reporter Aaron Velasquez and videographer Jillian Taylor to Tremont for a glimpse into our summer camp experience—and they truly jumped right in!

From river critter catching to marshmallow roasting, they followed along with campers as they explored the Smokies. Aaron later wrote to us saying, “Thank you again so much for giving Jillian and I the best summer camp experience. It was truly a day I’ll never forget!” That kind of joy is what summer at Tremont is all about.

Here are some of the segments that aired throughout WBIR’s morning news:

Backcountry Packing with Tyler
Learn how our Backcountry Ecological Expedition campers are helping catalog species in Great Smoky Mountains National Park, including a search for the understudied freshwater sponges in collaboration with researchers from Appalachian State University.

River Exploration with Logan
We waded into the Middle Prong to catch some freshwater critters – a favorite activity during summer camp adventures! Logan shares how this activity helps young learners start to notice patterns in nature, helping them to better understand the world around them.

Campfire Reflections
Smores are a quintessential part of the summer camp experience, but there’s more to overnight camp than sweet treats around the fire. Logan shares what makes residential summer camp in the national park so special.

Camper Spotlight: Paige
As a fourth-year returning Discovery camper, Paige is a pro! As her fellow campers learn the principles of Leave No Trace behind her, she shares what keeps her coming back to Tremont each year.

Bear Sighting!
Aaron got to see a black bear in the wild for the very first time alongside our Discovery campers. Encounters with wildlife is one of the perks of summer camp in Great Smoky Mountains National Park!

Camp Sendoff
The WBIR team wraps up their visit with some joyful goodbyes and a few final reflections with the Discovery campers.