BEARS OF THE SMOKIES
Learn about the life of the southern Appalachian black bear—a popular and remarkably adaptable carnivore that has lived amidst human cultures for thousands of years. This hands-on course will take you on a moderate hike into prime black bear habitat. What do they eat? What are bear “mark trees”? When do bears breed? Where do they hibernate and how do they survive the winter without food while giving birth to cubs? What should you do when you encounter a bear? Search for active bear signs and find out how researchers unravel the mysteries of this unique mammal. Instructor: Mike Pelton, Ph.D., professor emeritus, UT Forestry, Wildlife and Fisheries. He has actively conducted wildlife research in the Smokies since 1969. Pelton and his students have written more than 100 articles on various wild mammals in the Park.
Register now: COURSE #10SP861
Fee: $49
Sat., May 1, 2010, 1:00 p.m. - 9:00 p.m.
Great Smoky Mountains National Park
(Meet at Great Smoky Mountains Institute at Tremont, office parking area.)
ANCIENT ENVIRONMENTS: GEOLOGY OF THE SMOKIES
Learn to interpret the “language” of the rock record and trace the history of the Smokies from nearly 1 billion years ago to the present. Ever wonder what ancient environments existed during the formation of the rocks comprising the hills and mountains? What influence has the geology had on the biosphere of the Smokies— including human activities? We'll visit a number of selected sites throughout the Park to get answers to these questions and more! Instructor: Don Byerly, Ph.D., professor emeritus, UT Dept. of Earth & Planetary Sciences, and the National Association of Geoscience Teachers’ 1999 recipient of the Neil Miner Award, is a nationally certified professional geologist who specializes in engineering/environmental geology.
Register now: COURSE #10SP920
Fee: $49
Sat., May 1, 2010, 8:30 a.m. - 4:00 p.m.
Great Smoky Mountains National Park
(Meet in the training room at Sugarlands Visitor Center.)
OLD GROWTH FOREST: ALBRIGHT GROVE
Albright Grove has perhaps the greatest variety of old growth cove hardwood trees found anywhere in the Great Smokies that are in a small area accessible by trail. We’ll begin the 6.5-mile roundtrip easy hike on the Maddron Bald Trail that winds by former corn fields, the historic Baxter cabin, and other signs of settlement before reaching an old growth forest. A footpath then leads beneath giant hemlocks, by spring wildflowers, across surging Indian Camp Creek, to the Albright Grove loop trail—named for Horace Albright. As we walk the quiet loop, dwarfed by giant Tuliptrees, Silverbells, Fraser Magnolias, Maples, Hemlocks, and others, we may choose to whisper in this seemingly outdoor cathedral. We’ll learn to identify trees by sight, touch, smell, and taste—with or without leaves. We’ll measure girth, and discuss the signs and adaptations of an old growth forest. And we’ll discover salamanders, birds, and other critters and how they fit in. Instructor: Carey Jones is a former Park Ranger naturalist who led educational walks for 14 years in the Smokies. Always the seeker and discoverer, his experience and M.A. help glean truths from nature to share with fellow learners. He is a naturalist for several organizations, including the annual Spring Wildflower Pilgrimage in the Park, and is the narrator of the new Bird Songs of the Smokies CD set.
Register now: COURSE #10SP954
Fee: $49
Sat., May 1, 2010, 9:00 a.m. - 4:00 p.m.
Great Smoky Mountains National Park
(Meet in parking area at the Greenbrier entrance to the Park.)
SPRING WILDFLOWERS AND WALKER SISTERS’ HOMESITE
DAY HIKE
The wildflowers of spring were a sign that winter had passed and life would be easier for the Walker sisters. Join your experienced naturalist guides for an easy three-mile hike and learn about emerging flowers, plus trees, and the lives of these legendary pioneers. Two connecting trails will lead us from Metcalf Bottoms to the historic Little Greenbrier Schoolhouse and on to the famed Walker sisters’ homesite where the “Five Sisters” lived off the land. This is a great opportunity for a family nature outing or time to spend with a friend to learn from the experts. Instructors: Joel and Kathy Zachry, both M.S., are husband and wife naturalists with more than 50 combined years of backcountry identification and hiking experience. They have led Field School sessions since the early 1980s.
Register now: COURSE #10WI957
Fee: $49
Sat., May 1, 2010, 10:00 a.m. - 3:00 p.m.
Great Smoky Mountains National Park
(Meet at right hand parking lot just inside Metcalf Bottoms Picnic area.)
BIRDING IN THE SMOKIES
An opening discussion will consider basic materials (binoculars, field guides, checklists, and CDs/tapes of calls and songs) as well as non-technical methods of identifying birds by both visual clues and their distinctive vocalizations. The remainder of the first day will be devoted to birding the Park Headquarters grounds and adjacent areas in the lower elevations of the Park. The second day will be devoted to birding higher elevation hardwood and spruce-fir forests, where distinctive species like rose-breasted grosbeaks, black-capped chickadees, black-throated blue warblers, golden-crowned kinglets, winter wrens, hairy woodpeckers, brown creepers, least flycatchers, and red-breasted nuthatches will be located. Bobolinks, orchard orioles, and blue grosbeaks will be observed in a meadow adjacent to the Park. The goal for the weekend will be the identification of 75 species. Instructor: George Ellison is a writer-naturalist who resides in Bryson City, N.C. He teaches bird identification workshops for the North Carolina Arboretum, Southwestern Community College, various Elderhostels, and many other facilities and institutions.
Register now: COURSE #10SP851
Fee: $95
Sat. and Sun., May 1 & 2, 2010, 9:00 a.m. - 5:00 p.m.
Great Smoky Mountains National Park
(Meet on porch at Park Headquarters Bldg.)
MT. LeCONTE HIKE AND OVERNIGHT IN THE LODGE
Since its establishment in the 1920s, LeConte Lodge has been a rustic attraction for hikers. At an elevation of 6,360 feet, it is the highest guest lodge in the eastern United States. The mountaintop serves as a grandstand for the whole Park, and the pleasures of a visit to the lodge can include breathtaking sunsets from Cliff Top, clear night skies for stargazing, and spectacular sunrises from Myrtle Point. The true charm of LeConte Lodge is in the friendly spirit of the people who come here—people who find relaxation and renewed energy in the cool, majestic solitude at the top of the Smokies. This is a strenuous hike. The trails are steep and rocky and range from five to eight miles each way. You need to be in good physical condition ready for a rigorous climb. We suggest you sign up with an old friend, or be prepared to bunk with a new one! Instructors: TBA.
Spring Hike
The wildflower show on the Trillium Gap Trail ascent should be near its peak. The return down Bull Head Trail is one of the most beautiful in the Park, both for flowers and long-range viewing. Note: The trails are steep and rocky and range from five to eight miles each way. You need to be in good physical condition and ready for a rigorous climb.
Register now: COURSE #10SP855
Fee: $175*
Sat. and Sun., May 1 & 2, 2010
Great Smoky Mountains National Park
(Meet at Rainbow Falls Trail parking lot on Cherokee Orchard Road, 9:00 a.m., Sat.)
*Registration fee is nonrefundable.
FLY FISHING IN THE SMOKIES
Learn the skills and joy of fly fishing, with emphasis on angling in the Smokies. This comprehensive session includes instruction in casting techniques, basic knot tying, reading the water, and onstream demonstrations. We'll discuss essential equipment, popular mountain flies and their use, and trout-related entomology. On-stream photography will be covered briefly as well. You must furnish your own equipment. Actual fishing is encouraged after class. If you plan to fish, you need to provide your own license. Instructor: Jim Casada is a retired university history professor, a son of the Smokies, an award-winning outdoor writer, and the author of several books on fly fishing including Fly Fishing in the Great Smoky Mountains National Park: An Insider's Guide to a Pursuit of Passion. He has fished Park waters and walked Park trails all his life.
Register now: COURSE #10SP910
Fee: $95
Sat. and Sun., May 8 & 9
Great Smoky Mountains National Park
(Meet in training room at Sugarlands Visitor Center, 9:30 a.m., Sat.)
BIRDING FOR BEGINNERS
Spring is bursting with birds and after this day you may never take a walk again without enjoying the wonder of birds —even in your own backyard! We’ll cover the basics of binoculars, field guides, checklists, and Bird Song CDs. We’ll learn the simple steps to identifying birds, including common bird sounds. We’ll be outside 90 percent of the day, starting our walks at low elevation, then carpooling to mid- and high-elevation habitats to discover other species—from Wood Thrush to Veery, from Yellow-throated Warbler to Black-throated Blue. Resident birds are common, but so too the many colorful migrants from the tropics settling in to nest in the Smokies. Along the way we’ll discuss the miracle of flight and other bird traits, have a hands-on look at a bird nest collection, and offer ways to attract birds to your yard. Instructor: Carey Jones is a former Park Ranger naturalist who led educational walks for 14 years in the Smokies. Always the seeker and discoverer, his experience and M.A. help glean truths from nature to share with fellow learners. He is a naturalist for several organizations, including the annual Spring Wildflower Pilgrimage in the Park, and is the narrator of the new Bird Songs of the Smokies CD set.
Register now: COURSE #10SP884
Sat., May 8, 2010, 8:00 a.m. - 4:00 p.m.
Great Smoky Mountains National Park
(Meet in conference room at Park Headquarters Bldg.)
Fee: $49 adults and teens
$39 child (ages 6-12)
LATE SPRING WILDFLOWERS & FERNS
As spring edges into summer, numerous wildflowers and ferns make their appearance in the Smokies. You’ll visit various natural areas in the Park, from the lowest to the highest elevations, and take short walks over moderate terrain to find and identify a variety of species. Anticipate seeing showy plants like Indian paintbrush, flame azalea, umbrella-leaf, and bluebeadlily. And you’ll learn to identify ferns like the wood ferns, bracken, lady fern, hay-scented fern, and many others by close observation of their distinctive fronds and spore cases. The emphasis will be on appreciating the delicate beauty of wildflowers and ferns while learning non-technical identification methods using Newcomb’s Wildflower Guide by Lawrence Newcomb and Fern Finder by Anne and Barbara Hallowell. Instructor: George Ellison is a writer-naturalist who resides in Bryson City, N.C. He serves as a fieldtrip leader for the annual Native Plants Conference, sponsored by Western Carolina University, and teaches plant identification workshops for the North Carolina Arboretum.
Register now: COURSE #10SP877
Fee: $49
Sat., May 22, 2010, 9:00 a.m. - 5:00 p.m.
Great Smoky Mountains National Park
(Meet in training room at Sugarlands Visitor Center.)
BACKPACKING WITH CONFIDENCE
Whether you’re a novice backpacker, want more confidence while in the backcountry, or just want to get out and greet the extraordinary Smoky Mountain springtime, this class is for you. Learning the basics of backpacking (from how to get safe drinking water and storing your food, to setting up camp) will help you cope with whatever challenges you may encounter and make any adventure safe and enjoyable. You'll gain the confidence and know-how to care for yourself and the backcountry. We’ll also discuss wildlife that might be encountered to help you become more familiar and comfortable. We’ll enjoy both natural and cultural history aspects of the Smokies along the Porter’s Creek Trail. This moderate trail (7.4 miles roundtrip) is well known for its high diversity and abundance of spring wildflowers. Meals and some gear are to be provided by each participant. Instructor: Liz Domingue, M.S., wildlife and conservation biology, is a naturalist, educator, photographer, and writer. Through photography, observation, and research, Domingue has studied wildlife, plants, and the natural world throughout the United States and abroad.
Register now: COURSE #10SP859
Fee: $98*
Sat. and Sun., May 29 & 30, 2010
Great Smoky Mountains National Park
(Meet at Greenbrier Picnic pavilion, 9:00 a.m., Sat.)
*Registration fee is nonrefundable.
This apple denotes Knox County Teacher Center approval for in-service credit.
Question? E-mail us at professionalpgms@utk.edu or call (865) 974-0150.
Download a print version of our catalog. (pdf)
Give us your feedback. Complete our course evaluation form. (pdf)