Great Smoky Mountains Institute at Tremont is all about connecting people and nature. Can you imagine a better place than Great Smoky Mountains National Park to connect with nature on such a grand and diverse scale? A place where you can actually live and learn, hands-on, in an outdoor classroom.
In 1969, Maryville College in Maryville, Tennessee, opened the Tremont Environmental Education Center in cooperation with the National Park Service. In 1986, the name changed to Great Smoky Mountains Institute at Tremont. The mission stayed the same: providing hands-on learning experiences in order to connect people with nature.
Still working closely with the National Park Service, Great Smoky Mountains Institute at Tremont offers a number of educational programs. These educational opportunities focus on the bountiful cultural history and the striking diversity of plant and animal life within the park.
We invite you to plan your vacation around one of the events/programs below to experience the Smokies like never before! Return home with a deeper connection to, an appreciation for, and a renewed sense of caring for Great Smoky Mountains National Park.
Residential programs at Great Smoky Mountains Institute at Tremont include an organized program, lodging, and meals! No going back and forth to restaurants and hotels – invest your time in the park!
Adults & Families Programs
Are you looking for an opportunity to spend a part, or your entire vacation at Great Smoky Mountains Institute at Tremont? Well, look no more! Your entire family can participate in activities planned especially for adults and families. The activities are fun and will allow time for family bonding in the park.
Enjoy events like camping with your child, hiking, backpacking, field games, and more.
Summer Youth Programs
Youth of all ages have the time of their lives exploring, learning, discovering, camping, playing, and studying. The list is endless with opportunities to grow as an individual and as a team member.
They learn more about being an advocate for the continuing preservation, stewardship, and appreciation of Great Smoky Mountains National Park.
Educator Resources
Are you a teacher? Great Smoky Mountains Institute at Tremont and partner organizations offer helpful resources that are geared specifically for the educator’s teaching toolkit. These resources are designed to instruct and guide teachers for experiential learning which they in turn can take home to the classroom. Resources currently offered are Schoolyard, Social and Emotional Learning, Grants, Schoolyard Mapping and Importance of Experiential Learning.
Community Science
Simply put, community science is the public taking a role in scientific investigation or research. Community science is an indispensable tool in bringing people and nature together.
Hands-on experience in real research projects are exciting and rewarding to both students and volunteers. Participants get a sense of personal accomplishment in being able to assist scientists in learning and discovering more about the park.
They also gain a valuable sense of community in sharing with others, and working on something bigger than themselves.
A sampling of Community Science projects include:
– Birds
– Butterflies
– Lichens
– iNaturalist
– Otter Spotter
– Phenology
– Amphibians
– Weather Monitoring
NOTE: All events require registration. For more information visit Great Smoky Mountains Institute at Tremont.
