Spring 2005 - Great Smoky Mountains Institute at Tremont

The newsletter of Great Smoky Mountains Institute at Tremont • Spring 2005
Annual
Report
2004
“I bet that every kid that goes to Tremont will change.
The reason I know that is because I changed.” —Tremont happy camper

Annual Report 2003
From the Executive Director
“I
currently live in Atlanta. I went to your
website because I have such fond memories
of the time I spent at Tremont when I was in 5th
and 6th grades back in the late ’60s-early ’70s. I
have never forgotten the quiet time by the river,
the night hikes and the wide eyes of my friends
that had never been out of the city, or away from
home overnight. I feel very strongly about conservation
and nature, and have turned my career
that direction in the past few years.
I’m happy to see Tremont is still working to
educate young people. Keep up the good work!”
An unexpected e-mail like the one
above, the sound of kids at the river, a
thank-you letter from a parent, the laughter,
smiles and sense of accomplishment
shown by a group coming off the trail…
these are the things that keep me going.
These are glimpses, caught briefly, but testimony
to the powerful impact of the
Smokies and our programs at Tremont.
2005 will mark our fifth year since
becoming an independent organization.
Thirty-five years of connecting people and
nature in Great Smoky Mountains
National Park is Tremont’s legacy and we
continue to do all we can to improve the
way in which we accomplish that mission.
Over the last five years we have made
great strides. Some of those successes are
listed on these pages as well as the details
of the number of those served in various
ways over the past year. The challenges
before us are significant as well, and I’ve
listed some of those here.
Our mission is more important than
ever. People need time away from their
hectic lives to retreat and reflect in wild
places.The Smokies continues to be
threatened by exotic pests, poor air quality
and a variety of impacts as development
pushes at the park boundaries and the balance
of preservation and use of natural
resources brings new challenges. Great
Smoky Mountains National Park faces
many needs and the federal budget appropriations
alone are not enough. Partner
groups like the Friends of the Smokies,
Great Smoky Mountains Association and
Great Smoky Mountains Institute at
Tremont are critical to providing needed
programs, services and support.The
“extinction of experience”—that is, the
loss of opportunities for people to connect
with the natural world in ways that shape
a positive environmental ethic—is a very
real concern. Schools are looking for ways
to reform education, and some of those
efforts have sought to reduce teaching to
classroom and textbook-bound exercises
focused on making children better test
takers instead of critical thinkers who are
learning from the hands-on experiences
with the world around them. Our programs
speak to all of these challenges but
at the same time can be threatened by
them.
As we meet new challenges we continue
to need greater support.That support
comes in many ways, but we wanted to
recognize all of those who have made
financial contributions to us in the last
year. I think you will be impressed by the
list of donors on pages 10 and 11 of this
issue.The support of a great staff, a committed
volunteer board, generous and talented
partners, and all of our program participants
and volunteers cannot go without
mention.
I say again, our mission is more important
than ever!
Executive Director
Challenges for 2005 and beyond
• Our 40 year-old buildings are in need of renovation. Our
master plan is a wonderful vision for the future but will not be
accomplished for a number of years.
• We need to do all we can to move that plan forward and
will be working with the park to try to begin the Environmental
Assessment and public input process to move from conceptual
plans to real alternatives.
• We also need to look at ways to renovate current facilities
to meet the demands of small user groups, and the needs
of growing and varied programs.
• We need to expand our board of directors and work to
find better ways to get them involved.
• Our projected shortfall for 2005 is over $100,000. We
are working to determine the proper balance between revenuebased
income and income from fundraising and grants. That
$100K does not include a number of needed capital projects.
• Many schools continue to have difficulty justifying their
programs. We are working to help them and recruit schools
especially during low demand times of year.
• Our board is working in coordination with the Friends of
the Smokies to increase the capacity for fundraising and raise
the added $100K needed this year.
• We continue to explore ways to increase revenues by
increasing enrollment in all programs and finding creative
ways to bring new and different groups.
• Tremont is still unknown to many people who would be
willing to attend and or support our programs.
• Public relations efforts continue to fill programs, make
people in our area more aware of the great things we are
doing and nurture our relationships with already existing
clients.
• GSMNP budgets are tight and impacts on the park are
increasing. We need to be a greater voice for the park both in
terms of letting the public know about critical issues and
needs but also in helping our program participants to better
understand park issues and how they can help.
Walker Valley Reflections 2

Successes
• Our endowment has grown to $682,900
• We received $9,000 from ALCOA foundation to
enhance Citizen Science activities.
• A team was hired to design and implement a formal
evaluation system with ALCOA measurement funds.
A formal system is now in place and staff have been
trained in how to continually administer evaluations,
input data and deliver reports on student impacts.
• Master Planning: A congressional appropriation
for $500,000 in matching funds for facility planning
was approved. A team of experts including David Orr
and Sym Van Der Ryn reviewed our master plan and
made suggestions on what we needed to do to make
this project the best possible.
• We hosted several important meetings including a
National Park Foundation writers group, National Park
Service Research Learning Center managers, World
Wildlife Fund staff, GSMA annual meeting, Slime-Mold
workshop, DLIA bioquests, and Experience your
Smokies.
• Arts Initiative: A $5,000 grant from the Clayton
Foundation will help fund our Arts Initiative. With
Tennessee Arts commission funds we hosted an arts
curriculum workshop. One of the outcomes of the Arts
Initative is a Pocket Journal for students, which will be
published in 2005. Funds from the Avent family fund
will allow school groups to apply for funds to have performing
artists visit during their stay.
• The Archaeology Field School was launched successfully,
as was our partnership to host them at
Tremont. An additional benefit was their addition of
tent platforms and large family tents that we plan to
use at other times of the year.
• Our summer teacher workshop was a success
once again and made possible with funds from the
Cornerstone Foundation. Two one-day teacher workshops
for Knox County teachers were also conducted in
cooperation with NPS staff and the use of Cornerstone
funds.
• Our second Buckhorn weekend added $40,000 to
the endowment.
• Correlations of our curriculum with North Carolina
and Tennessee education standards were completed
and are now posted on our web-site.
• Staff worked with the resource education division
to develop a park-wide plan for education.
• We helped to plan and hosted a public meeting on
the Hemlock Wooly Adelgid.
• Almost $28,000 of financial aid was distributed
which helped 284 students. This is a record amount of
aid distributed.
• A special summer camp was developed targeting
Knoxville intercity children in partnership with
Knoxville Boys and Girls Club. It was made possible by
funds from Knoxville Utility Board.
• Accounting systems were further refined including
clarification of our historical balance, creation of a
more usable revision of the balance sheet, and
improved tracking of grants. We made a successful
transition to set up in-house payroll and direct deposits.
• We are working with University of Tennessee to
establish a T-1 line Internet connection and to upgrade
our communications capabilities.
Year-end Statistics 2004
NUMBER OF GROUPS 126
youth 3 day 54
youth 5 day 37
adult 35
TOTAL PARTICIPANTS 5,062
youth 3,422
adult leaders 596
adults 951
summer youth 251
summer adults 430
program user days 19,389
program user hours 160,929
park visitors (in VC) 10,397
financial aid 284 students $27,839
earned income 77%
program fees 742,315
net sales 53,624
interest 2,755
Walker Valley Reflections 3
other 4,299
earned total 802,993
support income 23%
program fees aid 27,830
program fees grants 10,236
FOS/GSMA-needs 135,000
annual campaign 14,669
grants 13,249
endowment disburse 2,734
other 3,600
reserves for (loss) 38,555
support total 245,873
total (operating) income 1,048,866
capital expense 16,948
endowment value 682,900
emergency reserves 186,804
ALCOA new building fund 85,679
“It was fun to
get outside and
look without
seeing buildings.
It was also fun
to go hiking and
hear silence.
We cannot hear
silence in the
city.”

Too Busy to Sleep
Family Weekend Fun
Winter.The season of cold, gray, blah
days that we just have to get through
before spring’s beauty arrives. Right? Not
quite! Winter here is full of life and is the
perfect season to glimpse into the deep
valleys where leaves and shrubbery once
barricaded our view. Hiking
along a trail and taking in the
snow-covered mountaintops
is a scene to behold. Icicles
suspended from the cliff’s
edges provide a spectacular
sight.
Critters such as groundhogs,
frogs, and turtles hibernate in the winter.
But the folks here at Tremont do not! We
have had many school groups here this
season, braving the elements (even
though some weeks it was 60 degrees and
sunny) and enjoying the Great Smoky
Mountains National Park. Classes may
focus on winter and the adaptations that
As the Earth Rotates
Late fall, early winter weather synopsis
The weather in Walker Valley over the
last few months was what you might
expect—it has become gradually cooler.
Despite the cooler temperatures we have
had no real “weather related events,” no
floods, big snows or even thunder storms.
It has been, do I dare say, normal.
However, the groundhog did see his shadow,
so Old Man Winter will be around for
another month or so. The prolonged winter
just gives us something to look forward
to, like wildflowers, bear cubs, and
warmer temperatures. In other words...
spring. As the earth rotates, we will keep
you up-to-date here in Walker Valley.
—Michael Matzko
Nov Dec Jan
Average high 64º F 51º F 54º F
Average low 42º F 29º F 32º F
Rain 4.0 in. 4.0 in. 2.9 in.
Snow 0 in. 1 in. trace
No hibernating at Tremont!
by Jen Martin
animals and plants undergo in order to
survive.We discuss how black bears do
not really hibernate, but nap through the
cold season, wakening whenever it
warms. Deciduous trees are dormant during
the winter and evergreens slow their
growth during this season.There
are numerous animals that
stay active during the
cooler months including
bobcats, rabbits,
squirrels, beavers, raccoons
and deer.We continually find
signs of these animals in the
Tremont area. Last winter, on an all day
hike, students saw fresh coyote tracks in
the snow following the exact path that
we were taking!
This season has been full of wintry
adventures as well.We have heard barred
owls and wood frogs calling.We have seen
animal tracks from coyotes, deer and the
exotic wild boar, as well as appreciated
clear night skies.A 6th grader from Grace
Christian Academy in Knoxville remarked
that being at Tremont “taught me a lot
about how beautiful the forest can be,
especially in winter. I loved everything
about this trip. I’ll remember it for the
rest of my life.”Another student commented,“I
loved the all day hike, it was a
blast.This is one of the best weeks I have
ever had.”
Although winter weather may not
seem to be most opportune time to visit
the mountains, there are countless creatures
to observe and scenes from nature
to enjoy. If you are interested in bringing
your school group to Tremont, or if you
want any more information on programs
being offered during the winter season
call us at (865) 448-6709 or check out
our web page. Enjoy all the seasons in the
Great Smoky Mountains National Park!
Families having fun on
Family Adventure Weekend.
“Really cool!”
“Great experience for the whole family!”
“My kids had no complaints, and that made the
weekend.”
What great praise! When Tremont decided to hold
a Family Adventure Weekend in February we thought
it would be a good thing but the actual event exceeded
our expectations. It’s a simple concept really; a
weekend away from the distractions of home, the
office and everyday activities. Hearty meals provided
by Tremont (ahhh, no cooking). As well as a variety of
activities that work for kids as young as six and parents
as old as…. well, we won’t go there. We even
provide a respite from technology. Most of the parents
looked rather gleeful when they were informed that
Walker Valley does not get cell phone signal.
Families from Alabama, North Carolina, and
Tennessee traveled to the Great Smokies in expectation
of hikes, games, explorations, and, most importantly,
time with the family. Their search for fun and
family time was rewarded through a weekend packed
full of activities. Friday night included night hikes, in
which we all learned to hoot like a Barred Owl, followed
by ooey gooey S’mores around the campfire.
Everyone hiked a respectable 3 miles on Saturday,
enjoying woodland views and visits to old homesites
along the way. In the afternoon some hiked to Spruce
Flats Falls while others played Appalachian games,
built shelters, and searched for salamanders.
Although the kids were great at finding salamanders
some of the moms were even better. The weekend
continued with a high energy evening campfire,
mounds of ice cream at an ice cream social, and
relaxing around the campfire. Sunday morning
brought rain but it deterred no one. While some families
hiked others played Smokies Jeopardy and
learned about the science efforts in the park.
Upon leaving, everyone—staff and families—
agreed that it was a great way to spend a weekend.
Hiking, exploring, and playing as a family are great
ways to get to know each other better. We learn new
things about ourselves, and others, when outside our
regular routine. We hope you will be able to attend our
next Family Adventure Weekend, September 23-25.
–Amber Parker
“This trip is an experience I will remember for the rest of my life. You have inspired me to try a lot of new things.” • “It was truly the highlight of
Walker Valley Reflections 4

Myth and Legend
Myths and legends have been passed
down from generation to generation in
many different cultures around the world.
Hearing these stories is a great way to
learn the history of a place and its people.
The Cherokee have many legends that
help us to learn how their people were
connected with the life of these mountains.
Some stories teach lessons and some
simply explain how things came to be.
Here is a great story to share from our
curriculum at Tremont:
Why the Evergreens Keep their Leaves
When the world was still new, the plants
and animals were told by the Great Spirit
to stay awake, keep vigil, and pray for
seven nights.Wanting to please the Great
Spirit, all of the plants and animals tried.
The first night everyone was able to fight
off being tired and stay awake. However,
the second night a few plants and animals
gave up and dropped off to sleep.The third
night several more fell asleep. Finally, on
the seventh night, only a few animals were
still awake, including Owl and Mountain
Lion.The Great Spirit was pleased with
them and gave them the power to see at
night, so now they hunt their prey while
Keeping stories alive at Tremont
by Jaimie Matzko
other animals have to sleep. Only a few
trees were also still awake.They included
Cedar, Pine, Spruce, Holly, Laurel and
Rhododendron.To them was given the gift
of keeping their green all year long.To all
others, the Great Spirit said,“Because you
have not endured to the end, you shall lose
your leaves every winter.”
—adapted from James Mooney, History,
Myths and Sacred Formulas of the
Cherokees
The fifth grade students of Lanier
Elementary had an Earthquest lesson on a
brisk Friday morning in January. After
hearing a Cherokee myth, the students
were challenged to create their own myths
about an animal or plant. Here is an example
of their work:
Great Smoky Mountains Myth
Once there was a big, angry bear. It was
guarding a big pile of acorns.There was
also a chipmunk named Bob. Bob wanted
those acorns and his mom said,“If you try
to get those nuts, you are going to get
killed!” But Bob was curious and he wondered
when he would get his chance. He
went out the next day and went to the
pile.The bear was asleep! Bob wanted to
jump for joy and say “Oh boy! Oh boy!”
But he couldn’t. He snuck around and
grabbed an acorn, but then he heard a
noise.The bear was awake! The bear
chased Bob and scratched his back.That is
how the chipmunk got stripes on its back!
—Lanier Fifth grader
A story from the Serengeti
Once upon a time there lived a Zebra.
He had a beautiful white coat. He was so
proud of his white coat, he would jog in
circles, so all the animals would see. All the
animals were tired of him.The next day, all
the animals held a meeting. Hyena had an
idea. He said,“At night, when the Zebra is
sleeping, we should paint permanent black
stripes down his sides.”The next day, Zebra
woke up and still didn’t notice the stripes.
So he jogged around in circles even
though the animals were giggling.Then, he
looked behind him and saw the stripes.
That is how the Zebra got his black and
white stripes.
—Lanier Fifth grader
The students really enjoyed writing
their myths! By developing these stories,
the students are also practicing valuable
skills in language arts, such as creative writing
and using sentence structure. It was
also a good experience for the students to
read their stories aloud to the rest of the
group! It was a great way to use their
imagination while learning about animal
and plant adaptations.
Can’t Get Enough Tremont?
And fun was had by all
Nine women made their way through the misty Friday morning with backpacks
in tow. They were ready for the two night Women’s backpack trip. After
much packing and repacking, tugging straps, and deciding that that extra shirt
weighed just too much to take, the ladies loaded up the van and headed off to
Ace Gap trailhead. From there they would hike over twenty miles through
forests on the backside of Cades Cove. Sunday they would arrive at Abram’s
Creek trailhead and the end of their journey…
Herp Foray in the Night
It is snowing in Walker Valley on this Thursday morning, which makes it
even more amazing that just two nights ago several intrepid staff members
went in search of harbingers of spring in Cades Cove. A couple of days of
warm weather, coupled with rain are the necessary ingredients for spotted
salamanders to begin their annual migration to temporary…
Walker Valley Reflections 5
Sometimes you just need a little more, whether it’s time in
the sun, deep refreshing sleep, or even news from Great Smoky
Mountains Institute at Tremont. The excerpts accompanying
this article can’t be found in your quarterly edition of the
Walker Valley News or even the New York Times. No, my
friends, they can only be found in the Tremont E-news. In
recent months, a bi- monthly E-news has been going out to
lucky individuals all over the country, keeping the public
updated on new programs, great hikes, and general Smokies
knowledge. The E-news isn’t just for a privileged few, it is for
anyone who has ever dipped their toes in the Middle Prong or
someday wants to. The E-news is free and it is easy to sign up.
Just go to our website www.gsmit.org scroll down to the
portion and click on mailing list, then just fill
out the form and you will added to our list.
—Michael Matzko
my life. You really helped me discover a new way of seeing things.” • “I enjoyed the warm feeling I got when I started to hike in the cold air.” •

Birds of a Feather
Tremont assists park with bird monitoring
by Charlie Muise
Great Smoky Mountains National Park is
known for its tremendous diversity of
life. Scientists estimate there to be over
100,000 different species in the park,
including nearly 230 species of birds.
Keeping up with all those species within
520,000 acres is a daunting task, and
Tremont is assisting the park in monitoring
all those birds.
The park is updating its bird database,
and paying particular attention to records
of breeding behavior of all of those birds.
Having an up-to-date database assists park
staff in making the best possible decisions
regarding management of the many habitats.
34 species listed as endangered, threatened
or of conservation concern have
been observed in the national park.
With all its unusual birds, it is no surprise
that this park is considered one of
the most important places for birds in the
eastern US. Charlie Muise is working with
Paul Super and other experts in the area to
nominate the Tennessee side of the park as
an Important Bird Area (IBA). IBA status
by The National Audubon Society and the
American Bird Conservancy indicates that
extra care must be given to protect the
rare birds, concentrations of birds, and
other unique attributes of the area.The
North Carolina side of the park received
such status late in 2004.
Due to the unique Spruce-Fir forest in
the higher elevations, some bird species
usually associated with Canada and the
northern tier of the United States breed in
the Smokies. Specific monitoring efforts
have been set up for two of them, the
Northern Saw-Whet Owl and the Yellowbellied
Sapsucker.Tremont staff and participants
were among those who conducted
monitoring routes for the sapsucker in
2003 and 2004.This year the park particularly
needs volunteers to look for them
around Cataloochee Valley and Thomas
Divide.
With help from the US Fish and Wildlife
Service, the park is establishing routes to
monitor the Northern Saw-whet Owl.
They need volunteers who are able to perform
strenuous backpack trips, who know
about birds and can follow a protocol to
help keep tabs of this elusive, nocturnal
predator.Tremont staff will run one route.
Bird banding is perhaps the most
intense monitoring effort.The National
Park Service runs a banding station at
Purchase Knob on the North Carolina
side of the park, at an elevation of about
5,000 feet and Tremont runs another in
and around Walker Valley. Both need help
running the stations, and are particularly
interested in teen-aged volunteers who
wish to learn about science. If you know a
young person who may be interested,
email Charlie@gsmit.org.
Breeding Bird Survey routes have been
conducted since the 1960’s, across the
country, to monitor bird populations.
Much valuable data has been gleaned from
this intense effort. Each is a 25-mile drive
in which the participant stops every half
mile and records all bird species seen or
heard for a 3-minute period. Last year
Charlie Muise, Senior Teacher/Naturalist
at Great Smoky Mountains Institute at
Tremont, assumed both of the routes within
Great Smoky Mountains National Park.
There are also two Christmas Bird
Counts (CBC) located partially within the
park.The Smokies CBC is centered in
Gatlinburg.The Cades Cove CBC is centered
in Cades Cove. Each count is conducted
within a 15-mile diameter circle.
On a designated day within 2 weeks of
Christmas, volunteer counters of all levels
attempt to count every bird within a count
circle.While the number of birds counted is
not considered to be the actual number of
birds, bird population trends can be statistically
assessed over time if the counts are
performed for many years. Many Tremont
staff members have helped with these
counts over the last several years.
Tremont shares the park’s goal of using
best science and most recent data to make
informed decisions on land management.
To do this takes great effort, which the
park is unable to perform without outside
help. If you would like to help Tremont
help the park, would like more information,
or to report bird sightings, or to get
us in touch with a potential volunteer,
please contact Charlie Muise.
Evaluation Update
“I talk to my friends and family
about the environment.”
“I’d rather go to a shopping
mall than Great Smoky Mountains
National Park.”
“When I’m outside, I pay close
attention to different plants and
animals.”
These are just a few of the
questions we are now asking students
who participate in our
school programs. And while they
seem like simple questions, a
great deal of time and energy
has gone into developing them.
Over the last nine months
Tremont has worked with a professional
evaluation team to
develop a new system for evaluating
our programs. Like many
other environmental education
centers, we had been doing a
great job of finding out if our
participants were satisfied with
the program, food service, and
facilities. But we had no way of
knowing if a Tremont program
had any lasting impact on our
participants.
That became our goal for a
new evaluation system. We contracted
with Mark Stern, Nicole
Ardoin, and Bob Powell, an evaluation
consultant team from Yale,
to help us reach this goal.
Through a series of program
shadowing, staff workshops, and
pilot studies, this team provided
us an innovative system for gathering
a huge variety of data from
“I feel special here, being a part of life.” • “I enjoyed the hike to the falls, and realized how beautiful our world really is and what we need to do to protect it.
Walker Valley Reflections 6

A Look Back
Book Review of Last Train to Elkmont
by Jen Martin
The Great Smoky Mountains National
Park consists of more than 800 square
miles full of astonishing species, some of
which exist only here and nowhere else in
the world.While this park never ceases to
amaze us with all of its biological diversity
and natural beauty, there is more to the
story. At one time there used to be over
600 homesites in an area of what is now
the park.These inhabitants had to learn
how to survive and make a living in this
rocky and mountainous terrain, and it sure
wasn’t easy.
Last Train to Elkmont is a fantastic book
full of stories and personal accounts of the
logging and railroad age, which was a way
of life for many mountain folk.The story
begins with the Walker Valley days before
the establishment of the park, and long
before the Great Smoky Mountains
Institute at Tremont existed.William
Walker (also known as Big Will) and his
wife Nancy Caylor Walker moved into this
valley from Tuckaleechee Cove (which is
now Townsend) in 1859. Many years later,
during the early 20th century, the logging
industry expanded in these mountains.
Will, however, vowed never to sell his land
in Walker Valley to these logging companies.
Big Will, a very skillful man and master
beekeeper, sold tons of his honey to
merchants in Tuckaleechee. Over 100 bee
stands were made from sections of hollow
black gum and were located where
GSMIT is today. Walker was also known
for his large family, having two commonlaw
wives in addition to his legal wife and
26 children. A stroke disabled Walker in
1918. Before Will’s death in 1919,W.B.
Townsend (president of Little River
Lumber Company) made an offer to purchase
Thunderhead Prong (a feeder stream
of the Middle Prong) and Walker accepted.
Townsend promised not to cut the
Thunderhead Prong area, but eventually it
was cut after Townsend’s death.
Elkmont (currently a campground less
than five miles from Sugarlands Visitor
Center) was booming during the logging
era. Little River Road, serving as a connector
between Elkmont and the
Townsend Wye, follows the old railroad
grade.The railroad was used not only for
logging, but also for scenic excursions.
Walking around the Jakes Creek Trail and
behind the Elkmont Campground shows
evidence of the Appalachian Club, a private
membership club. Keep an eye open
for the former Wonderland Hotel, which
may be seen through the trees on the left
before the campground. In 1925 the Little
River Logging Company began removing
the rails without telling the families who
had summer cottages around Elkmont, in
hopes of avoiding a court battle which
would force the company to keep the
trains running.
There are several stories depicting the
hardships and dangers of living along the
railroad.W.Wesley (Pete) McCarter was 15
years old when the No. 4 skidder broke
down and needed to get jacked up in
order to fix it.There was a mishap with
the latch and it flew up and hit him in the
chin, breaking his neck. He is buried in
Walker Cemetery, across the road from
GSMIT off of the West Prong trail.
It is often difficult to imagine what life
was like here in the Smokies with steam
engines roaring through the valleys, pulling
cars of logs behind them. It is hard to picture
boys as young as 13 working on the
railroad, let alone understand the hardships
the families endured to survive in these
mountains.
We often see relics of the logging days
during our all day hikes with our school
programs, such as rails and old cables from
the skidders. Students question how it was
possible to log the trees from the peaks of
the mountains. Last Train to Elkmont
retells stories and shares photographs that
allow the reader to understand more about
this dangerous, yet rewarding time, as well
as why the Great Smoky Mountains
National Park is a biological treasure, and
also a cultural gem.
• • •
Last Train to Elkmont: A look back on
life on Little River in the Great Smoky
Mountains was written by Vic Weals and can
be purchased in any of the park visitor centers.
If you are interested in cultural history of the
park, join us for our Spring Awakenings
Naturalist Weekend,April 8-10.There are
many different topics to choose from, including
Cades Cove: Behind the Scenes Adventure.
Visit www.gsmit.org for workshop schedules.
our participants. It includes a
survey given to teachers and students
before and after their
Tremont experience, as well as a
three-month follow-up interview
with a teacher and follow-up surveys
for the students.
Not only does the new system
allow us to ask these questions,
we are also able to really use the
answers. By entering the results
into a statistical software database,
we are able to correlate
information and learn more about
our programs’ impact. Do groups
who stay with us for five days
retain more information than
those who only stay three? Will
students who participate in a
specific lesson have a better
understanding of a topic? Do students
feel more comfortable in
the outdoors after spending time
in the National Park? The possibilities
are almost endless.
This spring season will be
spent incorporating the new system
into our school programs. It
means a huge commitment from
our staff, as well as from our
school groups. Our goal is to
have a large enough amount of
data by the end of May to begin
to find statistically significant
trends. Then we’ll work on sharing
the information with the Park
service, school administration,
other environmental education
centers, and anyone else who is
interested. We are excited about
the insights that these questions
will give us, as well as the
chance to make our programs
even stronger.
” • “I really enjoyed just looking at nature without interruptions.” • “I felt like I had become one with nature and I could do anything I put my mind to.” •
Walker Valley Reflections 7

Summer Camp
It’s never too early!
by Jeremy Lloyd
While summer may not arrive as early as
we wish it would each year, it’s never
too early to start dreaming about it. And
it’s never too early to sign your child up
for a new adventure at summer camp in
the Great Smoky Mountains!
Discovery Camp is one of our longest
running programs for children ages 9 to
12. Together we explore nature, learn
about plants and birds, frogs and snakes.We
swim in the river daily, plus take hiking
adventures in the best wilderness the eastern
U.S. has to offer.We even get to spend
a night camping out in the woods!
Wilderness Adventure Camp is a 3
night/4 day backcountry excursion for
teenagers who might never have backpacked
before and want to see what it’s all
about.This is a favorite for many campers,
who return year after year before “graduating”
to Teen High Adventure.
Teen High Adventure,a
6 night/7 day trek that will
likely include a day whitewater
rafting, is for
teenagers as well.Teen
High Adventure is our premiere
backpacking offering,
designed to give each
participant a rewarding
experience growing in the
areas of backcountry skills,
nature appreciation, and
personal development. Our
backpack programs were
the first to fill last year, so
sign your teen up early!
Field Ecology Adventure
gives teenagers age 13 to
17 the opportunity of
working with and as real
scientists. Past campers have conducted
studies of salamanders, insects, birds, and
plants. Climb a mountain and ford a river
while doing real science.There is simply no
other camp like this anywhere else.
Smoky Mountain Naturalist
Expeditions gives kids ages 12 to 14 the
opportunity to immerse themselves for ten
days studying amphibians, black bears, forest
ecology, or primitive skills.This is deep
immersion, in contrast with the windshield
experience of the average park visitor.
Expedition Naturalists will get to explore
areas all over the Park, interact with professional
land and wildlife managers, and
gaze into the glowing embers of an
evening campfire after an afternoon spent
swimming in the Middle Prong. Our new
first-time Expedition offering this summer
will be an archeology component, which
we have formed with the Archeology Field
School of the University of Tennessee.
Samples of weekly summer activities
can be viewed at the Tremont website—
www.gsmit.org—if you wish to see what a
week at one of Tremont’s summertime
youth programs looks like.These programs
fill quickly, so sign your child up early to
avoid being put on a waiting list.We look
forward to meeting you and spending the
summer with your child!
“Your camp changed my daughter permanently. Thanks for an excellent program directed by a wonderful staff. Not only did she talk non-stop
Walker Valley Reflections 8

New Faces at Tremont
Agreat staff keeps Tremont operating day
to day. Some of those people are very
involved with participants while other do
the behind the scenes work.Two new
staff who are critical to what we do
behind the scenes are Pauline Walton and
Kent Jones. Pauline is our finance and
development assistant. A native of Florida,
she has spent time in the Smokies since
childhood and has a deep love for their
quiet beauty. Kent, who works with public
relations, lives in Maryville and since
childhood has enjoyed exploring the
Smokies. He and his wife have six children
and share their home with three
dogs, three cats, one fish, and whatever his
kids drag home from the creek.
• • •
As many of you who have experienced
the seasons of the Smokies know, there are
busy seasons and the slow seasons for flowers
and bears as well as 5th graders. Here at
Tremont we are not immune to this flux
in seasonal demand.While we enjoy the
peace and tranquility of the winter, we
long for the excitement and activity of
spring. In order for Tremont to be adequately
staffed during busy times of the
year and not be overstaffed during slower
times, we build a base of local, highly qualified
part-time staff.You may have seen
some new faces on your recent trips that
you also know from other activities around
Blount County or East Tennessee. Our
current part-time team consists of these
amazing folks:
Betsy Booth
Betsy joined Tremont as a part-time
Teacher/Naturalist in the fall of 2004. She
is a graduate of Montreat College with a
degree in Outdoor Education and has had
many adventures throughout the world.
Betsy’s travel experience, coupled with her
study of public lands for the United States,
has given her a passion of sharing that
knowledge with students here at Tremont.
Great additions to the Tremont team
by Jennifer Arnoild
Betsy lives in Sevierville with her husband,
Jonathan.
JD Goodlaxon
JD has served as a part-time Teacher/
Naturalist for weekend student programs at
Tremont since fall 2003. He is also
employed full time as an 8th grade Physical
Science teacher at Jefferson Middle School
in Oak Ridge. JD is very active in working
with his students beyond the classroom to
inspire a love of inquiry and science in
each of his students. He heads the Lego
League robotics team as well as the
Technology Student Association. JD has
been missed this fall and spring by both
staff and students as he is currently on
active duty as a Water Specialist with the
US Army Reserves. JD is using his talents
in science and technology in order to provide
water purification systems to our
troops.
Carole Olson
Carole and her husband decided to
(semi) retire and relocate to the Blount
County area two years ago.Tremont is
lucky to have caught Carole’s eye for continuing
her love of teaching well into
retirement. She comes to us with more
than 20 years of experience in teaching
4th through 8th grade students using
hands-on, interactive methods. Carole’s
love of teaching and sharing knowledge
with her students is clearly evident to anyone
who has spent time in her classes.
Corey Shubert
Corey joined the team in the fall of
2004. A native of Blount County, she grew
up running barefoot through the fields
and creeks of Wear’s Valley, which she still
calls home. Corey is a graduate of
Maryville College with a degree in
Outdoor Recreation and has worked three
seasons as an educator within Great
Smoky Mountains National Park with the
Parks as Classrooms program. She also
worked with the park as a member of the
“veg crew” assisting in control of
Hemlock Wooly Adelgids as well as controlling
other invasive exotic plants and
restoring native plant populations.You
might run into Corey on the slopes of
Ober Gatlinburg, where she teaches snowboarding
lessons, or as an ostrich rider in
the Dixie Stampede dinner show in
Pigeon Forge (ask her about that one!)
Karen White
Karen first joined the Tremont team
in the summer of 2001 as a summer
Teacher/Naturalist. She has continued
to serve as a part-time staff in the midst
of earning a Masters in Education
and becoming a new mother of a one
year-old daughter. Before locating to
Blount County with her husband, Karen
served as an interpretive ranger for the
National Park Service for 10 years in
many NPS units, including Everglades
NP, Indiana Dunes National Lakeshore,
and Olympic NP.
“You folks and your
program are invaluable
to me as a teacher.
You make an important
difference. Please keep
on keeping on!”
about it, but she’s now more environmentally conscious.” • “The forest is peaceful and silent, but it is alive. If you listen, it will talk to you.”
Walker Valley Reflections 9

Friends of Tremont
The following generous supporters made contributions over the last year,
sustaining a legacy of …connecting people and nature in Great
Smoky Mountains National Park.
We have worked to make this list complete and accurate, but if we have
mistakenly omitted your name or have listed something incorrectly, please
contact us.
DONATIONS
$75,000 or more
Friends of the Smokies
Great Smoky
Mountains Assoc.
$25,000 to $75,000
Ogle/Fulmer Picnic-in-
Pittman Auction
$10,000 to $25,000
Cornerstone Foundation
The Cobble Family
Foundation
James Haslam II
Knoxville Utilities Board
Gary Wade & Family
$5,000 to $10,000
ALCOA Foundation
Jim & Kati Blalock
Clayton Family
Foundation
Wilma Maples
$1,000 TO $5,000
Cathy Ackermann &
Tommy Walker
BB&T (Branch
Banking & Trust Co.)
Kreis & Sandy Beall
Raymond & Norma
Clark
First Tennessee Bank
Raja & Michelle Jubran
LLC Concar Properties,
Conley & Carolyn
Murrell
Virginia Mitchell
Mayna Nance
National Park
Foundation
Dick Ray
William B. Sansom
Wes & Liz Stowers Jr.
Maryann Stupka
Bob Talbott, Holrob
Investments
Tennessee Arts
Commission
Wright & Susan Tisdale
Tom & Diandra Trotter
Warren Wilson College
Geoff & Pat Wolpert
Earl & Margit Worsham
$500 to $1,000
Dean & Betty Barber
Crum & Blazer
Insurance
David E. Clapp
Laurens & Polly
Tullock, Cornerstone
Foundation
Jane Davenport
Foothills Kiwanis Club
Douglas S. Fry Sr.
Marvin Hammond
W. Parker Lee
William S. Muse Jr.
Mark & Nancy Peacock
The Woodpickers
TN Environmental
Education Assoc.
Betty Voorhis
$250 to $500
Barge Waggoner Sumner
& Cannon, Steve Fritts
Steve & Leisa Caldwell
Susan Cooper by Bell
South Corporation
Edwin Dale
Discover Life in America
Fred & Carolyn Forster
Philip A. Francis Jr.
Helen Fry
Dr. Michael T. Hatcher
Joseph Houston
Ira & Jan Lapides,
Gatlin-Burlier
Tobacconist
Bettie Levy
Neal & Pat Linhardt
Stacey McGill,
Tusculum College
Upward Bound
Bill Oliphant
Parkgrove LP Comfort
Inn,Apple Valley
$100 TO $250
Ruth A. Barber
Jeff & Susan Barnes
Donald W. & Jane M.
Barnes
Bearden H.S. 50th
Reunion
Morris Beck
Susan Berkun
Janet & Tim Bigelow
Buckhorn Inn, Lee
Mellor
David Butts
Gary Carpenter
Jefferson & Vicki
Chapman
Richard Chinn
Thomas & Nancy
Condon
Cathleen Cook &
Jim P Honiker
Betsey Creekmore
Sam Crowe
Sara & Tom Crum
Joseph Dreimiller
David Duhl
Edwin O Edgerton
Billie Jean Edwards
Darrell Ellis
Paul Erwin
Louise L. LeQuire,
Estate of Virgil
Shields LeQuire
Sam Furrow
Dr. & Mrs. Ralph Harvey
John Hatcher
Jim & Jan Heinrich
Ronald J. Hill
Anthony Holzhauer
Jo Baker Hoy
Lee & Nikki Kalvaitis
Paul Keidel
Kristin Klein
Lois Klein
Dick & Isabell Ladd
Robert & Linda Lloyd
Jan E. Loveday
Spence & Elizabeth
McCachren
Jolyn Mitchell
Suzanne Morrison
Robert E. Petrone
Erna Prickett
Martha Rawlings
Patrick Regan
E. Lee Rice Jr.
Elizabeth Rogers
Barbara Sauven
Hugh O. Shields
David & Judy Shuck
James F. Smith Jr.
Craig Stine
Martha Sundquist
Lois Thomas
Georgiana Vines &
Dr. John Fox
Judy Voght
Madelaine Volum
Jennifer and Ken Voorhis
T. George & Jane
Washington
Joe & Connie Weaver
Susan & Ken Whitaker
Nancy Williams
Other Donations
Austin-East Magnet
High School
Witt Abbott, Brackin
Reunion
Carol M.Alette
Jennifer Arnold
Kristen Austin
Daniel Awald
Joseph Bailint
Janet B. Bailey
David W. Barber Jr.
Adam & Kelly Barnes
Lee Barnes
Forest & Wallean
Batton
Isbell Behrer
Mary Biscoe
Kenneth Bishop
James Blackburn
Leonard Borg
Richard & Trudy Braun
Linda Brody
Douglas Broward
Alan Brown
& Walter E. Brown
Julie Brown
Tonya L. Brown
Danny L. Brown
Dr. & Mrs Pat
Burkhart
Joe & Kathy Burns
Mark Campen
Dylan Carrell &
Betsy R. Ledbetter
Jane E. or Earnest
Carson
Gary Casey
Bety Chambers
Milton R. Chapman
Christ Presbyterian
Academy
Mary Jane Cobble
Sarah E. Cook
Juanita Crowe
Jacqueline K. Davis
James Davis
Jim & Nancy Dempsey
Dr. Hal DeSelm
Charles Downs
Sarah Doyi
Judy Dulin
Anna H. Duncan
Elsa C. Dykes
Tony Eagle
Ralph & Dorothy M.
Egli
Gary Estes
Diane Etsweiler
Glenn E. Farr
Joel Fink
Glenda Finley
Sean & Lori Flanagan
Lois Foster
Elizabeth French
William Froschauer Jr.
Ruth E. Galbraith
William Gazda
Rhonda Ginsburg
Joyce Goad
C. Keith Goff
John Greer
Stephanie Hall
Daniel Hamilton
S. B. Hamilton Jr.
Amanda Hardin
Harold & Sandra
Harmon Sr.
Charles & Marian
Harrison
Michael Harvey
Gordon & Mary Jo
Haskins
W.R. Hathaway
David Hedden
Alan & Becky Hedin
George H. Heins
George H. Heins
Mark Henegar
Gary & Sherry Hensley
Richard & Jeanie Hilten
Eric Hoeppner
Richard D. Holland
Elizabetj Hoover
Karen Houck
Kate Hudson &
Carole Hudson
Charles H. & Kay
Hultquist
Robert & Sally
Johnson
Colleen & Barry Jones
Tom Keegan
Bob & Louise Kennedy
Scott Kichman
Clifford A & Ruth Kirk
John & Charlotte
Kirkland
Bill Kiser
Anne Kjelby
Shelley Lancaster
Dennis LaPorte
Laurel Valley Ladies
Tim Lee
Susan Lennox
Mary Ruth Lewis
Jack & Mary Jane
Lewis
Nancy Lignitz
Jeremy Lloyd
Carol M. Luckey
Alfred W. Mahan Jr.
Paul Manners
Gale B. Marrone
Jennifer S. Martin
Michael & Jaimie
Matzko
Michael Max
Bryon & Amy McCain
Greg McCorkle
Vernon McCurry
Ann & Robert
McDermott
Susan Meyers
Susan Milankovich
Laura Milligan
Charlie & Tracey Muise
Trace Myers
Nature’s Way
Montessori School
Dora Nelson
Kenneth Novak
Patrick & Barbara
O’Brien
Denny O’Neal
Phyllis D. Overton
Pat Pardee
Amber Parker
Maggie Parry
Pat Petersen
Louise Peterson
Linda Petrosky
Aaron Phipps
Pi Beta Phi Elementary
Mary Ann Plourde
Jerry & Betts Pobuda
Mary Ann Popma
Joseph Posner
Bill Postles
Andy Chocklett,
Progress Press
Michelle Prysby &
John Woodell
Charles & Anita Prysby
Caleb Psey
Susan Purvis
Lorraine H. Quilliams
J.D. & R.B. Reiter
Dr. E. Lee Rice
Regan Richie
Susan Riemer
Taylor & Jama Rinehart
Albert & Jennie Ritchie
Ken Rivet
Gail Roberts
Marilyn J. Rogers
Harold P. Roth
Bob Russell
Linda Sample
Paul Sanders
Nadine Saunders
Bill Schneider
Ron & Susan Schott
June Schuh
Richard & Spain Secrist
Myrtle M. Seno
continued on page 11
“Everything I did I had fun doing. I believe that I’ve discovered a new side to myself, and I don’t think it could’ve happened without you.” •
Walker Valley Reflections 10

Looking Ahead
Join us for one of our upcoming workshops!
Spring Awakenings Naturalist
Weekend*
April 8-10
Spend a glorious spring weekend in the Smokies.
The days will be spent focusing on your topic of
choice and the evening participating in lectures,
campfires, storytelling or musical entertainment.
Choose from four areas of focus:
• WOODLAND WILDFLOWERS
The Great Smoky Mountains are known for their
spectacular spring wildflower displays. The diversity
and sheer number of blooming plants make the
Smokies a wildflower lover’s paradise. Spend the
weekend exploring the park’s nooks and hollows
with staff that will share their love and knowledge
of plants. Learn wildflower identification, natural
history, habitats, and resources.
• NATURALIZING ON THE WILDSIDE
Not satisfied with front-country naturalizing?
Interested in what’s really OUT THERE? Then join
Executive Director Ken Voorhis for a weekend of
great hikes that will get you to some amazing
backcountry areas. You never know what you will
encounter on a trip with Ken but you can be
assured of beauty, challenging hikes, and surprises
along the way. The streams and mountainsides will
be putting on their exhilarating spring show and
this is your chance to see and experience it all.
• CADES COVE: BEHIND THE SCENES ADVENTURE
Spend the weekend in the Cove, exploring the
unknown places in the park’s most visited area.
Walk the fields to look for wildlife, discover caves,
visit historic structures, find new trails, find a hidden
swamp, explore amphibian haunts, and see the
Cove in a whole new way.
• SMOKIES SAMPLER
This workshop is designed for those folks who want
a little bit of everything. This is a great way to be
introduced to all the wonders of Spring in the Great
Smokies. We will cover wildflowers, salamanders,
trees, history, forests, birds, geology, and much
more during this weekend of woodand rambles. Join
us for an educational and inspirational weekend.
Program lasts from Friday supper to Sunday lunch.
COST: $200/participant (includes meals, lodging
and instruction.) One hour of graduate credit is
available for an additional fee. Visit GSMIT’s Web
site www.gsmit.org for workshop schedules.
Spring Adult Backpack: Sugarland
Mountain
April 15-17
Join our guides and experience the beauty of spring
in the Great Smoky Mountains firsthand on a threeday
backpacking adventure. We provide all the
information, food, and gear (except sleeping bag)
for your excursion. This is a safe, educational, and
enjoyable way to learn about backpacking in the
Smokies. Participants must be in good physical
condition and be able to hike 5-8 miles a day in
rugged, mountainous terrain.
Program lasts from Friday morning to Sunday afternoon.
Cost: $215. Route changes due to weather,
campsite or trail closure may occur.
Spring Photography Workshop
April 15-18
Nationally recognized nature photographers Bill Lea
and David Duhl will lead a workshop emphasizing
wildlife, landscape, and macro photography. Bill and
David tailor the program to the skill level and interests
of each individual participant with plenty of oneon-one
instruction. Field sessions and lectures will
cover the use of light, composition, and equipment.
Program lasts from Friday supper to Monday midmorning.
This workshop fills quickly, so register
early! Cost: $475.
Smoky Mountain Science Teacher
Workshop*
June 12-17
Immerse yourself for one week in the biological
diversity of the Smokies and return home with
exciting new ideas for involving your students in
hands-on science. Throughout the week, we will
visit different Smokies habitats to learn about their
amazing natural resources as well as the environmental
problems threatening them. Each day you
will become a citizen scientist, helping to inventory
and monitor everything from salamanders to slime
molds. Increase your own science skills and discover
new ways to do the same for your students.
This workshop is a collaboration between Tremont,
the National Park Service, and Discover Life in
America. Your instructors will include Tremont
staff, NPS educators and scientists, and other scientists
involved in research in the park.
Program lasts from Sunday supper through Friday
lunch. Cost: We are anticipating that we will
receive a grant to help cover costs of this workshop
and allow us to offer it for a nominal fee.
Please contact GSMIT for more information.
Naturalist and Educator Week
July 4-9
It’s just one of those magic weeks that becomes a
benchmark in your life. It’s a time to slow down, to
focus on natural history, science, and the vast biological
riches that exist in Great Smoky Mountains
National Park. Spend the week increasing your
knowledge through educational workshops, field
studies, hikes, and participation in research that
will benefit the All Taxa Biodiversity Inventory. Our
feature presenter will be Michael Frome, well
known author, educator and tireless champion of
America’s natural heritage. Author of Strangers in
High Places, Dr. Frome received the Thomas Wolfe
Memorial Literary Award for that work and the
Marjory Stoneman Douglas Award for his years of
work in behalf of national parks. Expect to be
inspired and challenged and to go home loaded
with new knowledge and ideas for connecting people
of all ages with nature!
Program lasts from Monday supper to Saturday
lunch. Cost: $325. Three hours of graduate credit
are available for an additional fee.
Naturalist Hiking Week
July 4-9
Each day of Naturalist Hiking Week features three
hike choices led by experienced educators who
offer insight into the wonders of the National Park.
Participants must be in good physical condition
and be able to hike 6-14 miles a day in rugged
mountainous terrain. Participants also have the
opportunity to take a “day off” and choose from
Naturalist Week activities. Share the evenings with
Naturalist Week participants, and enjoy special
speakers, night hikes, and more!
Program lasts from Monday supper to Saturday
lunch. Cost: $325.
Friends of Tremont continued
Susan Setterlin
Jason Sickle
Charlie Smith
Martin Smith
Richard & Louann
Smith
Penny Smith
Mark E. Smith
William (Bill) Smith
Scott Snider
Mark & Janet Snyder
John & Jan Spruill
Robert & Beth St. Jean
Susan Stark
Donald Stedman
Art & Martha Stinson
Paul & Anna-Catherine
Super
Michael & Rebecca
Sutton
Gary Swinea
Cory & Kelly Tallent
Debra Thomas
James Tippett
Anna Lois Tipton
Charles Tisdale
Harold Torrance
Grace Trimble
Elizabeth P.Tucker
Paul & Patty Tuma
Patricia Twilla
Jerome & Linda
Vananda
Toni Vann
William J.Vines
Judy Visty
Linda Walden
Lynn Webb
Eleanor K.Webb
Frances & Marty Welch
George Wenger
Dr.William & Leslie
Whitley
R.Wieland
Maureen Wilder
Nelson & Frances
Wilkins
James T.Williams
Eileen P.Wilson
Ben & Susie
Wittenmyer
Alfred Wohlpart
Faye Wooden
Nicholas Young
“Whether I was climbing up rocks, crossing a river, or even listening to one of the leaders tell a story, it was all fun.” •
Walker Valley Reflections 11

Great Smoky Mountains Institute at Tremont is operated in cooperation with
Great Smoky Mountains National Park.
STAFF
teachers/naturalists
Jen Martin
Jaimie Matzko
Mike Matzko
part-time naturalists
Betsy Booth
J.D. Goodlaxon
Carole Olson
Corey Shubert
Karen White
school program director
Jennifer Arnold
education director
Amber Parker
food service
Jackie Davis
Lori Flanagan
Linda Hatcher
Lois Tipton
Toni Vann
public relations
Kent Jones
sales
Gary Carpenter
Linda Vananda
finance/development
assistant
Pauline Walton
office manager
Kathy Burns
executive director
Ken Voorhis
citizen science director
Michelle Prysby
sr. teacher naturalists
Adam Barnes
Jeremy Lloyd
Charlie Muise
grounds and
facilities
Sam Crowe
Sean Flanagan
asst. office manager
Julie Brown
BOARD OF DIRECTORS
president
Bill Cobble
vice president
Fred Forster
secretary
Herb Handly
treasurer
Wright Tisdale
Cathy Ackermann
Kati Blalock
Dick Ray
Patrick Roddy
This newsletter is printed on post-recycled paper. Newsletter design by Lisa Horstman, courtesy of Great Smoky Mountains Association.
Program brochures are available by contacting our office:
www.gsmit.org • 865-448-6709 • mail@gsmit.org
Great Smoky Mountains Institute at
TREMONT
Great Smoky Mountains National Park
9275 Tremont Road
Townsend,TN 37882
Non-profit
Organization
U.S. Postage
PAID
Permit No. 127
Knoxville, TN