Smoky Mountain Field School

06/15/2026

🥳 From the tallest elk to the tiniest salamanders, everyone in the national park is celebrating 92 years of the Great Smoky Mountains! 🎉🎊

On June 15, 1934, the national park was officially established by Congress, setting aside these mountains, valleys, and everything in them "for the permanent enjoyment of the people."

Over the past 92 years, the Smokies have grown to become the most-visited national park in the United States, a place where visitors from all over the world can come to share in the Smokies' history, marvel at the beauty of the Appalachian Mountains, and wonder at the incredible biodiversity.

Help us celebrate by sharing your favorite thing to do in the Great Smoky Mountains!

Photo by Bryce Wade

06/09/2026

Discover where salamanders live, what they eat, who eats them, and lots more. You'll also learn why the Smokies is called the "Salamander Capital of the World."

Register now: tiny.utk.edu/5CGxe

06/02/2026

Learn about the herb-lore from "medicine men" and "granny women" while you search the woods and fields of this temperate rainforest for its hidden treasures. 🍄

Register now: tiny.utk.edu/bdBMs

05/29/2026

What should you do if you find a bear cub all alone?

If you come across a bear cub (or two or three) that seem to be abandoned, mom is probably off industriously searching for food and has left the cubs in or under a “babysitter tree.”

It takes a lot of calories to keep the cubs well-fed and growing; the mother bear may be two miles away. Or mom may be hiding nearby, stressed out and waiting for you to leave, so the longer you hang around, the longer the cubs will be on their own.

If you see bear cubs all alone, do not touch them. If you believe they are truly orphaned, take a quick photo of the cubs that shows the location, and leave the area. Contact your state wildlife agency.

Thanks for helping to KEEP BEARS WILD.

Learn more: https://bearwise.org/what-bears-do-in-may/

05/26/2026

Learn about the herb-lore from "medicine men" and "granny women" while you search the woods and fields of this temperate rainforest for its hidden treasures. 🍄

Register today: tiny.utk.edu/bdBMs

05/21/2026

Explore the Elkmont area of the park in the evening in order to learn about the history of the area and the natural cycle of the synchronous fireflies. ✨

2 Date Options!

Register now: tiny.utk.edu/KFzRh

05/19/2026

What are bears doing in May?

- All bears visit all the places where they reliably found food last year.
- Cubs learn how to climb up (and down) trees, and learn to “talk.”
- Cubs are still nursing, but start experimenting with bear food.
- Mother bears sometimes leave the youngsters alone and travel up to two miles to search for food.
- Cubs that are alone aren’t usually orphaned or abandoned.

Read more: https://bearwise.org/what-bears-do-in-may/

Thank you for being and keeping BEARS WILD.

05/07/2026

Learn to compose pictures of beautiful landscapes, wildflowers, and wildlife while enhancing your observation skills and enjoying the natural world. 📷

Register today: tiny.utk.edu/uybwM

05/05/2026