Stewards of the Land

First classes held at Tremont’s second campus

The Great Smoky Mountains Institute at Tremont reached another milestone in its 50-year history Feb. 7, as the first class was held on the Institute’s second campus in Townsend. While the land awaits funding for no-impact classrooms and facilities, the land itself is the perfect classroom for the Seasons of Connection series of adult programs.

Led by Tremont land manager Elizabeth Davis, the first class of the series was all about forest stewardship. Attendees delved into winter tree identification and forest inventory. They even treated hemlocks to protect them from the ravages of the woolly adelgid.

The Feb. 7 class is the first in a series of four adult classes to be held at the second campus. Next classes are:

• Wayfinding, 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. March 14. Learn the art of navigating by map and compass as you explore the forests and ridges of our Townsend campus with Kathleen Reilly, Tremont’s field programs coordinator. We’ll cover the basics of taking bearings, reading topographic maps, and interpreting the landscape, and then put those skills to the test on a guided orienteering challenge. This class is currently full.
• Survival Skills, 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. June 6. Survival isn’t about conquering nature – it’s about learning to work with it. In this hands-on workshop with Tremont’s Kristen Ross, you’ll explore how to use the gifts the land provides to sustain life. We’ll practice two foundational skills: crafting shelter to protect you from the elements, and calling up fire by friction. Along the way, you’ll build adaptability, resourcefulness, and a deeper connection to the wild places around you.
• Seasonal Rhythms, 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. Sept. 19. Slow down and spend a restorative day immersed in the rhythms of the season with Tremont’s education director, John DiDiego. Through guided observation, field journaling, and simple sketching, you’ll explore the connections between the natural world and your own life. Notice how plants and animals prepare for seasonal change, learn field marks useful for identifying species, and practice careful observation. You’ll leave with skills and practices that bring more wonder into your life – and a renewed sense of belonging to the world around you. 

Find the full slate of Tremont adult and family programs across both campuses at gsmit.org/adults-and-families/.