The Great Smoky Mountains National Park is beginning a new program that allows nearby residents, business people, teachers and community members to see the everyday workings of the national park. Participants will attend five full day sessions at a variety of locations in the Great Smoky Mountains National Park, accompanying park employees in activities that may include radio-tracking elk, participating in a fish survey, and assisting with trail restoration.
“If you have ever wanted to be a park ranger or get a behind the scenes look at what goes on in Great Smoky Mountains National Park, this is your opportunity,” said park Superintendent Dale Ditmanson. “Our surrounding communities and their leaders are very important to us, and this program gives us a chance to make more meaningful connections with our neighbors and for them to do the same with us.”
The program is held in conjunction with the Friends of the Smokies and the Great Smoky Mountains Association. It will begin March 27 and conclude in May. Class size is limited to 25 participants and those attending must apply first. Applications will be accepted until Feb. 22. The program costs $50.
www.friendsofthesmokies.org or 828.452.0720.
It was the reason I came to the South.
Here are the true stories of some young people, all of them still under the age of 35. For the sake of anonymity, we will call the young people Lisa and Mike, Kevin and Laura, Patrick and Emily, and Michael (unmarried).
