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If you are looking to make your summer vacation more budget-friendly, the Great Smoky Mountains National Park is an excellent vacation destination. In addition to the free admission to the park that has always been offered, visitors to the Great Smoky Mountains National Park are fortunate this year to have access to a wide variety of free guided walks and talks throughout the Smokies. Programs are offered every day of the week from June 21 - August 16, 2008 in several locations including Cades Cove, the Little Greenbrier School, Elkmont, Sugarlands Visitor Center, as well as several other locations. By taking advantage of several of these special programs you can make your vacation to the Smoky Mountains memorable while saving money at the same time.
June 21 - August 16,2008
Sundays
Geology for Junior Rangers
Study the rocks of the Smokies
Where: Newfound Gap Overlook
When: 11:00 am
Duration: 1 hour
So You Wanna Take a Hike?
How to prepare for a hike in the Smokies
Where: Sugarlands Visitor Center
When: 12:00 noon
Duration: 1 hour
Cades Cove Mill Area Walk
Guided walk through several historic buildings in Cades Cove Mill area
Where: Cades Cove Visitor Center, halfway around the Loop Road
When: 12:30 pm
Duration 30 minutes
Junior Rangers: Cades Cove Explorations
Hands-on exploration of Cades Cove
Where: Cades Cove Visitor Center, halfway around the Loop Road
When: 1:30 pm
Duration: 30-45 minutes
Junior Rangers: Stream Splashin'
Study aquatic life in a mountain stream
Where: Metcalf Bottoms Picnic Area
When: 2:00 pm
Duration: 1.5 hours
WILD by Design
Hands-on demonstration about park wildlife
Where: Cades Cove Visitor Center, halfway around the Loop Road
When: 2:30 pm
Duration: 30 minutes
The Natural World of Elkmont
Learn how this part of the Smokies is unique.
Where: Elkmont Campground Bridge
When: 6:30 pm
Duration: 1 hour
Smokies' Nightlife
Bring a flashlight to explore the Smokies at night.
Where: Elkmont Campground Bridge
When: 8:30 pm
Duration: 1.5 hours
Mondays
Junior Rangers: Blacksmithing
Learn about the art of blacksmithing and make your own item to take home.
Where: Cable Mill historic area Blacksmith Shop, halfway around Cades Cove Loop Road
When: 10:30 am, 11:30 am, 1 pm, 2 pm, 3 pm
Duration: 45 minutes
Note: Group size is limited. Only for children ages 8-12. Other programs will occur simultaneously for younger children.
The Walker Sisters of Little Greenbrier
Learn about six sisters who lived in the National Park after its establishment. Visit their homestead on a 2.2 mile guided roundtrip hike.
Where: Little Greenbrier Schoolhouse - near Metcalf Bottoms Picnic Area
When: 10:30 am
Duration: 2.5 hours
Cataract Falls Walk
Guided walk to Cataract Falls while learning more about the Smokies
Where: Sugarlands Visitor Center
When: 11 am
Duration: 1 hour
Cabin Home
Learn about mountain life and culture from a park ranger
Where: John Ownby Cabin on the Fighting Creek Nature Trail, Sugarlands Area
When: on-going from 11 am to 2 pm
Stream Stroll
Learn more about the streams of the Smokies
Where: Sugarlands Visitor Center
When: 1:30 pm
Duration: 1 hour
Junior Ranger: Let's be a Scientist
Learn how scientific tools can help in the study of wildlife. Get a closer look at some creatures of the Smokies
Where: Sugarlands Visitor Center Patio
When: 3 pm
Duration: 1.5 hours
Cades Cove Evening Hayride
View Cades Cove Loop from the back of a hay wagon.
Where: Cades Cove Riding Stables
When: 6 pm
Duration: 2 hours
Cost: $8.50 per person
Junior Rangers: Steam Splashers
Look for creatures in a Smoky Mountain stream - you will get wet!
Where: Smokemont Campground D-Loop
When: 6 pm
Duration: 1 hour
Junior Rangers: Explore Nocturnal Nature
Explore the Smokies at night. Bring a flashlight
Where: Little River Trailhead near Elkmont Campground
When: 8 pm
Duration: 1.5 hours
Night Hike
Explore the Smokies at night. Bring a flashlight
Where: Bradley Fork Trailhead, D-Loop Smokemont Campground
When: 8:45 pm
Duration: 1 hour
Note: Limited to 25 participants. Call 828/497-1904 up to four days in advance for reservations
Tuesdays
Junior Rangers: Blacksmithing
Learn about the art of blacksmithing and make your own dinner bell to take home.
Where: Blacksmith shop at Mountain Farm Museum, adjacent to Oconaluftee Visitor Center
When: 10 am to 12 noon
Duration: Every 30 minutes, last group starts at 11:30 am
Note: Only for children ages 10 and older
Junior Rangers: Critters and Crawlies
Learn about the crawling critters in the Smokies and make a picture to take home.
Where: Meet at the Mountain Farm Museum, adjacent to Oconaluftee Visitor Center
When: 10 am and 11 am
Duration:45 minutes
Become a GPS Guru
GPS units will be provided for use during this program as you learn about Earthcaching
Where: Sugarlands Visitor Center
When: 10 am
Duration: 1.5 hours
Junior Rangers: Little Greenbrier School
Learn what life was like for children attending school at the turn of the 19th century.
Where: Little Greenbrier Schoolhouse - near Metcalf Bottoms Picnic Area
When: 10:30 am (for Junior Rangers) and 1:30 pm
Duration: 1 hour
Cades Cove Primitive Baptist Church - "Precious Memories"
Learn about this historic church.
Where: Primitive Baptist Church, stop #4 on the Cades Cove Loop Road
When: 11 am and 1 pm
Duration: 30 minutes
Nestled in the Hills: The Noah "Bud" Ogle Homeplace
Learn about the families who lived in this cabin.
Where: Noah "Bud" Ogle Nature Trail on Cherokee Orchard Road
When: On-going from 12 pm to 2 pm
Junior Rangers: Slimy Salamanders
Learn all about salamanders. Be prepared to get wet while you search for a salamander.
Where: Sugarlands Visitor Center Patio
When: 2 pm
Duration: 1.5 hours
Anikituwahgi: The Cherokee of the Appalachians
Learn about the Eastern Band of the Cherokee
Where: Oconaluftee Visitor Center, South Porch
When: 2 pm
Duration: 1 hour
Cades Cove Night Hike
Explore Cades Cove at night
Where: Meet at the orientation shelter at the entrance to Cades Cove Loop Road
When: 9 pm
Duration: 2.5 hours, 2.5 miles
Note: Children under 14 must be accompanied by and adult
Cades Cove Evening Program
Photographic journey of Cades Cove
Where: Cades Cove Campground Amphitheater
When: 9 pm
Duration: 1 hour
Wednesdays
Junior Rangers: Stream Splashin'
Discover aquatic life in a mountain stream - you will get wet!
Where: Metcalf Bottoms Picnic Pavilion
When: 10 am
Duration: 1.5 hours
Forks of the River
Learn about the historic communities of Sugarlands, Fighting Creek and Forks of the River
Where: Sugarlands Visitor Center
When: 10:30 am
Duration: 1 hour
Cataract Falls Walk
Guided walk to Cataract Falls while learning more about the Smokies
Where: Sugarlands Visitor Center
When: 11 am
Duration: 1 hour
Cabin Home
Learn about mountain life and culture from a park ranger
Where: John Ownby Cabin on the Fighting Creek Nature Trail, Sugarlands Area
When: on-going from 11 am to 2 pm
Aw, Shucks!
Learn about the diversity of corn in the Smokies - from food to cornshuck dolls.
Where: Mountain Fari Museum, adjacent to the Oconaluftee Visitor Center
When: 11 am to 1 pm
Duration: on-going
Heritage Hunt
Learn about the cemeteries of Cades Cove including stories, mysteries and insight about community life in Cades Cove.
Where: Primitive Baptist Church, stop #4 on the Cades Cove Loop Road
When: 1:30 pm
Duration: 1 hour
Junior Rangers: Bein' A Kid in the Mountains
Learn what life was like growing up in the Smokies
Where: Sugarlands Visitor Center Patio
When: 4 pm
Duration: 1 hour
Junior Rangers: Cherokee Pottery for Kids
Make your own pottery the way the Cherokee have made it for thousands of years
Where: Meet at the shelter in the upper section of Collins Creek Picnic Area
When: 4 pm
Duration: 1 hour
Cades Cove Evening Hayride
View Cades Cove Loop from the back of a hay wagon.
Where: Cades Cove Riding Stables
When: 6 pm
Duration: 2 hours
Cost: $8.50 per person
Explorations of the Dark Side
Explore Smoky Mountain nightlife. Bring a flashlight.
Where:Bradley Fork Trailhead in Smokemont Campground, D-Loop
When: 8:45 pm
Duration: 1 hour
Thursdays
Guided Cades Cove Hayride
Early morning hayride around Cades Cove Loop
Where: Meet at Cades Cove Riding Stables
When: 7:30 am
Duration: 2 hours
Cost: $8.50 per person
A Stitch in Time
Make a quilted potholder while learning about quilting in the Smokies
Where: Davis/Queen House at Mountain Farm Museum adjacent to the Oconaluftee Visitor Center
When: 11 am to 1 pm
Duration: On-going
Junior Rangers: Batteries Not Included
Learn about old-fashioned toys and take home your own buzz-button
Where: Mountain Farm Museum, adjacent to the Oconaluftee Visitor Centerr
When: 11 am to 1 pm
Duration: On-going
Junior Rangers: Trees of the Sugarlands Valley
Walk along Fighting Creek as you identify trees of the Smokies
Where: Sugarlands Visitor Center Patio
When: 11 am
Duration: 1 hour
Nestled in the Hills: The Noah "Bud" Ogle Homeplace
Learn about the families who lived in this cabin.
Where: Noah "Bud" Ogle Nature Trail on Cherokee Orchard Road
When: On-going from 12 pm to 2 pm
Cades Cove Mill Area Walk
Guided walk through several historic buildings in Cades Cove Mill area
Where: Cades Cove Visitor Center, halfway around the Loop Road
When: 12:30 pm
Duration 30 minutes
Junior Rangers: Pottery Making
Learn about how pottery was made and used in the Smokies and make your own pot to take home.
Where: Cades Cove Visitor Center, halfway around the Loop Road
When: 1:30 pm
Duration: 30 minutes
DIVERSITY: In the Smokies and within the National Park System
Test your knowledge about National Park trivia as you learn about the diversity of the Smokies
Where: Oconaluftee Visitor Center, South Porch
When: 3 pm
Duration: 1 hour
"Even You Can Play the Hog Fiddle"
Learn about traditional mountain music and how to play the mountain dulcimer
Where: Meet at the Cades Cove Campground Amphitheater next to the Campground Store
When: 3 pm
Duration: 1 hour
Hills, Hollers, and Harmonies
Learn about the music of the early Smoky Mountains settlers
Where: Cades Cove Campground Amphitheater
When: 8 pm
Duration: 1 hour
Fridays
Forks of the River
Learn about the historic communities of Sugarlands, Fighting Creek and Forks of the River
Where: Sugarlands Visitor Center
When: 10:30 am
Duration: 1 hour
Cataract Falls Walk
Guided walk to Cataract Falls while learning more about the Smokies
Where: Sugarlands Visitor Center
When: 11 am
Duration: 1 hour
Cabin Home
Learn about mountain life and culture from a park ranger
Where: John Ownby Cabin on the Fighting Creek Nature Trail, Sugarlands Area
When: on-going from 11 am to 2 pm
Eager Weaver
Learn how settlers made their own clothing using wool and cotton. Weave your own bookmark to take home. Ages 5 and up.
Where: Cades Cove Visitor Center, halfway around the loop road
When: 11 am
Junior Rangers: Let's Talk About Bears
Learn about the native black bears of the Smokies
Where: Sugarlands Visitor Center
When: 12 pm
Cades Cove Mill Area Walk
Guided walk through several historic buildings in Cades Cove Mill area
Where: Cades Cove Visitor Center, halfway around the Loop Road
When: 12:30 pm
Duration 30 minutes
Junior Rangers: Whose Poop's on my Boots?
Learn about signs animals leave behind including tracks, skins and poop.
Where: Cades Cove Visitor Center, halfway around the Loop Road
When: 1:30 pm
Junior Rangers: Can I Hunt in the Park?
Hone your observation skills as you learn to watch for signs of wildlife.
Where: Oconaluftee Trailhead adjacent to the Oconaluftee Visitor Center
When: 2 pm
WILD by Design
Hands-on demonstration about park wildlife
Where: Cades Cove Visitor Center, halfway around the Loop Road
When: 2:30 pm
Duration: 30 minutes
Guided Cades Cove Hayride
Early morning hayride around Cades Cove Loop
Where: Meet at Cades Cove Riding Stables
When: 6 pm
Duration: 2 hours
Cost: $8.50 per person
Elkmont: The Rest of the Story
History of the creation of the Great Smoky Mountains National Park, including the role both logging and tourism played.
Where: Elkmont Campground Bridge
When: 6:30 pm
Duration: 1.5 hours
Smokemont Players Story Hour
Interactive storytelling. Bring a chair or blanket.
Where: Open field in Smokemont Campgroung - between C and D loops
When: 7 pm
Duration: 1 hour
Elkmont Campfire Program
Learn something new about the Smokies from a park ranger. Topics change weekly.
Where: Elkmont Campground Amphitheater
When: 9 pm
Duration: 45 minutes
Cades Cove Night Hike
Explore Cades Cove at night
Where: Meet at the orientation shelter at the entrance to Cades Cove Loop Road
When: 9 pm
Duration: 2.5 hours, 2.5 miles
Note: Children under 14 must be accompanied by and adult
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