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Making America's Best Idea Even Better
Great Smoky Mountains National ParkWild Turkeys are plentiful in the park.
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Great Smoky Mountains National Park
For Kids

for kids includes:

Be A Junior Ranger
 
 
Ranger-led programs offer children an opportunity to explore and learn about the park.

Don McGowan/Friends of Great Smoky Mountains National Park.

Bring the whole family for a hands-on exploration of the diversity of life within the Great Smoky Mountains National Park. Together, you will discover the wonders of the Smokies and learn of ideas to preserve natural and cultural treasures in your own backyard.

During spring, summer, and fall, ranger-led programs suitable for children are offered. These programs offer children an opportunity to explore and learn about the park. Read through the schedule of ranger-led programs to find programs especially for children.

Kids—if you're between the ages of 5-12, you can become a Junior Ranger! Learn how! 

 
The Great Smoky Mountains Institute at Tremont is a year-round residential environmental education center in the Smokies which offers summer camps, school programs, family camps, naturalist workshops and programs for kids of all ages. Summer youth programs focus on exploring the Smokies, hands-on science and adventure. Three to five day overnight school programs engage students with Tremont’s award winning hands-on curricula which is aligned with grade levels and teaching standards. A fee is charged. For more information, call (865) 448-6709 or visit the Tremont website.

The Smoky Mountain Field School offers weekend workshops, hikes, and adventures for families. For more information and a schedule of programs, call (865) 974-0150.

 

 

Recommended Reading

 
Books, maps and guides to the national park are available online from the park's nonprofit partner, the Great Smoky Mountains Association.

The Troublesome Cub in the Great Smoky Mountains
True story of a bear cub who fell asleep in a dumpster and was inadvertently picked up by a garbage truck. Has a happy ending and some important lessons to protect wildlife.

 
Books, maps and guides to the national park are available online from the park's nonprofit partner, the Great Smoky Mountains Association.

The Great Smoky Mountains Salamander Ball 
Fantastic tale of a young girl’s vacation in the Smoky Mountains. Wandering from her tent late on summer’s night, Sara finds an invitation she just can’t resist – to watch the Salamander Ball from behind a tree!

 
Books, maps and guides to the national park are available online from the park's nonprofit partner, the Great Smoky Mountains Association.

The Smokies Yukky Book 
Learn about carnivorous plants, vomiting vultures, snot otters, ant lions, and other weird, creepy stuff that really lives in the Smokies.
Black-chinned red salamander
Salamander Capital of the World!
At least thirty species of salamanders live in the park.
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Black bear
Black Bears
An estimated 1,500 black bears live in the park.
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white-tailed deer
Wildlife Watching
Open areas such as Cades Cove and Cataloochee are good places to view wildlife.
more...
All Taxa Biodiversity Inventory snail
All Taxa Biodiversity Inventory
Join other citizen scientists and volunteers in discovering new species in the park.
more...
The park is named for the misty clouds that hang over the mountains.  

Did You Know?
The wispy, smoke-like fog that hangs over the Smoky Mountains comes from rain and evaporation from trees. On the high peaks of the Smokies, an average of 85 inches of rain falls each year, qualifying these upper elevation areas as temperate rain forests.

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Last Updated: October 30, 2009 at 09:35 EST