Tag: north carolina
December 2024 Friends of the Smokies Newsletter
December 3, 2024
by Jim Matheny Hello, Friends! To have this monthly newsletter delivered directly to your inbox, please sign up! We want[…]
Read MoreNovember 2024 Friends of the Smokies Newsletter
November 5, 2024
by Jim Matheny Hello, Friends! To have this monthly newsletter delivered directly to your inbox, please sign up! We want[…]
Read MoreMeet the Trails Forever Hike Advisory Team
June 25, 2024
Meet our hike advisory team! These volunteers make the Trails Forever Hikes happen by helping lead and sweep the hikes.[…]
Read More2019 Classic Hikes of the Smokies
January 12, 2019
by Julie Dodd Start planning now to join the 2019 Classic Hikes of the Smokies. The hikes are each Tuesday[…]
Read MoreSnow changes December Classic Hike destination
December 21, 2018
by Julie Dodd Snow closed US 441 through the Smokies, but that didn’t keep FOTS hikers from getting in a[…]
Read MoreGSMNP high school internship program provides career insights and inspiration
September 15, 2018
Stuart Hemmer-Skidmore, a senior at the School of Inquiry and Life Sciences in Asheville, NC, participated in the Great Smoky[…]
Read More“Everybody’s National Parks” explores the Smokies
May 9, 2018
Everybody’s National Parks is a podcast dedicated to family adventure in our national parks and a few weeks ago, I[…]
Read More2018 Classic Hikes of the Smokies
February 16, 2018
by Julie Dodd The Classic Hikes of the Smokies series, starting its eighth year, offers a way to hike trails[…]
Read More5 Things to Do If Great Smoky Mountains National Park is Shut Down
January 19, 2018
Updated: Monday, January 22, 11:00am Please understand that if you visit GSMNP during a government shut down, services will be[…]
Read MoreNovember Classic Hike includes tunnel on ‘Road to Nowhere’
December 1, 2017
The November Classic Hike of the Smokies was led by Gracia Slater, who lacks just three short hikes to complete[…]
Read MoreThe park needs you this Giving Tuesday
November 21, 2017
By now I’m sure you’ve heard of Giving Tuesday in the news or on social media. Following Black Friday and[…]
Read MoreFOTS hikers explore historic Lakeshore Trail area
November 9, 2017
by Julie Dodd Friends of the Smokies hikers had the opportunity to explore trails in the Fontana Lake area and[…]
Read MoreParks as Classrooms helps students discover GSMNP, develop appreciation for Park
October 18, 2017
by Julie Dodd Helping elementary, middle school and high school students who live in counties near the Great Smoky Mountains[…]
Read MoreGSMNP high school summer internship provides life changing experience
July 31, 2017
by Bryce Trull Blount County High School Five Tennessee high school students participated in a four-week summer internship that focuses[…]
Read MoreVolunteer with Friends of the Smokies events to support GSMNP
July 7, 2017
by Julie Dodd Volunteer to help Friends of the Smokies at two upcoming fundraising events that will support the Great[…]
Read MoreGreat views from Charlies Bunion highlight June Classic Hike
June 27, 2017
Steve Winchester was the hike leader for the June Classic Hike of the Smokies. Steve and his wife, Judy, both[…]
Read MoreMingus Creek Trail launches 2017 Classic Hikes of the Smokies
April 1, 2017
by Julie Dodd A hike on the Mingus Creek Trail launched the 2017 Classic Hikes of the Smokies. Thirty-two hikers[…]
Read MoreClassic Hikes of Smokies 2017 schedule
February 21, 2017
by Julie Dodd The Classic Hikes of the Smokies 2017 hiking season begins on March 14 March 28, with a hike[…]
Read MoreGiving Thanks and #GivingTuesday
November 23, 2016
This time of year, we can’t help but be reminded of all the wonderful things we have to be thankful[…]
Read MoreNoland Creek Trail — November’s Classic Hike
November 18, 2016
by Julie Dodd The November Classic Hike of the Smokies was on a beautiful fall day — ten miles on[…]
Read MoreClassic Hikes of Smokies help hikers add miles toward Hike 100 Challenge
October 25, 2016
by Julie Dodd Hikers can add 10 miles toward the Hike 100 Challenge by joining the Friends of the Smokies Classic[…]
Read MoreSummer interns value GSMNP experiences
August 30, 2016
by Linden Jones Rising Junior at Asheville School Asheville, North Carolina Our six weeks in the Smokies were eye opening.[…]
Read MoreCelebrating 100 Years of America’s Best Idea
August 25, 2016
When President Woodrow Wilson signed the National Park Service Organic Act on August 25, 1916, there were only 35 national parks in[…]
Read MoreInterns help maintain cemeteries in GSMNP
August 22, 2016
by Laura Booth GSMNP Intern Warren Wilson College student Graduate of Swain County High School, Bryson, NC As my internship[…]
Read MoreWildland firefighting requires physical fitness & teamwork
August 18, 2016
by Matthew Sullivan GSMNP Intern Cape Fear High School (Fayettesville, NC) graduate Student in the Oconaluftee Job Corps Center, Cherokee,[…]
Read MoreSummer internship program offers opportunity to explore GSMNP and NPS career options
August 5, 2016
by Hannah Ensley GSMNP Intern Senior at Pisgah High School — Canton, North Carolina If you live in the Eastern[…]
Read MoreClassic Hikes of the Smokies – Charlies Bunion and Mt. Sterling
July 25, 2016
by Julie Dodd Hikers of the Classic Hikes of the Smokies for June and July added 15.4 miles toward the[…]
Read MoreClingmans Dome Restoration: What’s it all about?
June 17, 2016
For the last few weeks, we’ve been pushing you all to vote for Clingmans Dome in a grant competition hosted[…]
Read MoreWelcome to the team, Marielle!
June 6, 2016
As you may know from our previous blog posts, we have had some exciting staffing changes in our North Carolina[…]
Read MoreHyatt Ridge Trail provides challenge
May 23, 2016
by Julie Dodd Challenge was the key theme for the May Classic Hike of the Smokies to Hyatt Ridge. The hike[…]
Read MoreLittle Cataloochee Trail: March’s Classic Hike of the Smokies
April 6, 2016
by Julie Dodd The Classic Hike of the Smokies hikers logged 6.6 miles on the Little Cataloochee Trail on March 8,[…]
Read MoreSpring is a time for new beginnings…
March 28, 2016
It’s not too often that our small organization has staffing changes, but we have some happy and sad news to[…]
Read MoreAsheville’s Give!Local Guide
November 18, 2015
This year, we are excited to participate in Mountain Xpress’ Give!Local Guide, Asheville’s easiest path to year-end giving. Mountain Xpress[…]
Read MoreGSMNP Adds DC Fast-Charging to Green Alternatives
October 1, 2015
Superintendent Cassius Cash joined representatives from East TN Clean Fuels Coalition, Land of Sky Clean Vehicles Coalition, US Dept of[…]
Read MoreHigh school interns learn about GSMNP wildlife, staff and programs
September 8, 2015
by Martina Junod Rising Senior, William Blount High School – Maryville, Tenn. The six weeks of the internship for high[…]
Read MoreGone Fishing with Experience Your Smokies
September 5, 2015
The forecast had been calling for rain on Thursday the whole week running up to our second Experience Your Smokies[…]
Read MoreGran Fondo Asheville raises over $53,000 for Great Smoky Mountains National Park
September 1, 2015
The 2015 Gran Fondo Asheville attracted more than 390 cyclists and raised over $53,000 for the Great Smoky Mountains National[…]
Read MoreDragonfly Mercury Project — research initiative for GSMNP high school interns
July 28, 2015
by Bella Weeks Rising Senior Jackson County Early College – Sylva, North Carolina During the Summer Internship with Great Smoky Mountains[…]
Read MoreGSMNP Summer Internship Program provides learning opportunities for high school students
July 14, 2015
by Kyra Mehaffey Rising Senior Pisgah High School – Canton, North Carolina High school students scrambled to get their applications[…]
Read More5 Summer Hikes You’ll Love
July 8, 2015
By Holly Scott Jones, Marketing Director Summer is the perfect time to take a hike! From beginners to expert backpackers,[…]
Read More86th Anniversary of the “Goodwill Tour”
June 9, 2015
On June 9, 1929, staff from the Knoxville News Sentinel and the Asheville Citizen-Times met on top of Clingmans Dome[…]
Read More#FindYourPark Contest Winners
May 5, 2015
For National Park Week (April 18-26), we wanted to celebrate Great Smoky Mountains National Park and this year’s theme, Find Your[…]
Read MoreParks as Classrooms program benefits students, teachers, scientists and GSMNP
April 29, 2015
by Julie Dodd For the students, they are trying out the scientific method in the field – analyzing plants for[…]
Read MoreGroup hikes and hiking workshop provide support for Smokies hiking
March 24, 2015
by Julie Dodd Now is a great time of year for hiking in the Smokies. If you are new to[…]
Read More800,010 reasons to get a Friends license plate
March 10, 2015
by Brent McDaniel In North Carolina and Tennessee, you see specialty license plates all the time while driving down the[…]
Read MoreMaking It Clear: Understanding Water Quality Research
January 6, 2015
Friends of the Smokies has already contributed more than $600,000 to support water quality monitoring in Great Smoky Mountains National[…]
Read MoreRestoring trails and supporting wildlife — FOTS highlights in 2014
December 30, 2014
by Julie Dodd This post shares highlights of some of the Friends of the Smokies projects for the Great Smoky[…]
Read MoreGran Fondo Asheville 2014
September 11, 2014
The first ever Gran Fondo Asheville was held on Sunday, Sept. 7, and it was a huge success, raising over[…]
Read More2014 Friends Across the Mountains Telethon
August 26, 2014
Thank you again for your outpouring of support for our 20th Annual Friends Across the Mountains Telethon. Because of your[…]
Read MoreWelcome our newest Friend, Anna Lee Zanetti
August 20, 2014
Friends of the Smokies is pleased to welcome another addition to its staff, Anna Lee Zanetti as the new Outreach &[…]
Read MoreA Special “Thank You” to Holly Scott
August 12, 2014
Hello Friends, While we normally share scenic photos, hiking trails, and great stories from the park on our blog, I’d[…]
Read MoreIce on the Appalachian Trail vs. Spring flowers in Cades Cove = Smokies Surprises
March 19, 2014
by Holly Scott, Marketing Director When last week’s blog post debuted on Wednesday at 6 a.m., it was 60+ degrees[…]
Read MoreCamping in the Smokies Today (Oct. 16) – What You Need to Know
October 16, 2013
by Holly Scott, Marketing Director Camping in the Smokies Today (Oct. 16th) – Edited This post was written on October[…]
Read MoreGreat Smoky Mountains National Park Open Again
by Holly Scott, Marketing Director Great Smoky Mountains National Park reopened at 8 a.m. today (Oct. 16). That’s right, Cades[…]
Read MoreUPDATED-5 Alternative Hikes for Fall Fun Near the Smokies
October 10, 2013
by Holly Scott, Marketing Director Week 2 of Great Smoky Mountains National Park Shutdown Oops. According to Bryson City, I’m[…]
Read More5 Things You Can Do While Great Smoky Mountains National Park’s Shutdown
October 2, 2013
By Holly Scott, Marketing Director As you may have heard, due to the government shut-down, Great Smoky Mountains National Park[…]
Read MoreSmoky Mountains Parks as Classrooms Program
August 8, 2013
by Holly Scott Friends of the Smokies, Marketing Director More than 20,000 kids every year get to go to school[…]
Read MoreGet Your Banff On in Knoxville
February 27, 2013
by Holly Scott Friends of the Smokies Marketing Director Four years ago on a warm spring evening, my colleague Sarah[…]
Read MoreThe Impact of Your “Friends”
February 8, 2013
by Meridith Powell, Board of Directors, Friends of the Smokies Today, I had a great reminder of why Friends of[…]
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