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Nature Events: Festivals, Rallies, and Classes
Wildlife festivals, Naturalist rallies, Nature-related classes and other nature events provide opportunities to get out in nature with others of similar interests. It also provides the chance to learn from professional and amateur naturalists who happily share their knowledge. These events will increase your knowledge and abilities to understand nature, which will increase your joy of being in nature.
We have learned of these events primarily by word-of-mouth. It has surprised us when talking to others attending an event when they are unaware of similar events in the area. This list was developed to help spread the word.
The basic information listed below is a starting point for your nature exploration. Visit the website or contact event leaders to learn more about what you can expect when you attend.
This list will be updated often as additional information becomes available.
Please feel free to contact us if you know of an event our visitors would enjoy.
| Date | Event | Location |
|---|---|---|
| January | ||
| 9-16 January 2010 |
20th Annual Wilderness Wildlife Week Walks, hikes, seminars and lectures about the outdoors by over 100 experts. Pigeon Forge Wilderness Week |
Great Smoky Mountains National Park, Eastern Tennessee |
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| February | ||
| 12-14 February 2010 |
Southeastern Wildlife Exposition (SEWE) Wildlife art and nature event. Southeastern Wildlife Exposition (SEWE) |
Charleston, S.C. Coastal South Carolina |
| 13 February 2010 |
3rd Annual Roan Mountain Winter
Naturalists' Rally A great break when cabin fever begins to set in. Morning talks, catered lunch, and afternoon hikes. Friends of Roan Mountain |
Roan Mtn State Park Northeast Tennessee |
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| March | ||
| 6, 7, 13, 21, 27 March 2010 | Field Courses: Explore trees and
shrubs in the pre-leaf season; tracking & nature observations;
examine emerging vegetation throughout the park; Polliwogs,
Eggs, and Singing Frogs. Great Smoky Mountains NP and Univ.of
Tenn.-Smoky Mountain Field School. Smoky Mountain Field School – March 2010 |
Great Smoky Mountains NP, Eastern Tennessee |
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| April | ||
| 10, 17 April 2010 | Field courses: Observe amphibians and
reptiles in their natural habitats; incredible edibles and
medicinal plants; wildflower & nature photography; the “perfect
hike”; waterfalls with your children. Great Smoky Mountains NP
and Univ.of Tenn.-Smoky Mountain Field School. Smoky Mountain Field School - April 2010 |
Great Smoky Mountains NP, Eastern Tennessee |
| 17-18 April 2010 | 10th Annual Virginia Fly Fishing
Festival Free lectures and tips on fly fishing. Virginia Fly Fishing Festival |
Waynesboro, VA. Shenandoah Valley of Virginia |
| 17-18 April 2010 | Seventh “perennial” Trails & Trilliums A 2-day event which includes a native plant sale, workshops, speakers, a garden tour, guided walks, hikes, a Green Art exhibit, and Kids & Kritters events for young naturalists. Trails & Trilliums Home |
Southeast Tennessee Sewanee, Tennessee |
| April 21-25, 2010 | 60th Annual Spring Wildflower Pilgrimage Seven-day event of wildflower, fauna, and natural history walks, motorcades, photographic tours, art classes, and indoor seminars. Spring Wildflower Pilgrimage |
Great Smoky Mountains National Park, Eastern Tennessee |
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| May | ||
| 1, 2, 8, 9, 22, 29, 30 May 2010 |
Field courses: Life of the black bear; geology of the Smokies;
hike through an old growth forest; learn about spring
wildflowers and the “Sisters” who lived off the land; birding;
Mt. LeConte Hike and overnight in the Lodge; fly fishing;
wildflowers and ferns; backpacking. Great Smoky Mountains NP and
Univ.of Tenn.-Smoky Mountain Field School. Smoky Mountain Field School - May 2010 |
Great Smoky Mountains National Park, Eastern Tennessee |
| 7-8 May 2010 |
2010 Mount Rogers Naturalist Rally Fri. Night Keynote Speaker: Kevin Hamed Sat: Nature field trips, morning and afternoon. Mount Rogers Naturalist Rally |
Konnarock, Southwest Virginia |
| 7-9 May 2010 |
52nd Annual Roan Mtn. Spring Naturalists'
Rally Speakers Fri & Sat Nights Sat & Sun: Nature field trips Friends of Roan Mountain |
Roan Mtn State Park Northeast Tennessee |
| 21-23 May 2010 |
6th Annual Mountain Lake Migratory
Bird Festival
Keynote Speaker: Julie Zikefoose Mountain Lake Migratory Bird Festival |
Mountain Lake, VA. Mountains of Western Virginia |
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| June | ||
| 3, 5, 12, 19, 20, 26, 27 June 2010 |
Field courses: Firefly light show;
nature sketching; salamanders; visual tracking; day hike to Mt.
LeConte; incredible edibles and medicinal plants; wildflowers,
ferns, and ecology of Roan Mtn.; fly fishing; basic and
intermediate photography for naturalists. Great Smoky Mountains
NP and Univ.of Tenn.-Smoky Mountain Field School. Smoky Mountain Field School - June 2010 |
Great Smoky Mountains National Park, Eastern Tennessee |
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| July | ||
| 10, 17, 24, 31 July 2010 |
Field courses: Amphibians and
reptiles; edible and poisonous fungi; rare mountain bogs of
Upper East Tenn.; salamanders; search and rescue management;
mosses and liverworts. Great Smoky Mountains NP and Univ.of
Tenn.-Smoky Mountain Field School. Smoky Mountain Field School - July 2010 |
Great Smoky Mountains National Park, Eastern Tennessee |
| 24 July-8 August 2010 | Virginia Highlands Festival- Abingdon,
Virginia Great Outdoors Virginia Creeper Trail bike rides, forestry tours, naturalist walks, stargazing, wildflower walks, cave exploring, day hikes, and much more. Great Outdoors |
Southwest Virginia |
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| August | ||
| 24 July-8 August 2010 | Virginia Highlands Festival- Abingdon,
Virginia Great Outdoors Virginia Creeper Trail bike rides, forestry tours, naturalist walks, stargazing, wildflower walks, cave exploring, day hikes, and much more. Great Outdoors |
Southwest Virginia |
| 14-31 August 2010 |
Rockfish Gap
Hawk Watch 2010 Kickoff-August 14 |
Central Virginia |
| 28 August 2010 | Field courses: incredible edibles and
medicinal plants. Great Smoky Mountains NP and Univ.of
Tenn.-Smoky Mountain Field School. Smoky Mountain Field School - August 2010 |
Great Smoky Mountains National Park, Eastern Tennessee |
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| September | ||
| September 2010 | Rockfish Gap Hawk Watch | Central Virginia |
| 18, 19, 25, 26 September 2010 | Field courses: Introduction and advanced map
and compass; Smoky Mountain day hike; draw closer to nature
through Earth Kinship; elk in the Smokies; a day with a
naturalist; butterflies and flutterbies. Great Smoky Mountains
NP and Univ.of Tenn.-Smoky Mountain Field School. Smoky Mountain Field School - September 2010 |
Great Smoky Mountains National Park, Eastern Tennessee |
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| October | ||
| October 2010 | Rockfish Gap Hawk Watch | Central Virginia |
| 2, 9, 16, 23, 24, 30, 31 October 2010 |
Field courses: Cataloochee Ghost Town
Hike; edible and poisonous fungi; fruit, foliage, and fall
wildlife; incredible edibles and medicinal plants; day hike to
Mt. LeConte; fall nature photography; animal tracking and nature
observation; Mt. LeConte hike and overnight in the Lodge. Great
Smoky Mountains NP and Univ.of Tenn.-Smoky Mountain Field
School. Smoky Mountain Field School - October 2010 |
Great Smoky Mountains National Park, Eastern Tennessee |
| 23, 24 October 2010 | Field courses: Charit Creek hike and
overnight lodge. Great Smoky Mountains NP and Univ.of
Tenn.-Smoky Mountain Field School. Smoky Mountain Field School - October 2010 |
Big South Fork National River and Recreation Area. Tennessee/Kentucky border |
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| November | ||
| Thru mid-Nov 2010 | Rockfish Gap Hawk Watch | Central Virginia |
| 9-14 November 2010 | 14th Annual Wings Over Water Festival
Celebrating the Wildlife & Wildlands of Eastern North Carolina. Hikes, trips, and kayaking to explore the birds, flora, and scenery of the area. Learn nature photography, including classes for children. Wings Over Water |
Eastern North Carolina |
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| December | ||
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