About
Great Smoky Mountains Institute at Tremont is a nonprofit field school situated within Great Smoky Mountains National Park. It offers immersive, nature-based programs that enhance health and spark curiosity across all ages through profound engagement with the natural world.
Program Details
With a mission to connect people with nature, each other, and themselves, Tremont empowers learners of all ages to engage deeply with the natural world. Programs are grounded in place-based, inquiry-driven education that nurtures curiosity, builds confidence, and fosters a sense of stewardship for the environment and community.
Youth Programs
Tremont’s youth programs serve youth ages four and up, offering immersive experiences in the Smokies that often represent a first meaningful connection to the natural world. These include residential field trips (3–5 days) that align with school curriculum and focus on science practices and social-emotional learning. Students participate in hands-on exploration, data collection, and reflection, and they often show remarkable changes in engagement, behavior, and class dynamics.
Specialized youth initiatives include Girls in Science, a sliding-scale summer camp for girls ages 12–15 that immerses participants in field-based science, from observation through data analysis and presentation. The Environmental and Community Leaders Fellowship, a two-year partnership with a local urban high school, also provides teens with mentorship, outdoor experiences in their own neighborhoods and the national park, and pathways into leadership and environmental careers.
Adult Programs
Adult learners can participate in a wide range of programs that support personal growth, wellness, and environmental literacy. One of Tremont’s signature offerings, the Southern Appalachian Naturalist Certification Program (SANCP), provides fundamental and specialty skills in Southern Appalachian ecology and interpretive techniques. Through eight core courses, participants gain hands-on training in field ecology while developing interpretive skills that help them share their knowledge with others. Upon completion, graduates receive the non-credit Southern Appalachian Naturalist Certificate from the University of Tennessee.
In addition, the Tremont Writers Conference offers a nature-based, residential writing workshop that blends literary craft with environmental reflection. Other adult opportunities include seasonal photography workshops, citizen science experiences, and even a nature-based summer camp just for adults. Each program encourages participants to slow down, notice patterns, and reconnect with their innate curiosity.
Educator Professional Development
Tremont supports formal and informal educators through workshops, co-teaching models, and a popular Teacher Escape Weekend series. These programs emphasize experiential learning and provide tools for bringing inquiry-based teaching into the classroom or schoolyard. Educators practice curiosity-driven teaching methods, align them with academic standards, and join a supportive community that values reflection, innovation, and collaboration.
Second Campus and Future Vision
As Tremont reaches capacity on its current campus, a second campus is under development with a bold vision: to meet the Living Building Challenge, the world’s most rigorous standards for regenerative design. Though still in the design phase, the land is already in use for community science, youth and adult programming, and land stewardship. The second campus offers an opportunity to explore how the built environment can support ecosystem health, community engagement, and environmental education at a deeper level. More information and project updates can be found at tremontfuture.org.
Contact tremont@gsmit.org (865) 448-6709 Great Smoky Mountains Institute at Tremont
Populations Served
Youth (ages 4–18), educators, college students, professionals, and adult learners including seniors and creative practitioners.
Services Offered
- Residential environmental education programs for students
- Summer camps for ages 4 and up, including family-focused and adults-only camps
- Community science initiatives
- Professional development for educators
- Southern Appalachian Naturalist Certification program
- Nature-focused arts programming (Tremont Writers Conference, Photography Workshop, Plein Air Smokies)
- Community-based fellowship
- Virtual and in-person educator support networks
Cost to Participate
Costs vary by program. Financial assistance, scholarships, and sliding scale fees are available for many programs, particularly those serving youth and underserved communities.
Staff Composition
Tremont’s staff includes about 30 year-round staff members, including experienced environmental educators, a development team, facilities staff, and administrative leadership. They are supported by about 15 seasonal interns and volunteers. Staff come from diverse backgrounds in education, ecology, creative arts, and nonprofit leadership.
Program Impacts
Tremont 2024 Community Science Report
Taking Teaching Outdoors: Expanding Lesson Plans Far Beyond the Classroom Walls
