One of the exhibits at Wilderness Wildlife Week. Image by Jeaneane Payne

PIGEON FORGE, TN - Nature lovers are encouraged to learn more about the Great Smoky Mountains at Pigeon Forge’s Wilderness Wildlife Week Jan. 5-8 at the LeConte Center at Pigeon Forge. One of the Southeast’s largest gatherings of outdoor experts features four days of workshops, seminars, demonstrations, exhibits, guided hikes and bus tours.

Unique arts and crafts items. Image by Jeaneane Payne

Wilderness Wildlife Week features more than 125 expert-led classes during the four-day event. Content ranges from beginner to advanced with several classes especially for children. All classes and presentations are free; however, attendance is limited in craft classes and workshops. Registration is required for all excursions and will begin Dec. 15 at 10 a.m. Eastern. The complete event schedule and registration is available at www.mypigeonforge.com/event/wilderness-wildlife-week. 

Exhibit by Tennessee Wildlife Resources Agency. Image by Jeaneane Payne

“January brings a slower pace and a distinctly different look to the Great Smoky Mountains, and Pigeon Forge’s Wilderness Wildlife event capitalizes on the winter season to help us all learn more about the Great Smoky Mountains, their diversity and ways to better enjoy our city’s big backyard,” said Leon Downey, executive director of the Pigeon Forge Department of Tourism.

Antique fiddle. Image by Jeaneane Payne

 
A sampling of the variety of nature-related events includes the following (some are offered twice during the event): 

Smoky Mountains Guided Hikes (ranging in difficulty from easy to challenging). A complete hike schedule is available at www.mypigeonforge.com/event/wilderness-wildlife-week).

• Cades Cove
• Cataract Falls
• Sugarlands Cemetery
• Mount Cammerer
• Hen Wallow Falls

Spinning exhibit. Image by Jeaneane Payne

Excursions & Tours

• American Eagle Foundation
• Appalachian Bear Rescue
• Cades Cove Museum & Blount County Museum
• Sam Houston Schoolhouse and Museum

Music—the stories of the Smoky Mountains set to music

• Heaven and Nature Sings presented by Ken Jenkins, Judy Felts and Friends
• Old Songs We Love featuring auto-harpist Brenda Lenz-Dawson
• Tennessee Originals presented by Kathy & Mike Gwinn
• Appalachian Sounds presented on traditional mountain and hammered dulcimers

History—tracing the roots of Appalachia 

• Early Medical Doctors, Clinics and Hospitals in the Smokies presented by Kathy Gwinn
• Geologic History of the Smokies presented by James Wedekind
• A Tribute to the Cherokee People presented by Kathy Gwinn

Spinning exhibit. Image by Jeaneane Payne

Nature Seminars—leading experts spotlight the biodiversity of the Smoky Mountains

• The Appalachian Trail—Hiking the “Green Tunnel” from Georgia to Maine presented by Butch McDade and Brad Knight
• Time Travel Through the Smokies Like a Pro: Fun Park Adventures for the Entire Family presented by Jeff Alt
• My Journey to Hootin’ Holler: A Snuffy Smith Chalk Walk with Cartoonist John Rose
• Discovering Tennessee State Parks presented by J.L. Stepp

Photography Seminars—an exploration of the Great Smoky Mountains through photographs along with expert tips

• What Makes A Good Photograph presented by Douglas Hubbard
• Photography Is Art presented by Chris Rohwer
• Cell phone-ography—Getting the Most from Your Cell Phone Camera presented by photographer Colby McLemore
• Gupton Wetlands—A Wildlife Treasure presented by Clay Thurston
• Methods for Locating and Photographing Wildlife presented by Travis “Hill” Henry

Crafts Especially for Children

• Carve a Nature Stamp (ages 11 to 14)
• Salt Painting
• Make & Write: Natural Inks & Feathered Pens
• Friendship Bracelets
• Thumbprint Designs

How-To Workshops (for all ages) 

• Wood burning
• Pioneer food preservation
• Wildlife bed making
• Gemstone wrapping
• Oil painting
• Jewelry making
• Natural ink making
• Cyanotype printing
• Paper art

For more information, a complete schedule and registration details, visit MyPigeonForge.com.