Standing to the left is Class Coordinator Mike Wetzel and to the right Great Smoky Mountains National Park Liaison Lisa Nagurny
WELCOME to the Class of 2024
The class of 2024 Experience Your Smokies Tennessee gathered Saturday, July 13, 2024, at The Lily Barn, Townsend TN to kick-off this year’s class sessions. Twenty-Five class members, along with Experience Your Smokies board members, guests and Alumni, enjoyed the event with special remarks from Stephanie Kyriazis - Chief of Resource Education (Superintendents Office), Lisa Nagurny - Supervisory Park Ranger (Cades Cove), and Experience Your Smokies Chair Brent Musick (EYS Class of 2019). Class Coordinator is Mike Wetzel (EYS Class of 2017).
Begun in 1999, Experience Your Smokies leadership classes have been conducted each year for the exception of class year 2020. The nonprofit organization reaches across the State of Tennessee and the program gives diverse leaders, hospitality personnel and those with a passion of the Park a unique perspective of the Great Smoky Mountains with behind-the-scenes, hands-on educational experiences related to activities and issues within the park. Class topics include air quality, historic preservation, park wildlife, aquatic life, park management, exotic species and more. Each in their own way, class members come away with a greater appreciation of what is involved in managing the Great Smoky Mountains National Park and challenges by the Park Staff.
Experience Your Smokies Tennessee cultivates committed advocates for the mission of Great Smoky Mountains National Park through immersive education and engagement opportunities.
A collaboration with the Great Smoky Mountains National Park
Experience Your Smokies is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization
Go behind the scenes and truly experience the Great Smoky Mountains National Park. Participate in hands-on, real-life resource management projects and learn about Park wildlife, aquatic life, native and exotic plants, air quality, management, historic preservation and more.
The EYS class topics include wildlife management, fisheries, exotic plants, air quality, historic preservation, park partnerships/volunteers, and resource protection. The topics are covered in six one-half day sessions.
Program Details
The program runs from July and ends with graduation in January.
There are 6 class sessions, each covering a different aspects of Park operations.
Classes consist of approximately 25 participants.
The application period begins January 1st and closes February 20th.
A tuition fee is required and scholarships are available.
General website content photography provided by Jessica Hill, Class of 2016