Educator Trek: Got Elk?

  • 2:00pm Friday, October 23, 2026 - 6:00pm Sunday, October 25, 2026
  • In the Field

bull elk bugling in tall brown grasses

Join us as we search for the majestic elk, reintroduced to the Great Smoky Mountains National Park after an absence of more than 200 years. Observe and learn about elk biology, while also exploring other facets of the Park’s ecosystem. Sample some activities used to document the biodiversity of the Park. Participate in citizen science data collection on snails and lichens. Discover how you can bring the excitement of field research into your classroom.

Credit: 20 contact hours toward CEUs or Criteria II/III for North Carolina’s Environmental Education Certification Program

Lodging: The workshop fee covers a two-night stay in a lodge in Lake Junaluska, NC. Most rooms will be double occupancy.

Transportation: Participants can ride with the group from Raleigh departing at 2pm or meet us at the lodging in Lake Junaluska in the evening. Transportation will be in Museum vans.

Registration: Register now online

The full workshop fee is due when you register and payment is via credit card. Registration for most Educator Treks is on a first-come, first-served basis. Treks fill quickly, so register early! IF you find the program is full when you attempt to register, please sign up for the waiting list! We frequently have turnover and often pull from the waiting list. We will let you know as soon as possible if a spot opens for you.

Note: We do not want cost to be a barrier for any educator. If the cost of this workshop would prevent your participation, please reach out to Megan Davis. The cost of this workshop is subsidized by the Teacher Education fund at the NCMNS. 

 

Details

  • Fee: $160 (includes lodging, some meals, transportation, and classroom resources)
  • Requirements: For educators (includes teachers, administrators, pre-service or substitute teachers; non-formal educators; anyone working on their EE certification)
  • Program Instructor(s): Megan Davis, Rory McCollum
  • Trip Leader: Emma Blackford
  • Activity Level: Moderate (hiking up to two miles on uneven trails)
  • Categories: , , , ,

Details

Start:
October 23 @ 2:00 pm
End:
October 25 @ 6:00 pm
Fee:
$160 (includes lodging, some meals, transportation, and classroom resources)
Event Tags:
, , , , ,

Venue

In the Field

Great Smoky Mountains National Park

Organizer

Megan Davis
919.707.9905