Fall glamping Eco-Adventure supports biodiversity nonprofit

Fall glamping Eco-Adventure supports biodiversity nonprofit

Fall glamping Eco-Adventure supports biodiversity nonprofit

As the lush green hues of summer fade, yielding to the crisp crimson colors of autumn, the Great Smoky Mountains undergo a breathtaking transformation.

Under the canopy, golden sunlight filters through a kaleidoscope of leaves, casting a warm, ethereal glow on the landscape. Small animals ‘shuffle-crunch-snap’ through the leaf litter, gathering fallen nuts and overripe berries in preparation for the long winter ahead.

This year, amid the commotion of critters and tucked into the mountains’ marbled mosaic, one small group will discover all that’s alive and active at the height of foliage season on the first fall Great Smokies Eco-Adventure.

Organized by Discover Life in America, a nonprofit partner of the park, each Great Smokies Eco-Adventure puts deeper connections with nature at the forefront.

Organized by Discover Life in America, a nonprofit partner of the park, each Great Smokies Eco-Adventure puts deeper connections with nature at the forefront — encouraging adventurers to explore biodiversity by finding, identifying, and learning about species in their natural habitats.

“Instead of focusing on the hike’s destination, these experiences center around the discoveries made along the way,” said DLiA Executive Director Todd Witcher. “Each day is a new adventure to explore the Smokies and its incredible biodiversity. And while the focus of the trip is to provide an in-depth experience for nature enthusiasts, we have a lot of fun too.”

The new fall adventure, held Oct. 29-31, is an expansion of the “glamping” (glamorous camping) program that DLiA has organized each spring for the last three years. Each eco-adventure experience includes off-the-grid lodging, gourmet food and drink, and guided nature hikes. It also doubles as a fundraiser for DLiA, supporting vital research on biodiversity in the national park.

“Spring is nature waking up. Spring is about growth and new birth,” said Jaimie Matzko, biodiversity program specialist for DLiA. “In the fall, it’s a totally different world. There’s so much activity. Sure, we love seeing beautiful fall colors — it’s the most popular time to visit the park for a reason — but it’s also such a great time to enjoy one of nature’s greatest transitions, to watch as each species gets ready for this slower time of year.”

Adventurers will spend their evenings and nights “glamping” at Camp Atagahi, a premiere off-the-grid luxury camping facility.

Adventurers will spend their evenings and nights “glamping” at Camp Atagahi, a premiere off-the-grid luxury camping facility.

Eco-adventures have proven to be popular with those who love the outdoors: avid naturalists, solo travelers, camping couples, and families with teens. Limited to just 15 participants per season, the small group setting provides ample time for individuals to ask questions, learn from, and chat with the expert guides.

More: Word from the Smokies: Community scientists discover 70-plus new Smokies species

More: Word from the Smokies: DLiA brings aspiring naturalists together for eco-adventure

Adventurers spend their days exploring the wilds of the Smokies on expert-led nature hikes and their evenings and nights “glamping” at Camp Atagahi, a premiere off-the-grid luxury camping facility owned and operated by partner organization A Walk in the Woods. Evening activities include a night walk to learn about nocturnal life in the mountains and time around the campfire with new friends. All hikes and programs are led by DLiA staff: Will Kuhn, science and research director and entomologist; and Matzko, a recipient of REI Adventures’ “Top Guide of North America” award.

Serving as REI Co-op’s Signature Camp for excursions in the area, Camp Atagahi is tucked into the woods along a babbling creek near Cosby, Tennessee, just east of Gatlinburg and bordering Great Smoky Mountains National Park. Here, eco-adventurers stay in spacious tents atop wooden platforms outfitted with cozy camping cots for each guest. Though participants are invited to “unplug” at this off-grid outpost, they won’t be roughing it.

Camp Atagahi, owned and operated by partner organization A Walk in the Woods, is tucked into the woods along a babbling creek near Cosby, Tennessee, just east of Gatlinburg and bordering Great Smoky Mountains National Park.

Camp Atagahi, owned and operated by partner organization A Walk in the Woods, is tucked into the woods along a babbling creek near Cosby, Tennessee, just east of Gatlinburg and bordering Great Smoky Mountains National Park.

“Since the last day of the trip is on Halloween, the fall Eco-Adventure will be the perfect time to connect with some of the park’s more stereotypically ‘spooky’ creatures,” Matzko said. Bats, for example, “are out hunting at dusk, flying around and using echolocation — so we’ll be breaking out our new bat detector to record and identify different species through sonar. We’ll also go out after dark to look for millipedes and other creatures with UV flashlights, which let us see plants and animals in a totally different way. Millipedes, spider eyes, certain mushrooms, salamanders — you’d be surprised how many species fluoresce in the dark!”

Later in the evening, between sips of cocoa and illuminated by the glow of the campfire, participants can call to the barred owls in the treetops.

“After we’ve eaten dinner, we’re hanging around the fire before bed — it’s a great time to get people outside of their comfort zones a bit,” Matzko said. “I’ll do my best owl call, encourage others to try themselves, and it’s always kind of fun to see if we can get anything to answer back. Sometimes the owls start calling before we even get a chance to all say ‘hello.’”

All proceeds from the Great Smokies Eco-Adventure help support DLiA, a Gatlinburg-based nonprofit that aims to identify, catalog, and observe the park’s estimated 60,000-plus species.

All proceeds from the Great Smokies Eco-Adventure help support DLiA, a Gatlinburg-based nonprofit that aims to identify, catalog, and observe the park’s estimated 60,000-plus species.

More: Word from the Smokies: 21,183 species, and Discover Life in America keeps on discovering

More: Word from the Smokies: Parks association connects veterans to the outdoors

All proceeds from the Great Smokies Eco-Adventure help support DLiA, a Gatlinburg-based nonprofit that aims to identify, catalog, and observe the park’s estimated 60,000-plus species through its flagship project, the All Taxa Biodiversity Inventory. Currently, less than half of that approximate number, 21,669, has been officially identified by park scientists, opening up opportunities for discovery on each and every outing.

Tickets for the fall 2023 Great Smokies Eco-Adventure are $950 per person, which includes all food (including vegan and gluten-free options) and libations, glamping accommodations, entertainment, and transportation during the event. Tickets are limited, so those interested are encouraged to reserve their spots soon, as trips often sell out.

Registration closes on Oct. 9 or when all tickets are sold. For more information about the event, visit dlia.org/event/fall-smokies-eco-adventure.

Hayley Benton

Hayley Benton

Hayley Benton is the content manager for Elly Wells Marketing and Project Management, an Asheville firm working with two of the nonprofit partners to Great Smoky Mountains National Park: Discover Life in America and Great Smoky Mountains Association, which provides this column. Reach her at hayley@ellywells.com.

This article originally appeared on Asheville Citizen Times: Word from the Smokies: Fall adventure supports biodiversity nonprofit

from news.yahoo.com Source link

[2023-09-18 13:55:27

Related posts

5 perfect glamping spots in the UAE

5 perfect glamping spots in the UAE

5 perfect glamping spots in the UAE With the UAE winter season upon us, glamping is the perfect solution to unwind and... Read More

Jozi’s chicest camping: 5 glamping gems to discover

Jozi’s chicest camping: 5 glamping gems to discover

Jozi’s chicest camping: 5 glamping gems to discover bsorah_camp Picture: Instagram If you’re searching for glamping spots near Johannesburg, we have some... Read More

From glamping in Wales to partying at Butlins – 5 top…

From glamping in Wales to partying at Butlins – 5 top…

From glamping in Wales to partying at Butlins – 5 top… DECEMBER is drawing closer – and with the festive season fully... Read More

Join The Discussion

Search

December 2024

  • M
  • T
  • W
  • T
  • F
  • S
  • S
  • 1
  • 2
  • 3
  • 4
  • 5
  • 6
  • 7
  • 8
  • 9
  • 10
  • 11
  • 12
  • 13
  • 14
  • 15
  • 16
  • 17
  • 18
  • 19
  • 20
  • 21
  • 22
  • 23
  • 24
  • 25
  • 26
  • 27
  • 28
  • 29
  • 30
  • 31

January 2025

  • M
  • T
  • W
  • T
  • F
  • S
  • S
  • 1
  • 2
  • 3
  • 4
  • 5
  • 6
  • 7
  • 8
  • 9
  • 10
  • 11
  • 12
  • 13
  • 14
  • 15
  • 16
  • 17
  • 18
  • 19
  • 20
  • 21
  • 22
  • 23
  • 24
  • 25
  • 26
  • 27
  • 28
  • 29
  • 30
  • 31
0 Adults
0 Children
Pets
Size
Price
Amenities
Facilities

Compare listings

Compare

Compare experiences

Compare

Group order request