- This event has passed.
Great Smokies Eco-Adventure
Sun., April 21, 12:00 pm-Tue., April 23, 4:00 pm
“Time in nature has been proven to be not only beneficial, but also essential to our overall health and well-being,” said Jaimie Matzko, DLiA biodiversity program specialist. “We think of these trips as an opportunity for people to unplug and ‘adopt the pace of nature’ for a few days.”
“As a former backpacking and adventure guide in Great Smoky Mountains and Everglades National Park, I’ve witnessed firsthand the incredible impact that even just a few days immersed in the natural world can have on someone,” Matzko said. “And I can’t imagine a better time to escape in the Smokies than during peak wildflower season in April.”
All proceeds from the Great Smokies Eco-Adventure 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. So far, only around 21,800 species have been officially identified by scientists, opening up opportunities for discovery on each and every outing.
Tickets for the 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 has been extended to April 8 or when all tickets are sold. For more information about the event, visit dlia.org/spring-adventure-2024.
Discover Life in America’s mission is connecting communities and scientists in discovering, understanding, and conserving the natural world. DLiA’s flagship project, the ATBI (All Taxa Biodiversity Inventory), is a joint effort with the National Park System to identify and understand every species within Great Smoky Mountains National Park. To date, DLiA has helped add 12,083 species to the inventory of life in the park, including 1,079 that are new to science.