Wilderness Wildlife Week 2021 is going virtual!
Celebrate the natural features, creatures and cultures of the Smokies with online speakers, panels and more fun online content.
Join us as we celebrate the natural features, creatures and cultures of the Great Smoky Mountains—all online. We’ve invited some of the leading wildlife experts to lead informative discussions with you, our virtual outdoor enthusiasts. This is a great opportunity for students to learn and ask questions about nature. We’ll also share all-new content that takes you into the great outdoors from the comfort of your home, guided by our wilderness explorers.
2021 Smokies Through The Lens Photo Contest
Special thanks to everyone who submitted photos this year. Categories, winners and videos of all the great submissions received can be viewed below:
Best in Show: Carolyn Slay (Black & White Images)
View All Winners (Click Here)
Category |
First Place |
All Submissions & Other Winners |
| Wildlife | Clay Thurston |
Click Here |
| Macros | John Parker |
Click Here |
| Scenic Views | Dorothy Baxter |
Click Here |
| Black & White Images | Carolyn Slay |
Click Here |
| Man-Made Landmarks | Susan Ecklund |
Click Here |
Webinar Presentations
Thanks to all of our 2021 Virtual Presenters, and a big thank-you to everyone that tuned in. We are excited to share these sessions with you, and hope you enjoyed them.
For those who missed it, or to watch a session again, each webinar is available below! Click the ‘Watch Now’ links to view sessions individually. You can also check them all out on the Wilderness Wildlife Week Playlist on our YouTube Channel.
For any questions, please email PigeonForgeVirtualEvents@gmail.com.
Tuesday, February 2 |
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Time |
Session Topic |
Presenter(s) |
Registration |
| 9 AM – 10 AM | Though the Mountains Tremble, We Keep Looking Up: Celebrating the Treasures of the Smokies | Ken Jenkins |
Watch Now*First 22 minutes of video has minor audio distortion |
| Join nationally known natural history photographer, writer, lecturer, and outdoor adventurer Ken Jenkins for a look at the Great Smoky Mountains as he shares his experiences connecting with nature and its beauty. | |||
| 10:30 AM – 11:30 AM | Fox Tails: Learn about the Red Fox’s Behaviors, Eating Habits and General Facts Up Close and Personal | Rhonda Goins and Gail Stout |
Watch Now |
| Join Rhonda Goins and Gail Stout of Bays Mountain Park for red fox facts and insights as to how this creature thrives in the Great Smoky Mountains. | |||
| Noon | Virtual Smoky Mountain Field Trip #1 | Little River Railroad Museum |
Watch Now |
| Join our guide Jim Eastin as he introduces you to the Little River Railroad Museum and the history of the Little River Lumber Company and the Little River Railroad in Townsend, Tennessee. | |||
| 1 PM – 2 PM | Birds of Prey Showcase | American Eagle Foundation |
Not Available |
| Join American Eagle Foundation staff members as they share natural history and relevance of birds of prey native to Tennessee and learn more about the habits of these fascinating raptors. | |||
| 2:30 PM – 3:30 PM | The Walker Sisters of Little Greenbrier | Robin Goddard |
Watch Now |
| Join Robin Goddard as she shares stories of the legendary Walker Sisters, who spent their entire lives in a cabin built by their grandfather in the 1840s in Little Greenbrier Cove in the Great Smoky Mountains. | |||
| 4 PM – 5 PM | All About Bears | Joel & Kathy Zachry |
Listen NowVideo not available for this session |
| Join Joel & Kathy Zachry as they share facts and stories about the 1,500 or so black bears that roam the Great Smoky Mountains National Park. | |||
Wednesday, February 3 |
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Time |
Session Topic |
Presenter(s) |
Registration |
| 9 AM – 10 AM | The Wolves of Bays Mountain: The Lives and Behaviors of Wild and Captive Gray Wolves | Rhonda Goins and Gail Stout |
Watch Now |
| Join Rhonda Goins and Gail Stout of Bays Mountain Park as they provide insights into the lives of wolves. | |||
| 10:30 AM – 11:30 AM | Appalachian History and Stories | Jim Bordwine |
Listen NowVideo not available for this session |
| Join “The Salt Maker” Jim Bordwine, whom you may recognize from his appearances on the History Channel, as he brings life to history with his stories of growing up and traversing Appalachia. | |||
| Noon | Live Showcase of Artisans and Crafters | Louise Bales, Jacki Proffitt, and David & Becky Weaver |
Video Available Later this Week |
| Join Cliff Dwellers artist Louise Bales and crafters Jacki Proffitt and Becky & David Weaver as they share their artwork and mountain-crafting skills. | |||
| 1 PM – 2 PM | The Miracle of Metamorphosis | Stephen Lyn Bales |
Watch Now |
| Join naturalist Stephen Lyn Bales as he shares the miracle of the monarch butterfly as it changes from a tiny caterpillar to winged adult to fly away in a matter of weeks. | |||
| 2:30 PM – 3:30 PM | Music of Our American Roots | Lost Mill String Band |
Listen Now |
| Join Lost Mill String Band as they perform a fun mix of songs from our past present. | |||
| 4 PM – 5 PM | Keep Sevier Beautiful: Motivating and Educating Sevier County Residents and Guests to Take Greater Responsibility for Improving Our Community’s Environment | Lisa Bryant |
Watch Now |
| Join Keep Sevier Beautiful Director Lisa Bryant as she shares information on environmental efforts in Sevier County and the Smokies to tackle everything from recycling to kudzu and beyond. | |||
Thursday, February 4 |
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Time |
Session Topic |
Presenter(s) |
Registration |
| 9 AM – 10 AM | Let’s Talk Trash in Bear Country | Joey Holt |
Watch Now |
| Join Joey Holt as he details what happens to black bears when they consume food from dumpsters and garbage cans. More importantly, learn ways to help the black bear by eliminating opportunities like this. | |||
| 10:30 AM – 11:30 AM | American Eagle Foundation’s Raptor Rehabilitation Program: What It Takes to Rehab and Release a Bird of Prey | Nancy Zagaya |
Watch Now |
| Join Nancy Zagaya of the American Eagle Foundation as she shares the various steps to rehabilitate and release a raptor. | |||
| Noon | Virtual Smoky Mountain Field Trip #2 | Cades Cove Museum |
Watch Now |
| Join our friends with the Cades Cove Preservation Association as they introduce you to the Cades Cove Museum and a fascinating look at various Cades Cove residents and their stories. | |||
| 1 PM – 2 PM | Smoky Mountain Kinfolk: Stories & Songs | Mike & Kathy Gwinn |
Watch Now |
| Join Mike & Kathy Gwinn as they perform songs and tell stories of special families in the Great Smoky Mountains and how these families grew strong through life’s hardships and trials. | |||
| 2:30 PM – 3:30 PM | Bobcat Tails: Learn Bobcat Facts and Behaviors Up Close and Personal | Rhonda Goins and Gail Stout |
Watch Now |
| Join Rhonda Goins and Gail Stout of Bays Mountain Park as they provide facts about the illusive bobcat. | |||
| 4 PM – 5 PM | Grandma Gatewood’s Walk: The Inspiring True Story of the Woman Who Saved the Appalachian Trail | Ben Montgomery and Anne Van |
Watch Now |
| Join New York Times bestselling author Ben Montgomery and character actress Anne Van Curen as they share the incredible saga of Emma Gatewood and her life’s impact on the Appalachian Trail and beyond. | |||
Virtual Wilderness Wildlife Week 2021 Sponsors
