"Kindness is the light that turns a group of people into a community."

Five days ago, a group of educators arrived at Tremont carrying backpacks, notebooks, coffee cups, questions, excitement, and maybe just a little uncertainty. Some knew each other. Many did not. And yet, somewhere between salamanders and campfires, shared meals and bear sightings, hikes and hard conversations, strangers became friends. It happens every year, and somehow it still feels a little bit like magic.

This week reminded us that community isn't something you find. It's something you build. It grows slowly, like moss on a stone or roots beneath a forest floor. It begins with simple things: an empty seat at a table, a shared story, a helping hand on a trail, an invitation to join the conversation.

We saw it everywhere this week. We saw it in educators cheering each other on when trying something new. We saw it in the exchange of ideas scribbled onto chart paper and journal pages. We saw it when someone offered encouragement, shared a resource, or simply listened. We saw it around campfires, under trees, on porches, and in dining hall conversations that somehow lasted long after dessert was gone. We even saw it during those moments when nobody could agree on the name of a plant and everyone was absolutely convinced they were right.

The mountains have a way of teaching lessons if we're willing to pay attention. This week they reminded us that kindness matters. Not the big, headline-making kind. The everyday kind. The kind that says, "Sit here." The kind that says, "Tell me more." The kind that notices when someone is sitting alone and makes room for them. The kind that turns a group of people into a community.

Our students need that kind of kindness. Our schools need it. Our communities need it. And if we're being honest, grown-ups need it too.

As campers head home, they'll carry lesson ideas, journal pages, books, photographs, and memories. But we hope they carry something else as well: the reminder that community is built in small moments. A smile. A conversation. An act of generosity. A willingness to see one another. Those small moments may not seem important at the time, but they are how communities are built. They are how classrooms are transformed. They are how good humans are grown.

Thank you, Tremont. Thank you, Great Smoky Mountains. Thank you to every camper who arrived with eyes and hearts wide open and left with a few more friends than they had when they arrived.

Week one is officially in the books. Eleven more adventures are waiting down the road. And for those keeping score at home, Steve and I are still smiling and still hugging after five straight days of camp, so we're calling that a win.

​See you down the trail, friends.

"Community is not built by where we live. It is built by how we care for one another."

Today took us into the heart of one of the most beloved places in the Great Smoky Mountains—Cades Cove.

Our morning began with a visit to the historic Primitive Baptist Church, where we learned from Tom, a precious park volunteer, about the families who once called Cades Cove home. While the church itself is beautiful, it was the stories of community that stayed with us. We learned how neighbors worked together, worshiped together, celebrated together, and supported one another through difficult times.

One of the most memorable stories centered on the handprints that can still be seen on the church ceiling. As the roof was being built, the pine sap on the boards was still wet. The men and their young sons who were helping construct the church placed their hands on the ceiling, leaving behind a permanent reminder of their work. More than a century later, those handprints remain—a testament to families building something together and a powerful symbol of a community that cared for one another, shared responsibilities, and invested in a future they would never fully see.

Not long afterward, we experienced one of those unforgettable Smoky Mountain moments. A mama bear and her cub crossed the road right in front of us. Cameras came out quickly, but for a few moments, many of us simply watched in awe. Seeing wildlife in its natural habitat is always a powerful reminder that we are visitors in these special places.

From there, we explored the historic Cable Mill area, wandered through the buildings, learned more about life in the Cove, and enjoyed lunch under the shade of a large tree. There was time for conversations, laughter, and a little shopping too. Campers discovered new stickers, books, shirts, caps, and plenty of treasures to take home as reminders of the week.

Back at Tremont, the afternoon looked a little different for everyone. Some campers headed out on hikes. Others explored streams, tried snorkeling, enjoyed a well-earned ice cream, spent time journaling, rested in hammocks, or simply enjoyed being outdoors with friends. One of the gifts of camp is having the space to choose what fills your cup.

As evening arrived, we gathered once again as educators to think about what comes next. Around tables filled with ideas and experiences, we brainstormed ways to bring more nature into our classrooms, schools, and communities. The conversations were rich, practical, and inspiring—proof that when passionate educators gather together, amazing things happen.

Later, we watched National Parks Adventure, produced by MacGillivray Freeman Films and narrated by Robert Redford. The film celebrated the beauty, history, and significance of our national parks while reminding us why these places matter and why helping others experience them is such important work.

The night continued with something brand new for STEAM in the PARK—our NEW Firefly Ceremony. Surrounded by friends, stories, and glowing lights, we reflected on the connections we have built throughout the week and celebrated the ways each person contributes to our growing Firefly Family.

Today was about community—the kind found in a church built by neighbors, in a camp filled with educators, and around a campfire where strangers become friends.

The people of Cades Cove left their handprints on a ceiling.
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This week, our campers are leaving their handprints on one another's lives.

“Nature speaks in many ways. Today, we practiced listening.”

Day 3 of STEAM in the PARK at Great Smoky Mountains National Park reminded us that learning often begins when we slow down enough to notice.

Our morning started with a Listening Walk led by our incredible ambassadors. With journals in hand and ears tuned to the sounds around us, campers explored what it means to truly pay attention to a place. From birdsong and flowing water to rustling leaves and distant insects, the Smokies offered a soundtrack all their own. They then attached feelings to the sounds they heard.

Later, we headed to the lagoons for one of our most adventurous experiences yet: animal tracking. We searched for clues, examined signs left behind by wildlife, and learned how scientists and naturalists piece together stories from tracks, scat, markings, and other evidence. The hike itself challenged some of our campers. The terrain was not always easy, but we are incredibly proud of everyone who pushed through discomfort, supported one another, and accomplished something that felt difficult. Growth often happens just outside our comfort zones.

After lunch, we shifted our focus to rewilding. Campers explored the landscape looking for native plants such as flame azalea, mountain laurel, rhododendron, bee balm, black-eyed Susan, milkweed, and goldenrod. Along the way, conversations turned toward home. What would it look like to rewild a schoolyard? A backyard? A community space? Small actions can create important habitats, and our campers left inspired to help native plants and pollinators thrive wherever they live.

The afternoon continued with Leave No Trace. Campers learned the seven Leave No Trace principles and then brought them to life through creative skits, songs, and performances. There was plenty of laughter, a little improvisation, and a lot of learning as groups taught one another how to enjoy the outdoors responsibly.

Before dinner, our detectives got to work during the Mystery of the Disappearing Log. Armed with pocket microscopes, observation skills, and a healthy dose of curiosity, campers examined real logs, searched for clues, and worked together to uncover the mystery. Like true naturalists, they learned that every fallen log has a story to tell. Ambassador Beth ended our session by reading "The Invisible Boy" by Trudy Ludwig.

As the sun began to set, Education Director John led a dusky hike through the forest, offering a chance to experience the Smokies during one of the most magical times of day.

The evening concluded with a Cherokee Connection experience developed by Tremont staff, the National Park Service, and the Eastern Band of Cherokee Indians. Campers explored Cherokee timelines, learned about traditional teas, and even tried their hand at catching dinner with a blow dart. Let's just say a few future hunters may need a little more practice, but everyone had fun trying.

Today was filled with listening, observing, wondering, persevering, and connecting. Another day of discovering that some of the best lessons happen when we step outside and let nature become the classroom.
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Eyes and Hearts Wide Open.

"Wonder begins when we stop looking for answers and start asking better questions."

We started the morning with our ambassadors leading some wonderful SEL activities. There was a lot of laughter, a few meaningful conversations, and plenty of opportunities to get to know the people who will be sharing this week together. One of my favorite things about STEAM in the PARK is watching a group of strangers slowly become a community.

We spent much of the day learning alongside Annie and Grayson from Tremont. They challenged us to observe closely, ask questions, and let curiosity lead the way. There weren't many easy answers today, and that was exactly the point. Good science starts with wondering.

One of our favorite investigations focused on salamanders. Great Smoky Mountains National Park is known as the Salamander Capital of the World, and it didn't take long to understand why. We talked about the important role salamanders play in the forest ecosystem and how their presence can tell us a lot about the health of the environment around us. Plus, let's be honest, finding salamanders never gets old.

This afternoon we tried something different with our Sound Map and Soundscape activity. Instead of focusing on what we could see, we focused on what we could hear. The sound of rushing water. Birds calling from the trees. Wind moving through the forest. Insects buzzing nearby. It was a simple activity, but it reminded us just how much we miss when we're always in a hurry.

We also traveled back to 1935 for our CCC LEGO Challenge. Working in crews, campers tackled engineering and conservation challenges inspired by the Civilian Conservation Corps. The CCC played a huge role in shaping the Smokies, building trails, bridges, roads, and structures that are still being used today. Using LEGO bricks, each crew designed and built solutions to their assigned challenge, combining history, creativity, engineering, problem-solving, and teamwork into one project.

Tonight we introduced our Gathering Wall. Throughout the week it will become a place for notes, sketches, observations, questions, quotes, and moments that matter. Right now it's mostly blank, but that's the beauty of it. By Thursday it will tell the story of our week together.

We wrapped up the evening with a Firefly Walk. There is something magical about standing quietly in the dark woods with a group of people who are willing to slow down and simply notice. Although many of the synchronous fireflies had their show last week, we did see synchronous and blue ghost fireflies, and for a little while nobody was worried about schedules, emails, or what comes next.
Just a group of educators gathered in the Smokies, watching fireflies.
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Not a bad way to spend a day.