$100 for the entire day, $30 per class.

Discounts for children, seniors, groups and locals.

Saturday, April 24th 2010 9 AM to 6 PM

To reserve, please call (865) 436-8283 or reserve class online

Remember when you had a sore throat and grandma would make you a soothing cup of tea from herbs in her garden? Ever wonder what she used to make you feel better? What did people use for medicine and food before there were grocery stores? Are those mushrooms deadly or delicious? Can you really eat your weeds? Make new friends while spending a spring day in the Smokies with your guides from A Walk in the Woods. You'll find the answers to those questions and more with our hands on Naturalist interpretive walks and talks.

Bring: day pack, sack lunch, rain gear, walking shoes, water, notebook and pen. Call for a list of recommended field guides.

A list of our classes & times:

“Weed 'em and Reap.” 9 am-noon, 2-5 pm
“We will Rock You...just how old are the Rolling Stones?” 9-11 am
“Birds of a Feather, Birding 101” 9 am-noon
“A Real Fun Guy (Fungi)” 10 am-noon
“Nature is Sense-i-tive! Using your 5 senses to find your place in nature” Noon-2 pm
“Those Flowers are Wild!” Noon-2 pm
“Exploring Nature with Children” 2-4 pm
“Waiter, there's a Weed on my Plate” 4-6 pm
“History Repeats itself, History Repeats itself” 2-4 pm
“I'm Leafing it all up to you, easy and fun tricks to Tree identification” 4-6 pm

“Weed 'em and Reap.” Take an herb identification walk with Herbalist Megan Jones. Try some wild teas and learn how to blend medicinal herbs and teas to enhance your life and nurture your well being! You'll be amazed at the abundance of green medicine found in your own backyard. Take home your own blends at the end of the class. 9 am-noon, 2-5 pm

“We will Rock You...just how old are the Rolling Stones?” Learn to read the age of the rocks and the stories they tell, find signs that point to how the Smoky Mountains were formed and how the landscape is changing today. Join Andrea Price, geologist and hiking guide, for an exploration into the heart of the ancient Smoky Mountains. 9-11 am

“Birds of a Feather, Birding 101” Flock together with expert birder Carey Jones, voice of “Bird songs of the Smokies” CD and learn about the wonderful world of birding! We'll cover the basics of binoculars, field guides, checklists, and Cd's, and then learn the simple steps to identifying birds. Resident birds are common, but so too the many colorful visitors from the tropics. Along the way we'll discuss the miracle of flight and other bird traits, have a hands-on look at a collection of bird nests, and offer ways to attract birds to your yard. 9 am to noon

“A Real Fun Guy (Fungi)” The Smokies may have more species of mushrooms than anywhere else in the world. From the beautiful but deadly Destroying Angel to the deliciously edible and easy to identify Puffball, learn everything you ever wanted to know about the fabulous world of mushrooms with mushroomer and trail guide, Erik Plakanis. 10 am to noon

“Nature is Sense-i-tive! Using your 5 senses to find your place in nature” Naturalist Dana Price takes you on a journey of the senses. We rely on our sight to identify our surroundings but often leave the rest of our senses by the wayside. Sure, you can look at a leaf to identify it but what is the scent of that leaf when crushed? Does a twig from that tree smell the same? What about taste? The forest offers a palate of tastes if we venture to take a sample. Have you ever walked barefoot through a forest? Tune your feet to know if you are still on the trail. And what is that brook babbling about anyway? Stop to listen and you might learn a secret or two. Get in touch with your five senses and maybe even find a sixth! Noon to 2 pm

“Those Flowers are Wild!” This walk offers one of the finest wildflower exhibits in the Smokies. Several varieties of flowers make this an extra special excursion. From fields of flowers to species found only in the Southern Appalachian mountains, Naturalist Vesna Plakanis will take you down a woodland path that leads to a magical world of lush mosses, old trees and a magnificent display of spring wildflowers! Bring your camera! Noon to 2 pm

“Exploring Nature with Children” Give your kids the gift of imagination using nature as inspiration. Spend an afternoon with Naturalist Andrea Price, reconnecting with Nature through fun games designed to awaken enthusiasm, focus attention and gain deeper insights. The kids will play in the earth, explore creeks while looking for salamanders, taste nature's foods and soak up the peace of the woods. This is the cure for Nature Deficit Disorder. 2-4 pm

“Waiter, there's a Weed on my Plate” Walk with Naturalist Vesna Plakanis and learn how to identify and prepare wild foods found in your own backyard. Learn the basics of identifying plants as we explore various types of outdoor settings and what is found there. Learn the nutritional values of wild plants, what the Cherokee and settlers used them for and what modern science has to say. You'll get to sample some foods collected from her yard. 4-6 pm

“History Repeats itself, History Repeats itself” Everything has a story. In the Smokies, there are even ancient echoes from the rocks and trees. Take a stroll through time and listen to some of the tales of the mountains. Before this became a National Park, there was a130 year history of European settlers in these hills. Stories of strife and struggle, joys and celebrations and of daily life alone still linger among the oaks and pines. Even before the first settler family made a home here this was the very heart of the Cherokee Nation. Many tales are long lost yet some live on. Let's open our ears and hear what these old mountains have to tell. Dana Price is a passionate student of the area's history and will love to share it with you on his walk. 2-4 pm

“I'm Leafing it all up to you, easy and fun tricks to Tree identification” The Smokies have over 130 different types of Trees, more than all of Europe. So many of them look similar, how can you tell them apart? On this fun walk, Naturalist Erik Plakanis will introduce you to some of the trees of the area and what makes them special. You'll gain greater knowledge about bark, buds and leaves and the overall personality of the individual trees. You'll use all of your senses as you become an expert on some of the more common trees of the Park and their many uses. Caution: this class has been known to turn participants into tree huggers! 4-6 pm

Rating: For a Full Day Class this is easy.

Half day tour: $150 for first person, $20 each additional.
Full day tour: $250 for first person, $25 each additional. Special group rates available.

Spend some time with expert birder and Naturalist Carey Jones and learn everything you need to know about the wonderful world of birding! We’ll cover the basics of binoculars, field guides, checklists, and CD’s, and then learn the simple steps to identifying birds, including using our ears. Explore various habitats to discover species – from Wood Thrush to Veery, Yellow-throated Warbler to Black-throated Blue. Resident birds are common, but so too the many colorful visitors from the tropics settling in to raise families in the Smokies. Along the way we’ll discuss the miracle of flight and other bird traits, have a hands-on look at a collection of bird nests, and offer ways to attract birds to your yard.

Rating: For a Half Day this is Moderate with Difficult spots.

Have you ever wondered what plants were used for ailments in the days before our modern-day medicines? Take a walk back in time to learn the history, lore and traditional uses of local plants practiced by the Cherokee and early settlers of the area. On this walk, you learn to identify common plants to use at home for anything from arthritis, aches and pains, fevers, influenza, childbirth, insomnia, respiratory disorders, and overall health. Each season showcases different herbs.  You'll be amazed at the abundance of green medicine found in our own backyards.