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GSMA and National Park News
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Storybook Trail Returns in October with “A Search for Safe Passage”
Great Smoky Mountains Association’s most recent book release for younger readers will soon be featured on the Storybook Trail of the Smokies—an initiative dedicated to promoting literacy in nature. A partnership between the park, the University of Tennessee Extension Cocke County Office, and educational park partner Great Smoky
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Two dragonfly species recently spotted for the first time in the park
In the past few months, two dragonfly species have been documented for the first time in Great Smoky Mountains National Park. The Little Blue Dragonlet (Erythrodiplax miniscula) and the Calico Pennant (Celithemis elisa) were both known to exist outside the Smokies and only recently recorded inside the park boundary.
“We were
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Save the Date and Save Wildlife
What is it about the humble wall calendar that explains its enduring popularity well into the digital era?
I guess in the same way that physical mail now feels more novel than emails, or our printed photos have become more precious than the thousands of files stored on our phones, a wall calendar hanging in the kitchen or office has a much-appreciated presence we just don’t want to let go of yet. Even if I rarely use mine for actual scheduling purposes, I like to hang one just for its aesthetic qualities and look forward to flipping the page each month.
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Superintendent Cash recognized for leadership by Public Lands Alliance
Last fall Great Smoky Mountains Association nominated Superintendent Cassius Cash for the Public Lands Alliance’s prestigious Agency Leadership Award. On Monday, May 24, PLA recognized him with this honor at its virtual 2021 Public Lands Alliance Partnership Awards.
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Image for the Asking: Little is a Relative Term
“Little” can be a relative term. For example, at an elevation of approximately 5100 feet, in the lofty vicinity of Collins Gap, small streams form on the north slope of Clingmans Dome, the highest point in all of Tennessee.
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Welcome new GSMA Team Member Aaron Searcy
Join us in welcoming Aaron Searcy, who joined the Great Smoky Mountains Association team in January as the new publications associate. A writer, editor and occasional farmhand based in Knoxville, Aaron comes to us fresh from a stint abroad in Australia, where he earned a master’s degree in writing, publishing and poetry from the University of
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GSMA Nominated for Three PLA Partnership Awards
It’s our great pleasure to announce that three Great Smoky Mountains Association projects are in the running for Partnership Awards, a program of the Public Lands Alliance.
The Partnership Awards celebrate the best in public lands partnerships, recognizing individuals, organizations, publications, products, programs and services that embody
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Great Smoky Mountains Association Chooses Sue Wasserman for 2020 Writer's Residency
Great Smoky Mountains Association has announced Sue Wasserman of Burnsville, North Carolina, as the winner of the second annual Steve Kemp Writer’s Residency. A GSMA member, Wasserman learned about the residency from GSMA’s digital newsletter, the Cub Report. Recently she has written two articles for Smokies Life magazine focused on the artists and artisans of the Great Smoky Arts and Crafts Community.
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Great Smoky Mountains Association Marks 2020 with Calendar Showcasing Historic Photographs
GATLINBURG, TN (November 15, 2019) — Great Smoky Mountains Association (GSMA) is proud to present its 2020 Great Smoky Mountains National Park wall calendar, a look back in time through the lenses of gifted Smokies photographers from the pre- and early-park eras. Featuring historic photos carefully selected from park and regional archives, the 12-month calendar shares images taken by such noted photographers as Jim Thompson (1880-1975), Doris Ulmann (1884-1934), George Masa (1881?-1933) and Carlos Campbell (1892-1978).
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Back of Beyond Wins Thomas Wolfe Literary Award
The Western North Carolina Historical Association has named Back of Beyond: A Horace Kephart Biography the winner of the 2019 Thomas Wolfe Memorial Literary Award. Written by George Ellison and Janet McCue, edited by Frances Figart and published by Great Smoky Mountains Association, the book is the 64th winner of this annual recognition of distinction for qualifying works of fiction, nonfiction, drama or poetry.
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