Kid activities abound at GSM National Park

Courtesy Great Smoky Mountains NPS.

A trip to Great Smoky Mountains National Park can be an educational experience for kids – though they may be having too much fun to even notice that they’re learning!

The park delivers a variety of great activities that children can participate in from spring through autumn. Among the many offerings:
• Ranger-led events – Programs at several locations throughout the park focus on a range of interests, from wildlife and plants found in the Great Smoky Mountains to preserving local natural and cultural treasures. Among the most popular programs are the daily milling demonstrations at historic Mingus Mill and Cable Mill.
• Junior Ranger Kids – Kids between the ages of 5-12 can become a Junior Ranger. They’ll first need to purchase a Junior Ranger booklet (available online, at any park visitor center or at the Cades Cove or Elkmont campground) and complete its activities, and then they can receive a Junior Ranger badge. A Not-So-Junior Ranger program is available for teenagers (and adults who still fancy themselves kids).
• Summer camps and workshops – Family camps, naturalist workshops, summer camps, hikes, and other adventures are available in the park at the Great Smoky Mountains Institute at Tremont and the Smoky Mountain Field School. Most require advanced registration.

Learn about other great trails at this national park in Best Sights to See at Great Smoky Mountains National Park.