Wilderness Wildlife Week in Pigeon Forge TN Schedule for Thursday, January 12th, 2012

How fitting that a winter advisory is in effect in Pigeon Forge and Gatlinburg for the 6th day of Wilderness Wildlife Week in the Great Smoky Mountains.

Anyone taking one of the free guided hikes today at Wilderness Wildlife Week, make sure you have hiking boots and be prepared that some of today's hikes may be cancelled.

The program today for Day 6 of Wilderness Wildlife Week Thursday, January 12th, 2012 has some great kids programs, along with black bear and nature programs as well.

Information Desk is open from 7:00 am – 9:00 pm and the Vendor/Exhibit Hall is open from 9:00 am – 6:00 pm. The Cello Room Photography Exhibit is open from 9:00 am – 6:00 pm.

• 8:00 am – 11:00 am: Introduction to Tracking People in the Outdoors. Presented by: Joe Kelley in the Guitar Room.
• 9:00 am – 10:00 am: New Wilderness Wildlife Week Program. A Photo Walk Up the Cove Hardwood Trail. Presented by: Jan Rhodes in the Dobro Room.
• 9:00 am – 10:00 am: New Wilderness Wildlife Week Program. Energy, Effort and Passion: Volunteering in the Great Smoky Mountains National Park. Presented by: Christine Hoyer and Dana Soehn in the Violin Room.
• 9:00 am – 10:30 am: Do It Yourself: Building A Backyard Bird Habitat. Presented by: Mark Dunaway in the Harp Room.
• 10:00 am – 11:00 am: New Wilderness Wildlife Week Program. Arches Along the Way: A Presentation of Arches and Natural Bridges Along Tennessee’s Trails. Presented by: Keith Garnes in the Ukelele Room.
• 10:30 am – 11:30 am: Bluebirds Year Round! Presented by: Steve Garr in the Dobro Room.
• 10:30 am – 11:30 am: O! Possum: Live Animal Show. Presented by: Lynne McCoy in the Violin Room.
• 11:00 am – 12:30 pm: Identifying Local Birds of Prey. Presented by: Stephen Lyn Bales in the Harp Room.
• 11:30 am – 12:30 pm: Where’s Mommy? The Rehabilitation of Orphaned Wildlife. Presented by: Phylis Rollins in the Ukelele Room.
• 11:30 am – 12:30 pm: New Wilderness Wildlife Week Program. Tennessee’s Cumberland Trail: Closing the Gaps and Looking Beyond. Presented by: Warren Devine in the Guitar Room.
• Noon – 1:00 pm: Kids Track Wilderness Wildlife Week Program Ages 6 – 10. Adults welcome. Booger: A Tall Tale of the Mountains. Presented by: Mary Phillips in the Violin Room. Enjoy an adventure with "Booger: A Tall Tale of the Mountains." Children learn the concept of spinning a tall tale, and are encouraged to share in creating new twists and turns, after meeting - Stinking Will, Jack In the pulpit, Wild Rose, and Booger’s cat, Stinker! Kids are introduced to field guide books, and learn to identify and discover the world of native plants.
• 12:30 pm – 1:30 pm: New Wilderness Wildlife Week Program. Learn and Enjoy the Wildflowers in the Smokies. Presented by: Bill Sullivan in the Dobro Room. Photo slideshow presentation about the wildflowers of the Smokies, including medicinal uses and other interesting facts.
• 1:00 pm – 2:00 pm: New Wilderness Wildlife Week Program. Meditations on Nature. Presented by: Phylis Rollins in the Ukelele Room. Through chants, songs, readings and slides of area wildlife and nature, as well as a guided meditation, experience a profound oneness with the natural world.
• 1:00 pm – 2:00 pm: Kids Track Wilderness Wildlife Week Program. Those Ain’t Teddy Bears in Great Smoky Mountains National Park. Presented by: Mike Meldrum in the Breakfast Room. Limit 12. Must pre-register at Information Desk.
• 1:00 pm – 2:30 pm: New Wilderness Wildlife Week Program. The Making of Audubon’s "The Birds of America". Presented by: Stephen Lyn Bales in the Harp Room. Presentation features what it took for Audubon to complete the creation of John James’ Audubon’s "The Birds of America” was one of the greatest achievements in national history.
• 1:30 pm – 2:30 pm: New Wilderness Wildlife Week Program. Kids Track Wilderness Wildlife Week Program. Let’s Make Music! Children’s Workshop: Tony Thomas and Judy Carson in the Violin Room.
• This is a fun-filled FREE workshop for children to learn to play rhythm instruments such as the kazoo, spoons, harmonica, etc. The students will learn to play together to create a rhythm band like in the old days. If students have their own instrument, they are welcome to bring it, otherwise, instruments will be available for purchase for a low price in the Vendors and Exhibitors Room.
• 2:00 pm – 3:00 pm: Native American Stories. Presented by: Robert Redhawk Eldridge in the Dobro Room.
• 2:00 pm – 3:00 pm: Kids Track Wilderness Wildlife Week Program. Wild Wonders. Presented by: Knoxville Zoo Bird Show in the Guitar Room.
• 2:30 pm – 3:30 pm: New Wilderness Wildlife Week Program. Civil War in the West, 1861. Presented by: Jack Carman in the Ukelele Room.
• 2:30 pm – 3:30 pm: New Wilderness Wildlife Week Program. Kids Track Wilderness Wildlife Week Program. Hands-On History: Let’s Play Marbles!: Old-Fashioned Marble Games. Presented by: Pat K. Thomas in the Breakfast Room. Limit 15. Must pre-register at Information Desk.
• 3:00 pm – 4:00 pm: Bears 101: Their Lives and Interactions with Humans. Presented by: Anne Allison and Kathy Sherrard in the Harp Room.
• 3:00 pm – 4:00 pm: New Wilderness Wildlife Week Program. Music of Appalachia: Past and Present. Presented by: Lost Mill String Band in the Violin Room.
• 3:30 pm – 4:30 pm: New Wilderness Wildlife Week Program. Cherokee Orchard Remembered. Presented by: Theresa Williams in the Dobro Room.
• 3:30 pm – 5:00 pm: New Wilderness Wildlife Week Program. Phillips 66, Avon Calling and Monkey Wards: What’s in a Name? Presented by: Kathy Gwinn in the Guitar Room.
• 4:00 pm – 6:00 pm: New Wilderness Wildlife Week Program. Hiking the John Muir Trail. Presented by: Bert Kunze in the Ukelele Room.
• 4:30 pm – 5:30 pm: New Wilderness Wildlife Week Program. Recreation vs. Conservation of Waterways. Presented by: Nantahala Outdoor Center in the Harp Room.
• 4:30 pm – 5:30 pm: New Wilderness Wildlife Week Program. Old Time Hymns. Presented by: Don Huskey, Marcia Huskey Nelson and Roger Helton in the Violin Room. These songs of praise are the songs you sang as a child. They filled the little one room churches of the Smokies in earlier times.
• 4:30 pm – 5:30 pm: New Wilderness Wildlife Week Program. Clawhammer Banjo for Beginners, Workshop II: Boogertown Gap and Keith Watson in the Breakfast Room. Must bring own five string banjo and have it tuned to key of ",G", Limit 10. This is part two of a two-part class. Must pre-register at Information Desk for both classes.
• 5:30 pm – 6:30 pm: New Wilderness Wildlife Week Program. Bears, Boars and Bulls! 30 Years Managing the Wildlife of the Smokies. Presented by: Kim Delozier in the Guitar Room.
• 6:00 pm – 7:00 pm: New Wilderness Wildlife Week Program. Bears: What to Know When Walking in Their Woods. Presented by: Joel and Kathy Zachry in the Dobro/Harp Rooms.
• 6:00 pm – 7:00 pm: Old Hymns and Songs of Faith. Presented by: Whaley Family Singers in the Violin Room.
• 6:00 pm: Saturday Hike Sign ups – Holiday Inn Express.
• 7:30 pm: New Wilderness Wildlife Week Program. The Spiritual Side of Nature. Presented by: Chuck Summers and Ken Jenkins in the Dobro/Harp Rooms.
• 8:00 pm: Lore of the Moon and Stars. Presented by: Stuart Carroll in the Violin Room.

As with all winter storms, if the weather deteriates too much, please go back to your cabin where you can enjoy the warmth of the hot tub or fireplace and still enjoy a winter fantasy in the Smokies.