Wilderness Wildlife Week Day 8 Saturday, January 14th, 2012

Quite cold on the last day of Wilderness Wildlife Week taking place in the Pigeon Forge Smoky Mountains, but that should not stop you from having a great time for free.

Some specials treats today include local commercial and landscape photographer Eric Gebhart will be offering a class on Macro for beginners and Kris H. Light will be presenting a class on Snowflake Photography.

Wilderness Wildlife Week 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 – 3:00 pm. 2nd Annual SMOKIES THROUGH THE LENS will take place in the Violin and Guitar Rooms from 9:00 am – 7:00 pm. Photography Contest Pickup in the Cello Room: 3:00 pm – 6:00 pm.

Todays schedule will be:

• 9:00 am – 10:00 am: The Appalachian Trail: An Entertaining Adventure. Presented by: Jeff Alt in the Dobro Room.
• 9:00 am – 10:00 am: New Wilderness Wildlife Week Program. Macro Photography for Beginners. Presented by: Eric Gebhart in the Guitar Room.
• 9:00 am – 1:00 pm: Nature Photography and Creativity Workshop. Presented by: Kendall Chiles, Don McGowan and Warren Bedell in the Violin Room.
• 9:30 am – 10:30 am: Wild Hog Management: Are We Too Late? Presented by: David Whitehead in the Harp Room.
• 10:00 am – 11:00 am: New Wilderness Wildlife Week Program. Weather Signs. Presented by: Ila Hatter in the Ukelele Room. Program centers on knowing how to "read the signs" for a change in weather. Very useful for hikers and campers.
• 10:15 am – 11:15 am: Kids Track Wilderness Wildlife Week Program. The Smoky Mountain Adventures of Bubba Jones. Presented by: Jeff Alt in the Dobro Room. A fun and interactive program for both kids and parents packed with expert hiking and camping tips.
• 10:30 am – 11:00 am: New Wilderness Wildlife Week Program. Jewels from the Sky: Snowflake Photography. Presented by: Kris H. Light in the Guitar Room.
• 11:30 am – 12:30 pm: New Wilderness Wildlife Week Program. Editing Strategies: Taking Control of Your Photo Viewer’s Attention Through Photo Editing. Presented by: Colby McLemore in the Guitar Room.
• 11:30 am – 1:00 pm: New Wilderness Wildlife Week Program. Journey on the Camino de Santiago, Spain: Olga Pader in the Ukelele Room. The Camino de Santiago has attracted pilgrims since the Middle Ages on a journey through space and time culminating in the cathedral in the city of Santiago de Compostela. The Camino meanders through mountains, forests, ancient villages, modern cities, as well as Roman and Celtic ruins, all the way to Finisterre, the end of the medieval Earth on the Atlantic Ocean.
• 11:45 am – 12:45 pm: Kids Track Wilderness Wildlife Week Program. Silly Safari Show. Presented by: Amazon John in the Dobro/Harp Rooms.
• 1:00 pm – 2:00 pm: Adobe Lightroom: Easy-To-Learn Editing Software that Can Dramatically Improve Your Photos. Presented by: Colby McLemore in the Guitar Room.
• 1:00 pm – 2:00 pm: Kids Track Wilderness Wildlife Week Program. Ages 10 and under. Young Artists’ Coloring Session. Presented by: Louise Bales in the Breakfast Room. Limit 20. Must pre-register at Information Desk.
• 1:30 pm – 2:30 pm: New Wilderness Wildlife Week Program. Highpointing the U.S.: The Highest Points in the 50 States. Presented by: Stoney Burke in the Harp Room.
• 1:30 pm – 2:30 pm: New Wilderness Wildlife Week Program. That Magnificent Army of Youth and Peace: The Civilian Conservation Corps and the Great Smoky Mountains National Park. Presented by: Harley E. Jolly and Stuart Jolley in the Ukelele Room.
• 1:30 pm – 2:30 pm: New Wilderness Wildlife Week Program. Photoshop Tips and Tricks for Nature Photographers. Presented by: Larry Perry in the Violin Room.
• 1:30 pm – 3:00 pm: New Wilderness Wildlife Week Program. Out of the Dark: A True History of the White Caps and Blue Bills: At Last This Long Repressed History of Outrageous Depravity and Unsurpassed Heroism in This Region’s History Can Be Talked About in Public. Presented by: Don Williams in the Dobro Room.
• 2:30 pm – 3:30 pm: New Wilderness Wildlife Week Program. ProShowGold: Taking Your Photos and Videos to the Next Level. Presented by: Harry Dunn in the Guitar Room.
• 2:30 pm – 3:30 pm: New Wilderness Wildlife Week Program. Kids Track Wilderness Wildlife Week Program. Hands-On History: Let’s Make Toys!. Presented by: Pat K. Thomas in the Breakfast Room. Limit 12. Must pre-register at Information Desk.
• 3:00 pm – 4:00 pm: New Wilderness Wildlife Week Program. Civil War in the West, 1863. Presented by: Jack Carman in the Harp Room.
• 3:00 pm – 4:00 pm: Kids Track Wilderness Wildlife Week Program. Hug A Tree and Survive. Presented by: Joey Holt in the Ukelele Room.
• 3:00 pm – 4:00 pm: New Wilderness Wildlife Week Program. Photography on the Go: Your Traveling Photography Kit. Presented by: Jan Rhodes in the Violin Room.
• 3:00 pm – 6:00 pm: Photography Contest Pickup in the Cello Room.
• 3:30 pm – 4:30 pm: Learn to Play the Spoons, Fiddlesticks and Washtub Bass. Presented by: Boogertown Gap in the Dobro Room.
• 4:00 pm – 5:00 pm: New Wilderness Wildlife Week Program. Kids Track Wilderness Wildlife Week Program. Photography for Kids and Parents: Jim Eastin in the Guitar Room.
• 4:00 pm – 5:30 pm: New Wilderness Wildlife Week Program. Kids Track Wilderness Wildlife Week Program. Stichin’ and Laughin’ with the Quiltin’ Granny. Presented by: Sabrina Gray in the Breakfast Room. Limit 20: Children Ages 6 – 10 Parental Guidance Required. Must pre-register at Information Desk.
• First 30 minutes of class features the Quiltin’ Granny relating historical and humorous quilting stories and songs. The following hour consists of a take-home project of making a quilt piece. Adults welcome for first 30 minutes of program.
• 4:30 pm – 5:30 pm: New Wilderness Wildlife Week Program. Purple Martins and Other Native Swallows. Presented by: Steve Garr in the Harp Room.
• 4:30 pm – 5:30 pm: A Year in the Life of a Bear. Presented by: David Whitehead in the Ukelele Room.
• 4:30 pm – 5:30 pm: New Wilderness Wildlife Week Program. Intermediate Photography: Pushing from Snapshots to More Complex Shots. Presented by: Eric Gebhart in the Violin Room.
• 5:00 pm – 6:00 pm: New Wilderness Wildlife Week Program. Songs of the Carter Family. Presented by: Tony Thomas and Judy Carson in the Dobro Room.
• 5:30 pm – 6:30 pm: Create A Photo Slideshow in 15 Minutes for FREE!. Presented by: Jim Eastin in the Guitar Room.
• 6:00 pm – 7:00 pm: New Wilderness Wildlife Week Program. Composing Like A Master. Presented by: Ron Plasencia in the Violin Room.
• 7:00 pm: New Wilderness Wildlife Week Program. Impact of a Beautiful Scene. Presented by: Ken Jenkins in the Dobro/Harp Rooms.

Day 7 of the Wilderness Wildlife Week programs in Pigeon Forge on Friday, January 13th, 2012

Snow! Coming in from out of town to participate in Wilderness Wildlife Week taking place in Pigeon Forge Tennessee? Well avoid US 441 Newfound Gap Road which is closed due to snow and ice on the roadway.

A winter advisory is still in effect today until noon that should not stop you from enjoying the Wilderness Wildlife Week indoor programs even if you do not like hiking in snow. It is possible that some guided hikes will be cancelled today.

Must see events today include Robert Redhawk Eldridge presenting the History of the Overhill Cherokee from 1770 - 1838, Todd Witcher from Discover Life in America teaching about The Smokies All Taxa Biodiversity Inventory Project and photographer Don McGowan lecture and presentation on Walking in the Beauty of the Natural World.

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.

• 7:00 am – 11:00 am: Managing the Search Function: Study Some of the Smokies Most Famous Search and Rescue Operations. Presented by: Joe Kelley and Bob Swabe in the Guitar Room.
• 8:30 am – 9:30 am: The Amazing Diversity of Fall Creek Falls State Park. Presented by: Stuart Carroll in the Harp Room. Located over on the Cumberland Plateau, Fall Creek Falls State Park is one of Tennessee’s most beautiful and diverse state parks.
• 9:00 am – 10:00 am: New Wilderness Wildlife Week Program. Nature Recording in the Smokies. Presented by: Mark A. Dunaway in the Ukelele Room.
• 9:30 am – 10:30 am: Ijams Family Legacy in the Smokies. Presented by: Paul James in the Violin Room.
• 9:30 am – 10:30 am: Introduction to the Acoustic Guitar. Presented by: Tony Thomas in the Dobro Room.
• 10:00 am – 11:00 am: New Wilderness Wildlife Week Program. Butterflies: Flying Flowers in the Garden. Presented by: Kris H. Light in the Harp Room. Learn about East Tennessee’s native butterflies, their life cycles and how to attract them to your garden.
• 10:15 am – 11:45 am: New Wilderness Wildlife Week Program. Bird Songs of the Smokies. Presented by: Mark A. Dunaway in the Ukelele Room.
• 11:00 am – Noon: New Wilderness Wildlife Week Program. The History of the Overhill Cherokee from 1770 – 1838. Presented by: Robert Redhawk Eldridge in the Violin Room. Robert Redhawk Eldridge covers the history of the Cherokee Indians of East Tennessee and North Georgia through early treaties, the War of 1812 and the events that led to their removal.
• 11:00 am – Noon: The Smokies All Taxa Biodiversity Inventory. Presented by: Todd Witcher in the Dobro Room.
• 11:30 am – 12:30 pm: Kids Track Wilderness Wildlife Week Program. Silly Safari Show. Presented by: Amazon John in the Harp Room.
• 12:30 pm – 1:30 pm: Attracting Butterflies and Caterpillars. Presented by: W.C. and Glenna Julian and Lois English in the Ukelele Room.
• 12:30 pm – 1:30 pm: New Wilderness Wildlife Week Program. Civil War in the West, 1862. Presented by: Jack Carman in the Guitar Room.
• 1:00 pm – 2:00 pm: Our National Treasures: America’s National Parks. Presented by: Chuck Summers in the Dobro Room.
• 1:00 pm – 2:30 pm: Ghost Birds! The Historic Search for the Ivory-Billed Woodpeckers. Presented by: Stephen Lyn Bales in the Violin Room.
• 1:30 pm – 3:00 pm: New Wilderness Wildlife Week Program. Hiker’s Guide to Food and Medicine. Presented by: Ila Hatter in the Harp Room. Ila Hatter hosts an illustrated discussion on "trail nibbles", wild food and seasonings and trail medicine.
• 1:30 pm – 2:30 pm: Kids Track Wilderness Wildlife Week Program. Kiddin’ Around: A Hands-On Introduction to Appalachian Music and Its Instruments. Presented by: Lost Mill String Band in the Breakfast Room. Limit 20 children. Must pre-register at Information Desk. Parents encouraged to attend.
• 2:00 pm – 3:00 pm: The Spirits of Cades Cove. Presented by: Mike Meldrum in the Ukelele Room.
• 3:00 pm – 4:00 pm: Lakes, Lighthouses and Landscapes of the North Woods. Presented by: Kendall Chiles in the Dobro Room.
• 3:00 pm – 4:00 pm: Bald Eagle Recovery: Fragile Links to Success. Presented by: Bob Hatcher in the Violin/Guitar Rooms.
• 3:30 pm – 4:30 pm: New Wilderness Wildlife Week Program. Native American Storytelling. Presented by: Robert Redhawk Eldridge in the Harp Room.
• 3:30 pm – 4:30 pm: New Wilderness Wildlife Week Program. A Photo Walk Up Porters Creek Trail. Presented by: Bill Sullivan in the Ukelele Room.
• 3:30 pm – 4:30 pm: Kids Track Wilderness Wildlife Week Program. Kindergarten through 5th Grade. Learn About Bears Through Hands-On Activities. Presented by: Anne Allison and Kathy Sherrard in the Breakfast Room. Limit 20. Must pre-register at Information Desk.
• 4:00 pm – 4:30 pm: Birds of Prey: Live Eagles! Presented by: American Eagle Foundation in the Violin/Guitar Rooms.
• 4:00 pm – 5:30 pm: Walking in the Beauty of the Natural World. Presented by: Don McGowan in the Dobro Room.
• 5:00 pm – 6:00 pm: New Wilderness Wildlife Week Program. Discovering the Cumberlands. Presented by: Stuart Carroll in the Ukelele Room.
• 5:00 pm – 8:00 pm: New Wilderness Wildlife Week Program. Basket Making. Presented by: Theresa Tyler in the Breakfast Room. Limit 12. Must pre-register at Information Desk.
• 5:30 pm – 6:30 pm: New Wilderness Wildlife Week Program. Birds of the Smokies. Presented by: Dr. Fred Alsop in the Guitar Room.
• 6:30 pm – 7:30 pm: New Wilderness Wildlife Week Program. A Circumambulation of the Smokies, 1910: A Walk AROUND the Smokies in 1910. Presented by: Charles Maynard in the Dobro/Harp Rooms.
• 6:30 pm – 7:30 pm: New Wilderness Wildlife Week Program. Shooting Photos at Night. Presented by: Eric Gebhart in the Violin Room.
• 7:00 pm: Slow Jam: Bring Your Own Instrument or Simply Plan to Enjoy and Listen. Presented by: Tony Thomas in the Guitar Room.
• 7:45 pm: New Wilderness Wildlife Week Program. Here, There and Yonder. Presented by: Chuck Summers in the Dobro/Harp Rooms. Chuck Summers presents a multimedia presentation featuring national treasures close to home and some far away.

The internet service at the event has been spotty this morning so you may want to check emails and surf the web in your cabin this morning before comming to the show.

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.

Schedule for Day 5 of the Wilderness Wildlife Week in Pigeon Forge Tennessee January 11th, 2012

Day 5 of wilderness wildlife week taking place in Pigeon Forge is about to start and today's free guided waterfall hikes in the Great Smoky Mountains National Park should be outstanding though you must pack rain gear.

Birds, snakes, exotic invasive species in the Smokies, dowsing and even passenger pigeons will be part of today's demonstrations topics at the convention center as well as more music and photography. Expect it to be a little more crowded inside today with the rain.

If the weather does not change, expect you can even see some fresh snowfall tomorrow so if this is not your cup of tea, do not sign up today for the hikes tomorrow and give someone else to have a chance to hike in the snow.

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 – 4:00 pm.

• 9:00 am – 10:00 am: Saving the Endangered Whooping Crane: The Tennessee Connection and Current Status. Presented by: Ken Dubke in the Harp Room.
• 9:30 am – 10:30 am: Introduction to Musical Instruments in Stories and Song. Presented by Tony Thomas in the Dobro Room.
• 9:30 am – 10:30 am: The Art of Dowsing: Do You Have the Gift? Presented by: Charlie Monday in the Ukelele Room. Limit 30. Must pre-register at Information Desk.
• 9:30 am – 10:30 am: New Wilderness Wildlife Week Program. What Happened to the Chestnuts? Presented by: Bill Sullivan in the Violin Room. A photo slideshow presentation about the chestnuts and other trees of the Smokies, their history, logging and other interesting facts.
• 9:30 am – 10:30 am: Kids Track Wilderness Wildlife Week Program. Batteries NOT Included: Fun with Games and Toys. Presented by: Mike Meldrum in the Guitar Room.
• 11:00 am – Noon: New Wilderness Wildlife Week Program. What NOT to Bring to the Park. Presented by: Kristine Johnson in the Ukelele Room.
• 11:00 am – Noon: New Wilderness Wildlife Week Program. SNAKES! They Are Dangerous, Aren’t They?. Presented by: Joe Taft in the Violin Room.
• 11:00 am – 1:00 pm: New Wilderness Wildlife Week Program. Creative Digital Editing. Presented by: Richard Iceland in the Guitar Room.
• 11:30 am – 12:30 pm: Carolina Bluegrass Boys and Appalachian Cloggers in the Dobro/Harp Rooms.
• 12:30 pm – 1:30 pm: New Wilderness Wildlife Week Program. Creating and Telling Family Stories. Presented by: Jim Eastin in the Ukelele Room.
• 1:00 pm – 2:00 pm: Adobe Lightroom for Scenic and Wildlife Photography. Presented by: Colby McLemore in the Dobro Room.
• 1:00 pm – 2:00 pm: Learn to Play the Harmonica in the Key of "C". Presented by: Tony Thomas in the Violin Room.
• 1:00 pm – 4:00 pm: New Wilderness Wildlife Week Program. Wood Carving Boots. Presented by: Don Taylor in the Breakfast Room. Limit 12. Must pre-register at Information Desk and bring your own sharpened woodcarving tools.
• 1:30 pm – 2:30 pm: Hosting Hummingbirds! Presented by: Regina Garr in the Harp Room.
• 1:30 pm – 2:30 pm: Wildflowers of the Southern Highlands. Presented by: Jack Carman in the Guitar Room.
• 2:00 pm – 3:30 pm: New Wilderness Wildlife Week Program. From Corn fields to Country Music Shows: The Growth of Tourism in the Smokies. Presented by: Kathy Gwinn in the Ukelele Room.
• 2:30 pm – 3:30 pm: New Wilderness Wildlife Week Program. Learn to Play the Washboard and Washtub Bass. Presented by: Boogertown Gap in the Dobro Room.
• 2:30 pm – 3:30 pm: New Wilderness Wildlife Week Program. Newlyweds on a Wildlife Refuge. Presented by: Paul and Nora Hassell in the Violin Room. Images and stories about the Seven Islands Wildlife Refuge in Kodak, Tennessee.
• 3:00 pm – 4:00 pm: New Wilderness Wildlife Week Program. Putting the Pigeon back in Pigeon Forge: Tales of the Extinct Passenger Pigeon Including Its Natural History, Disappearance and Local Accounts of This Fabulous Species that Pigeon Forge is Partly Named After. Presented by: Paul James in the Harp Room.
• 3:00 pm – 4:00 pm: The Art of Dowsing: Do You Have the Gift? Presented by: Charlie Monday in the Guitar Room. Limit 30. Must pre-register at Information Desk.
• 4:00 pm – 5:00 pm: The Perry’s Camp Murders. Presented by: Robert Allen in the Ukelele Room. Listen and learn as Robert chronicles the brutal 1949 slayings of Sevier County's first tourist court owner and his housekeeper.
• 4:00 pm – 5:00 pm: New Wilderness Wildlife Week Program. A Ranger Family’s Recollections. Presented by: Joe Kelley in the Violin Room.
• 4:30 pm – 5:30 pm: Carolina Bluegrass Boys and Appalachian Cloggers in the Dobro/Harp Rooms.
• 4:30 pm – 5:30 pm: New Wilderness Wildlife Week Program. Claw hammer Banjo for Beginners, Workshop I. Presented by: Boogertown Gap and Keith Watson in the Breakfast Room. Limit 10. Must bring own five string banjo and have it tuned to key of ",G". This is a two-part class. Must pre-register at Information Desk for both classes.
• 5:00 pm – 5:45 pm: Hiking Switzerland in Pictures. Presented by: Shannon Harris in the Guitar Room.
• 6:00 pm – 7:00 pm: New Wilderness Wildlife Week Program. The Meanderings of a Silly Man. Presented by: Doug Mills in the Dobro/Harp/Ukelele Rooms.
• 6:00 pm: Friday Hike Sign ups – Holiday Inn Express.
• 7:00 pm: Slow Jam: Bring Your Own Instrument or Simply Plan to Enjoy and Listen. Presented by: Tony Thomas in the Guitar Room.
• 7:15 pm: New Wilderness Wildlife Week Program. Appalachian Tales and Heartland Series Adventures: The Book. Presented by: Bill Landry in the Dobro/Harp/Ukelele Rooms.

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Pigeon Forge Tennessee Wilderness Wildlife Week in Smokies Day 4 schedule for Monday, January 10th, 2012

The doors will open in a few minutes for day 4 of the Pigeon Forge Tennessee Wilderness Wildlife Week and it will be another packed show in the Great Smoky Mountains.

Yesterdays some sporadic light rain fell on some of the hikers along the guided walks in the Great Smoky Mountains national park, but none were deterred. Today will be another mild day so any of you that signed up early enough yesterday will have a great hike in the park.

Bear and elk were on everyone's mind yesterday at the Wilderness Wildlife Week thanks to some great lectures and today, today among other interesting topics will be wild boar and lots of programs the kids will love.

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.

• 9:00 am – 10:00 am: Returning the Osprey to Nest in Tennessee. Presented by: Ken Dubke in the Harp Room.
• 9:30 am – 10:30 am: Woodpeckers: Nature’s Home builders. Presented by: Regina Garr in the Dobro Room.
• 9:30 am – 10:30 am: New Wilderness Wildlife Week Program. Echoes of the Smokies: Epic of Elkmont. Presented by: Wilma Durpo in the Violin Room.
• 9:30 am – 10:30 am: Green Power Switch/Generation Partners. Presented by: Lucas Harkleroad in the Guitar Room.
• 10:00 am – 11:00 am: Meet Mr. Herbert Clabo. Presented by: Herb Clabo and Veta King in the Ukelele Room. Hear Mr. Clabo tell of near one hundred years of living in the Great Smoky Mountains or right in its back door.
• 10:30 am – 11:30 am: New Wilderness Wildlife Week Program. The Hidden Garden III: Learn the See. Presented by: Dr. Alan S. Heilman in the Harp Room.
• 10:45 am – 11:45 am: New Wilderness Wildlife Week Program. Echoes of the Smokies: Spirit of the Black Bear. Presented by: Wilma Durpo in the Violin Room.
• 11:00 am – Noon: New Wilderness Wildlife Week Program. Introduction to Old Time Banjo. Presented by: Roger Helton (Bring Your Own Banjo) in the Dobro Room.
• 11:00 am – Noon: Kids Track Wilderness Wildlife Week Program. Wild World of Animals. Presented by: Knoxville Zoomobile in the Guitar Room.
• Noon – 1:00 pm: From Corn fields to Condos: Pigeon Forge’s History From 1917 – 2011. Presented by: Veta King and Pigeon Forge City Officials in the Ukelele Room.
• 12:30 pm – 1:30 pm: The Art of Dowsing: Do You Have the Gift? Presented by: Charlie Monday in the Harp Room. Limit 30. Must pre-register at Information Desk.
• 12:30 pm – 1:30 pm: Kids Track Wilderness Wildlife Week Program Ages 5 - 12. Animal Olympics: Comparing Human Senses and Abilities to Those of Wild Animals. Presented by: Mike Meldrum in the Violin Room. Limit 30. Must pre-register at Information Desk.
• 12:30 pm – 2:30 pm: New Wilderness Wildlife Week Program. Creative Photography with Any Camera. Presented by: Richard Iceland in the Guitar Room.
• 1:00 pm – 2:00 pm: Coal Mining Days in Story and Song. Presented by: Tony Thomas in the Dobro Room.
• 1:00 pm – 4:00 pm: New Wilderness Wildlife Week Program. Wood Carving Boots. Presented by: Don Taylor in the Breakfast Room. Limit 12. Must pre-register at Information Desk and bring own sharpened woodcarving tools.
• 1:30 pm – 2:30 pm: New Wilderness Wildlife Week Program. Early Pigeon Forge Settlement. Presented by: Jerry Wear in the Ukelele Room who will share stories based on family history and extensive research of the area. Mr. Jerry Wear is a descendent of Col. Samuel Wear who built the first white settlement home and fort in Pigeon Forge.
• 2:00 pm – 3:00 pm: Wild Ones Among Us. Presented by: Lynne McCoy in the Harp Room.
• 2:15 pm – 3:15 pm: Air Quality Update of the Great Smoky Mountains National Park. Presented by: Jim Renfro in the Violin Room.
• 2:30 pm – 3:30 pm: New Wilderness Wildlife Week Program. Alligators, Bears and Wolves: An Overview of Eastern North Carolina National Refuges and the Management of the Big 3 Critters of the Area. Presented by: Jim Wigginton in the Dobro Room.
• 3:00 pm – 4:00 pm: New Wilderness Wildlife Week Program. Meet Aunt Lydia Kear Whaley. Presented by: Ruth Miller in the Ukelele Room. Ms. Ruth Miller is a local with a love for history, brings Aunt Lydia to life in a character presentation as she portrays this beloved, spirited woman of the Great Smoky Mountains.
• 3:00 pm – 4:00 pm: New Wilderness Wildlife Week Program. Three Considerations for Hiking Safety. Presented by: Wendell Liemohn in the Guitar Room.
• 3:30 pm – 4:30 pm: Pig Tales. Presented by: Rick Varner in the Harp Room.
• 4:30 pm – 5:30 pm: Noted and Peculiar Court Cases of Earlier Times: Tales of Early Justice of the Peace Courts and Unusual County Court Cases of the Past. Presented by: Sevier County Circuit Court Judge, the Honorable Rex Henry Ogle and attorneys Mr. John B. Waters, Jr. and Mr. Jerry McCarter with Veta King, Moderator in the Ukelele Room.
• 4:30 pm – 5:30 pm: Meigs Post: The Survey Line Through the Great Smokies. Presented by: Joe Kelley in the Dobro Room. He will share stories and adventures from his book with Dwight McCarter.
• 4:30 pm – 6:00 pm: New Wilderness Wildlife Week Program. Let’s Sketch A Bird. Presented by: Louise Bales in the Breakfast Room. Adults and ages 12+ only. Limit 20. Must pre-register at Information Desk.
• 6:00 pm – 7:00 pm: New Wilderness Wildlife Week Program. Smoky Mountain Field School: Explore, Learn and Enjoy. Presented by: Joel and Kathy Zachry in the Dobro/Harp Rooms.
• 7:30 pm: New Wilderness Wildlife Week Program. Vintage Views of Gatlinburg, the Smokies and Their Inhabitants: Lucinda Oakley Ogle. Presented by: Kevin Tierney in the Dobro/Harp Rooms. Kevin Tierney’s Vintage Views film series captures the spirit of iconic figures and places of Gatlinburg and the Smokies by means of home video footage donated by area residents. This film chronicles the experiences of Lucinda Oakley Ogle.
• 6:00 pm: Thursday Hike Sign ups – Holiday Inn Express.

APPALACHIAFEST!
A FREE Musical Celebration of Our Heritage! In the Violin/Guitar Rooms.

• 5:00 pm – 6:30 pm: Great Smoky Mountains Settlers and Their Music. Presented by Boogertown Gap.
• 7:00 pm – 7:20 pm: Tony Thomas
• 7:45 pm Carolina Bluegrass Boys
• Clogging with the Appalachian Cloggers. Attendees welcome to join in the fun!

Wilderness Wildlife Week in Pigeon Forge Tennessee Smokies schedule for Day 3 Monday, January 9th, 2012

Day 2 of the Smoky Mountains Wilderness Wildlife Week was a huge hit yesterday in Pigeon Forge and the schedule for day 3 has even more new programs and experts presenting their topics of expertise.

Among today’s lectures are some heavy hitters from the staff of the Great Smoky Mountains national park: Mike Meldrum from the Cades Cove district will discuss Bear Facts, the Ethics of Leaving No Trace in the Outdoors, and Down by the Old Mill Stream. Tom Harrington also from the Cades Cove district will present Up and Down the Valley: Cades Cove: Learn About the People of Cades Cove From the Early 1830's to the Early 1900's.

The national parks resident elk biologist Joe Yarkovich will give a lecture on Elk in the Smokies: A Decade of Learning and the from the parks fishery division Matt Kulp will discuss Acid Rain Impacts on Smokies Streams.

Everyone loves the Smoky Mountains 1,500 plus black bears and head of wildlife in the GSMNP Bill Stiver will make his informative Black Bear Management in the Great Smoky Mountains National Park lecture today to what should be a packed house.

All of these presenters form the park have tremendous experience in their fields and be sure to ask them any questions you may have as they all love sharing their knowledge.

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.

The following is the complete schedule for day 3 of Wilderness Wildlife Week:

• 9:00 am – 10:00 am: Circle of Life: The Bear Facts. Presented by: Mike Meldrum in the Guitar Room.
• 9:00 am – 10:30 am: New Wilderness Wildlife Week Program. Where Wood We Be Without A Tree? Historic Trees of America. Presented by: Kathy Gwinn in the Harp Room.
• 9:30 am – 10:30 am: Wildflowers of Tennessee. Presented by: Jack Carman in the Ukelele Room.
• 10:00 am – 11:00 am: New Wilderness Wildlife Week Program. Newfoundland: A Photographic Tour of an Island Wonderland. Presented by: Harry Dunn in the Dobro Room.
• 10:00 am – 11:00 am: New Wilderness Wildlife Week Program. Master Gardner Program Helps to Create Wildlife-Friendly Gardens and Landscapes. Presented by: Dr. Leo Lubke in the Violin Room.
• 10:30 am – 11:30 am: Leave No Trace: Presenting the Ethics of Leaving No Trace in the Outdoors. Presented by: Mike Braun and Pamela Rodgers in the Guitar Room.
• 11:00 am – Noon: New Wilderness Wildlife Week Program. Tennessee Butterflies and How to Raise Them. Presented by: Lois English and WC and Glenna Julian in the Harp Room.
• 11:00 am – Noon: New Wilderness Wildlife Week Program. Up and Down the Valley: Cades Cove: Learn About the People of Cades Cove From the Early 1830's to the Early 1900's. Presented by: Tom Harrington in the Ukelele Room.
• 11:30 am – 12:30 pm: Wonderful Waterfalls of Tennessee. Presented by: Bill Carter in the Dobro Room.
• 11:30 am – 12:30 pm: Down By the Old Mill Stream. Presented by: Mike Meldrum in the Violin Room.
• 1:00 pm- 2:00 pm: Of Ginseng, Golden Apples and the Rainbow Fish: Ancient Tales and Mountain Treasures. Presented by: Doug Elliott in the Dobro Room.
• 1:00 pm- 2:00 pm: New Wilderness Wildlife Week Program. Hiking and Camping with Your Pet. Presented by: Jim Richards and Thomas Horsch in the Harp Room.
• 1:00 pm- 2:00 pm: New Wilderness Wildlife Week Program. Acid Rain Impacts on Smokies Streams. Presented by: Matt Kulp in the Ukelele Room.
• 1:00 pm – 2:00 pm: Orioles: Spring and Summer! Presented by: Steve Garr in the Guitar Room.
• 1:00 pm – 2:00 pm: New Wilderness Wildlife Week Program. Kids Track Wilderness Wildlife Week Program. HANDS-ON! Whooo Did This? Fascinating Owls: Natural History of Owls With Live Owls and Dissection of Owl Pellets, Examination of Feathers and Owls in Rehabilitation. Presented by: Lynne McCoy in the Breakfast Room. Limit 15. Must pre-register at Information Desk.
• 1:30 pm – 2:30 pm: New Wilderness Wildlife Week Program. Old Time Music. Presented by: Roger Helton in the Violin Room.
• 2:30 pm – 3:30 pm: New Wilderness Wildlife Week Program. Mountain Marvels - Waterfalls of the Southern Appalachians: The Carolinas, Georgia, Alabama and Kentucky. Presented by: Bill Carter in the Dobro Room.
• 2:30 pm – 3:30 pm: New Wilderness Wildlife Week Program. Elk in the Smokies: A Decade of Learning. Presented by: Joe Yarkovich in the Harp Room.
• 2:30 pm – 3:30 pm: Black Bear Management in the Great Smoky Mountains National Park. Presented by: Bill Stiver in the Ukelele Room.
• 2:30 pm – 3:30 pm: Wing Things: See how many dragonflies, hummingbirds and other pollinators are in our gardens and how to attract them. Presented by WC and Glenna Julian and Lois English in the Guitar Room.
• 2:30 pm – 5:30 pm: New Wilderness Wildlife Week Program. Basket Making. Presented by: Theresa Tyler in the Breakfast Room. Limit 12. Must pre-register at Information Desk.
• 3:00 pm – 4:30 pm: New Wilderness Wildlife Week Program. Ballads of the Great Smoky Mountains and the Vicinity. Presented by: Boogertown Gap in the Violin Room.
• 4:00 pm – 5:00 pm: Civil War Period Music. Presented by: Tony Thomas in the Dobro Room.
• 4:00 pm – 5:00 pm: Ranger Recollections. Presented by: Joe Kelley in the Harp Room.
• 4:00 pm – 5:00 pm: Appalachian Bear Rescue: Who We Are and What We Do. Presented by: Lisa Stewart in the Ukelele Room.
• 4:00 pm – 5:30 pm: Backpacking: How to Get Started and Hike Safety. Presented by: Mike Braun, Pamela Rodgers and Bill Deitzer in the Guitar Room.
• 5:00 pm – 6:00 pm: Weeds for Your Needs: Useful Wild Plants. Presented by: Doug Elliott in the Violin Room.
• 5:30 pm – 6:30 pm: New Wilderness Wildlife Week Program. America Sings: Folk Songs of America. Presented by: Hills-N-Hollows in the Dobro/Harp Rooms.
• 6:00 pm: Wednesday Hike Sign ups – Holiday Inn Express.
• 6:30 pm – 7:30 pm: New Wilderness Wildlife Week Program. Hiking LeConte: A History. Presented by: Charles Maynard in the Violin/Guitar Rooms.
• 7:45 pm: New Wilderness Wildlife Week Program. And Heaven and Nature Sing. Presented by: Ken Jenkins and Judy Felts in the Dobro/Harp/Ukelele Rooms.

Day 2 of Wilderness Wildlife Week schedule for Sunday, January 8th, 2012 taking place in Pigeon Forge Tennessee

If day 2 of Wilderness Wildlife Week in Pigeon Forge goes as well as opening day yesterday, this will be the best Wilderness Wildlife Week ever. Attendance is high, the weather is cooperative and the presentations better than ever.

The Nature Photography Workshop is always a huge draw and yesterday was no exception. People remarked how even though they attend every year, there is always something to learn from the masters.

Though you can't do every class presented and every free guided hike, some of the don not miss events today will be the Old Harp Shaped Note Singing, Echoes of Cataloochee and Elk, A Journey Into the Smokies in Words and Photographs and Wildwoods Wisdom.

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.

Here is the rest of todays Wilderness Wildlife Week event schedule:

• 9:00 am – 10:00 am: Sunday Morning Sing-Along. Presented by: Tony Thomas in the Violin Room.
• 9:30 am – 10:30 am: Marking Time: A Guide to the Historical Markers in East Tennessee. Presented by: Fred Brown in the Ukelele Room.
• 9:30 am – 12 Noon: Stream Stocked Trout Fishing. Presented by: Greg Ward in the Guitar Room.
• 10:00 am – 11:00 am: You and Me: Coexisting with Bears. Presented by: Anne Allison and Kathy Sherrard in the Harp Room.
• 10:30 am – 11:30 am: Wildflowers of the Smokies. Presented by: Jack Carman in the Violin Room.
• 10:30 am – 11:30 am: New Wilderness Wildlife Week Program. Classic Cinema Clips of Sevierville. Presented by: Carroll McMahan in the Dobro Room.
• 11:00 am – Noon: New Wilderness Wildlife Week Program. Photographing with Emotion: Land, Sea and Skies. Presented by: Tom and Pat Cory in the Ukelele Room.
• 11:30 am – 12:30 pm: New Wilderness Wildlife Week Program. Echoes of the Smokies: Formation of the Great Smoky Mountains National Park. Presented by: Wilma Durpo in the Harp Room.
• 12:30 pm – 1:30 pm: Bird’s the Word: Bird Stories, Lore, Songs and Natural History. Presented by: Doug Elliott in the Dobro Room.
• 12:30 pm – 1:30 pm: Hiking Through the Dolomites. Presented by: Peter and Gudrun Seifert in the Ukelele Room.
• 12:45 pm – 1:45 pm: New Wilderness Wildlife Week Program. Echoes of the Smokies: Echoes of Cataloochee and Elk. Presented by: Wilma Durpo in the Harp Room.
• 1:00 pm – 2:00 pm: A Wildlife Habitat for Every Season. Presented by: Regina Garr in the Violin Room.
• 1:00 pm – 2:00 pm: New Wilderness Wildlife Week Program. The Civil War in Tennessee, 1861-1862: A Sesquicentennial Commemoration. Presented by: Chris Tipton in the Guitar Room.
• 1:00 pm – 2:00 pm: Hands-On History: Let’s Make A Quill Pen: Instructions and Materials to Make a Quill Pen. Presented by: Pat K. Thomas in the Breakfast Room. Limit 10 Adults. Must pre-register at Information Desk.
• 2:00 pm – 3:00 pm: New Wilderness Wildlife Week Program. Climb Every Mountain, Ford Every Stream. Presented by: Carroll McMahan in the Ukelele Room. A panel discussion featuring Frank Maples, Stan Creswell, and Coppley Vickers who have hiked every trail in the Great Smoky Mountains National Park.
• 2:00 pm – 3:30 pm: New Wilderness Wildlife Week Program. Old Harp Shaped Note Singing: A Group of People from Sevier County Sing the Way Their Ancestors Sang Early in the Last Century. Presented by: David Sarten, Leader in the Dobro/Harp Rooms.
• 2:30 pm – 3:30 pm: New Wilderness Wildlife Week Program. Then Sings My Soul - Hymns of Faith. Presented by: Hills-N-Hollows in the Violin Room.
• 2:30 pm – 3:30 pm: Sanctuary in the Smokies: A Journey Into the Smokies in Words and Photographs. Presented by: J. Greg Johnson in the Guitar Room.
• 3:00 pm – 5:00 pm: World-Class Stream Smallmouth Bass. Presented by: Greg Ward in the Breakfast Room.
• 4:00 pm – 5:00 pm: Wildwoods Wisdom. Presented by: Doug Elliott in the Dobro/Harp Rooms.
• 4:00 pm – 5:00 pm: Walker Sisters of Little Greenbrier. Presented by: Robin Goddard in the Ukelele Room.
• 4:00 pm – 5:30 pm: Old Time Music Concert. Presented by: Boogertown Gap in the Violin Room.
• 4:00 pm – 5:00 pm: New Wilderness Wildlife Week Program. More Tales from Two Smokies Trail Completers. Presented by: Bill Deitzer and Tommy Small in the Guitar Room. This program features the stories and experiences of Bill’s first time completing all the trails of the Smokies in 2005 as well as Tommy’s from the six times he has completed all the trails.
• 5:30 pm – 6:30 pm: New Wilderness Wildlife Week Program. Watching and Being Watched. Presented by: Ken Jenkins in the Dobro/Harp Rooms.
• 6:00 pm – 7:00 pm: New Wilderness Wildlife Week Program. Special Places, Special Creatures. Presented by: Joel and Kathy Zachry – Violin/Guitar Rooms.
• 6:00 pm: Tuesday Hike Sign ups – Holiday Inn Express.
• 6:45 pm: New Wilderness Wildlife Week Program. Keynote Program: Predator Paradox: Conflict and Conflict Resolution in Modern America. Presented by: Peggy Callahan in the Dobro/Harp Rooms.
• 7:30 pm: Slow Jam: Bring Your Own Instrument or Simply Plan to Enjoy and Listen. Presented by: Tony Thomas in the Guitar Room.

Wilderness Wildlife Week in Pigeon Forge Tennessee Schedule for Day 1 Saturday, January 7th, 2012

High up on the peaks of the Great Smoky Mountains there is still some snow and this weekend is the start of the 22nd annual Wilderness Wildlife Week. This means if you are planning on taking one of the free guided hikes in the Great Smoky Mountains national park, make sure to pack boots!

Wilderness Wildlife Week is a free week long event that takes place in Pigeon Forge Tennessee consisting of exhibits, demonstrations, musical performances and guided hikes in the Great Smoky Mountains national park.

Since the quality of the performances and lectures is so high and amazing popular for people interested in music, photography, nature, travel, hiking, camping, fishing, history, storytelling and more, this event is not being promoted very much as it is generally filled to capacity.

Last year's unusually rough winter weather during Wilderness Wildlife Week meant that some guided hikes were cancelled and a few presenters were unable to show up due to closed roads. So far it looks a though the weather in the Smokies is going to cooperate as the next week looks seasonable warm.

Music Road Hotel and Convention Center is where all of the classes, performances and lectures will take place. The Music Road Hotel and Convention Center is located at: 303 Henderson Chapel Road in Pigeon Forge, TN 37863.

Since Wilderness Wildlife Week is so wildly popular with hikers, the guided hikes require that you preregister the day before the hike right across the street from Music Road Hotel and Convention Center is the Holiday Inn Express.

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.

• 8:00 am – 11:00 am: Learn to Use Map and Compass. Presented by: Terry and LaValla Edgington in the Harp Room. Limit 40. Must pre-register at Information Desk.
• 8:30 am – 10:30 am: Fly Fishing in the Smokies. Presented by: Greg Ward in the Violin Room.
• 9:00 am – 1:00 pm: Nature Photography Workshop. Presented by: Kendall Chiles, Tom and Pat Cory, Danny Dempster and Harold Stinnette in the Guitar Room.
• 9:00 am – 10:00 am: Rock Formations of the Smokies: Geological Past of Smoky Mountains. Presented by: Harry Moore in the Dobro Room.
• 9:00 am – 1:00 pm: Photo Exhibit Entry and Setup in the Cello Room (An entry form must be submitted with each photo entered.)
• 10:00 am – 11:15 am:: New Wilderness Wildlife Week Program. Cades Cove Teachers. Presented by: Dorothy Gregory Sutton in the Ukelele Room.
• 10:30 am – 11:30 am: Discovering October Roads: View Fall Colors of East Tennessee. Presented by: Fred Brown and Harry Moore in the Dobro Room.
• 11:00 am – 12:30 pm: Beginning Mountain Dulcimer. Presented by: Deby Libby, Ginny Cliett and Linda Smith in the Violin Room. Limit 25. Must pre-register at Information Desk. Limited number of dulcimers available. Observers are welcome.
• 11:30 am – 12:30 pm: New Wilderness Wildlife Week Program. Straight from the Horse’s Mouth: A Hysterical History of Words. Presented by: Kathy Gwinn in the Harp Room.
• 11:30 am – 12:45 pm: New Wilderness Wildlife Week Program. War within the Family: Civil War Gregorys. Presented by: Mary Greggory in the Ukelele Room.
• 11:30 am: Sunday Hike Sign ups at Holiday Inn Express
• Noon – 1:00 pm: Introduction to the Autoharp. Presented by: Tony Thomas and Judy Carson in the Dobro Room
• 1:00 pm – 2:00 pm: Margaret Stevenson: The Walkingest Woman in the Smokies. The Story of the First Lady to Complete All 800 Miles of Maintained Hiking Trails in the Smokies. Presented by: Bill Deitzer in the Harp Room.
• 1:00 pm – 2:00 pm: New Wilderness Wildlife Week Program. Everybody’s Fishin’: A Cross-Cultural Fishing Extravaganza Celebrating Fish Fisherpersons and Other Wonderful, Watery Critters. Presented by: Doug Elliott in the Violin Room.
• 1:00 pm – 2:00 pm: Kids Track Kindergarten – 5th Grade Wilderness Wildlife Week Program. Learn About Bears Through Hands-On Activities. Presented by: Anne Allison and Kathy Sherrard from the ABR in the Breakfast Room. Limit 20. Must pre-register at Information Desk.
• 1:30 pm – 2:30 pm: The Serpent Handlers. Presented by: Fred Brown in the Dobro Room.
• 1:30 pm – 2:30 pm: New Wilderness Wildlife Week Program. Searching for Panthers in the Smokies. Presented by: Dr. Don Linzey in the Guitar Room.
• 2:00 pm – 3:15 pm: New Wilderness Wildlife Week Program. Cades Cove Photos and Photographers. Presented by: Missy Tipton Green in the Ukelele Room.
• 2:30 pm – 3:30 pm: The Discovery of the Gray Fossil Site. Presented by: Harry Moore in the Harp Room.
• 2:30 pm – 3:30 pm: Civil War in the Mountains. Presented by: Chris Tipton in the Violin Room.
• 3:00 pm – 4:00 pm: National History Day Students: Talented Local Students Share Their Knowledge of How to Document Your Local History. Presented by: Sabrina Gray in the Dobro Room.
• 3:00 pm – 4:00 pm: New Wilderness Wildlife Week Program. The Upland Chronicles: Vibrant Local History and Heritage of Sevier County’s Past. Presented by: Carroll McMahan in the Guitar Room.
• 3:00 pm – 5:30 pm: Fly Casting. Presented by: Greg Ward in the Breakfast Room.
• 3:30 pm – 4:45 pm: New Wilderness Wildlife Week Program .Uncle Noah and Sarah Brown Burchfield. Presented by: Larry Sparks and Judy Myers Johns in the Ukelele Room.
• 4:00 pm – 5:30 pm: New Wilderness Wildlife Week Program. Out of the Dark: A True History of the White Caps and Blue Bills: At Last This Long Repressed History of Outrageous Depravity and Unsurpassed Heroism in This Region’s History Can Be Talked About in Public. Presented by: Don Williams in the Harp Room.
• 4:00 pm – 5:00 pm: New Wilderness Wildlife Week Program. A Tennessee Music Sampler: Stories and Songs. Presented by: Hills-N-Hollows in the Violin Room.
• 4:30 pm – 5:30 pm: New Wilderness Wildlife Week Program. The 1500 Year Old Silver Bible: A Chronicle of the Emotional History of the Earliest German/Gothic (and Perhaps English) Language Document, Including Its Translation, Disappearance and the Miraculous Rediscovery of This Piece of Christian History. Presented by: Peter and Gudrun Seifert in the Guitar Room.
• 5:30 pm – 6:30 pm: New Wilderness Wildlife Week Program. Woodslore and Wildwoods Wisdom: Celebrating the Natural World Through Stories, Songs and Lore. Presented by: Doug Elliott in the Dobro Room.
• 6:00 pm: Monday Hike Sign ups – Holiday Inn Express.
• 6:45 pm: Bagpipe Performance. Presented by: Charles Smith in the Dobro/Harp Rooms.
• 7:00 pm – 7:30 pm: Wilderness Wildlife Week Opening Comments: Terry Maddox, Executive Director of Great Smoky Mountains Association; Jim Hart, Director of Friends of the Great Smoky Mountains National Park; Dale Ditmanson, Superintendent of the Great Smoky Mountains National Park in the Dobro/Harp Rooms.
• 7:30 pm: Opening Remarks. Presented by: Ken Jenkins in the Dobro/Harp Rooms.
• 7:45 pm: New Wilderness Wildlife Week Program. Wolves 2011: Update on Ecology and Politics in the Upper Midwest. Presented by: Peggy Callahan in the Dobro/Harp Rooms.

Since this program will go on for another week and there are still some cabins left to rent in the Gatlinburg Pigeon Forge area, book right now for this week and get 10% off!