Heirloom garden, Mountain Farm Museum, Oconaluftee, NC by Susan Tidwell
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All About Bears
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Bear Napping by Ryan Montgomery
Hear the latest and get
the facts on what's happening with the bears!
If there ever was one predominant symbol of Great Smoky
Mountains National Park it would without question be the black bear!
This true symbol of the "wild" will be the topic of
discussion at a special presentation at Sugarlands Visitor Center on Saturday,
July 24 at 10:00 am. Kim Delozier,
GSMNP wildlife biology supervisor, will bring you up to date on the bear
population, the mast situation, the human problem of feeding bears, and what to
do and NOT do if and when encountering a bear in the park. Other interesting
facts will be covered and you'll be able to ask Kim questions following the
program.
This is a very timely topic given the increase in bear
sightings and the recent encounter between a visitor and bear in the vicinity
of Laurel Falls.
There is no fee for this program, but we would appreciate a
call to register at 865-436-7318, Ext. 222 or 254.
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Summer Junior Ranger Programs
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Kids 5-12 Earn Your Badge!
Tuesdays 10:30 a.m. and 2:00 p.m.
(June 15 - August 10)
School Days at Little Greenbrier. See how
school was conducted a hundred years ago in a log schoolhouse. Meet at
Little Greenbrier School near Metcalf Bottoms Picnic Area
Sundays at 2:30 p.m. (June 20 - August
8)
Aw Shucks! Come experience the art of making a corn shuck doll.
Meet at the Mountain Farm Museum next to Oconaluftee Visitor Center, 2
miles north of Cherokee, NC on U.S. 441.
Fridays at 10:00 a.m. (June 18 -
August 13)
Let's Be a Scientist! Join a ranger and use scientific
tools to study wildlife and forests. Meet in front of Sugarlands Visitor
Center, 2 miles south of Gatlinburg, TN on U.S. 441.
For a
complete list of Junior Ranger programs, click here!
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New Products
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FAQ About Smoky Mountain Black Bears
This book celebrates
the life and legends of the park's most popular residents in a friendly question and answer format. Learn where bears make their dens, whether they have attacked people in the park, what to do if you see a bear while hiking, and more. By Courtney Lix.
GSMNP Logo Windbreaker
New Design Park Throw
New Deign Handmade Mugs: Oval or Rectangular logo
New Map: Cades Cove & Elkmont
New Map: Clingmans Dome & Cataloochee
Click on the link to check out all our New Items
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Road Openings and Closings
| Clingmans Dome Road is now OPEN.
Roaring Fork is still CLOSED for repaving.
Oconaluftee Visitor Center framing by Terry Maddox
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| Our New Business Members |
Rafting in the Smokies
Unforgettable fun for all ages! We've been
whitewater rafting professionals since 1978. Based in Gatlinburg, TN, and serving visitors
for 30 years, we set the standard of excellence in East Tennessee.
Feel
the
excitement as one of our certified guides demonstrates their
passion for whitewater by escorting you down the Upper Pigeon and Lower
Pigeon
Float Trip. Our guides don't just love whitewater... they
live it!
Rafting in the Smokies
3595 Hartford Road
Hartford TN 37753
tel: 800.776.7238 Claudette Geoffrion
email: rafting@raftinginthesmokies.com
www.raftinginthesmokies.com
Rafting in the
Smokies gives GSMA members in good standing a 20% discount
Below you will find several new GSMA Business Members who support our park. Please visit them when you're in the area. They, as well as our
individual members, support the Great Smoky Mountains National Park by being
members of GSMA.
You can see all of
GSMA's Business Members by clicking on Our Business Members. To see the
discounts offered to GSMA members, go to our website and click on Discounts & Freebies. Then
pick your favorite category and shop.
If you own a business and
would like to be included in this newsletter and our website, contact Westy Fletcher at 423.487.3131 or
Westy@GSMAssoc.org
The Highlands Condominium
855 Campbell Lead
Gatlinburg TN 37738
tel: 800.233.3947 Cindy Werner
email: ckw1218@aol.com
www.highlandscondos.com
J. William Myers
Attorney
331
East Broadway
P.O. Box 160
Newport TN 37821
tel: 424.623.3091 J. William Myers
email: billmyers@myersbell.com
Sevier Medical Laser
1235
Dolly Parton Parkway
Sevierville TN 37862
tel: 865.428.9226 Samuel McGaha M.D.
email: smagaha@charterinternet.com
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Double Rainbow over Greenbrier by Tony Morton
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What's Up? GSMA Membership!
These deer are kneeling to reach
something under the
Carter-Shields Cabin in Cades Cove. What are they doing? Photo by Mark Colson
The mercury is rising, and so is membership in GSMA! Each month,
especially during the
summer, finds more visitors enjoying all that Great Smoky Mountains
National
Park has to offer.
From over 800
miles of trails to explore, to wildlife viewing, to fishing its over
2,000
miles of streams, to stepping back in time at its many historic
structures, or
just sitting by a waterfall and getting lost in its beauty... GSMNP has
lasting
memories for you to take home.
It's at this time that folks
decide they want to be a part
of this very special place. They
may stop by one of our sales locations and inquire about all the
benefits they
will receive by becoming a GSMA member. And they also learn how their
membership helps us in our mission to
support the park.
Next time you're visiting the park stop by one
of the
visitor centers and ask to see a copy of our magazine, Smokies Life. We're
sure you'll be impressed by the articles and photography... and you'll
receive it
twice a year as one of the many benefits of membership! You can also
purchase back-copies... that
way whenever you get home-sick for the Smokies all you have to do is
open an
issue and visit all over again!
It's a "win-win" situation
folks! So on your next visit ask one of our sales associates for
more information... or call Judy or Marti at 865-436-7318, Ext. 222 or
254! We'll be waiting to hear from you!
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New Clingmans Dome Information Center Open!
Photo by Terry Maddox
Check out our wonderful new Clingmans Dome Information Center!
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Scenes of Summer Video
The park is a busy place in the summer. Life abounds and park visitation soars. Native shrubs and wildflowers make a beautiful show. Waterfalls and streams cool the warm summer air. Enjoy the start of summer with this scenic trip to Cataloochee with Valerie Polk and the music of Bill Mize.
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Cades Cove Quiz with Prizes
Win a T-Shirt and a Photo Book!
Unusual Cades Cove Panorama by Jonas Wingfield
Click here to take our fun Cades Cove Quiz.
The first person to answer the 12 multiple-choice questions correctly will receive a Cades Cove T-Shirt in the size of their choice and a copy of the beautiful photo book Cades Cove: Dream of the Smoky Mountains.
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Construction at the New Ocnonaluftee Visitor Center
I know it's skilled labor on a very hot day, but in the picture this looks like fun, doesn't it? Sort of like bumper cars.
Photo by Terry Maddox
We have a freshly-poured floor and framing on the comfort station. Six of the twelve geothermal wells have now been drilled.
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New Park Guides Available Via iPhone
Customize with Cades Cove Day Hikes and More!
 Do you have an iPhone or iTouch? If you do, then check out the new applications created by GSMA and Nomad Mobile Guides!
The Smokies Visitor Guide App is
totally FREE! It includes:
- visitor info,
restrooms, campgrounds, safety, and more
- an offline map of the
park
- a beautiful photo gallery
The Best of the Great Smoky Mountains App is $4.99. It includes in addition to all the info
in the Smokies Visitor Guide:
- Auto Touring Favorites
- Cades Cove
Tour
- Day Hike Favorites
- Self-Guiding Nature Trails
- Waterfall
Favorites
Or Create Your Own Custom Guide!
New Booklets You Can Include:
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Peek a Boo!
Wild Hog by Deb Campbell
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Cherokee-Sugarlands-Gatlinburg-Pigeon Forge Shuttle
Cherokee Transit Protects Park Air Quality
Click here to see the details.
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Gift Memberships
| Give a membership in Great Smoky Mountains Association for a present. Not only does the recipient receive a variety of benefits, including the Smokies Guide newspaper, Bearpaw newsletter, and Smokies Life magazine, and a 15% discount on merchandise, but there's the added benefit of knowing you're helping the park!
And of course, if we're given the recipient's e-mail address they can look forward to receiving the Cub Report e-newsletter, just like the one you're reading now ... full of good articles, information, photos, and wonderful videos to help them enjoy the Smokies even when it's impossible for them to visit in person!
Gift memberships are great for events like birthdays, anniversaries, and other special occasions. No shopping, no wrapping, no mailing! Just a thoughtful and useful gift straight from your heart to theirs.
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Contact Membership@GSMAssoc.org
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Any Questions?
| For questions about online purchases, click here and Doug will help you.
For questions about membership, click here and Judy or Marti will help you.
For questions about business membership, click here and Westy will help you.
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