Thankful for Our Friends

Greetings!

Your support for Friends of the Smokies this year has made some great things possible in Great Smoky Mountains National Park.

Because of you, we have been able to give the Park more than $1.2 million in 2011 (click here to see the list). Your license plate purchases, your participation in our special events and fundraisers, and your membership matter to the Smokies.

In this message, I'm sharing some photos and thoughts from a young woman named Anne Cherry who recently spent 5 days backpacking in the Smokies with her pals.

Anytime you'd like to share your Smoky Mountain memories with me, I would love the chance to share them with others who love the Park, too.

All of us at Friends of the Smokies wish you a joyous and bountiful Thanksgiving holiday.

Giving Back to the Smokies

Earlier this month, Anne Cherry made a generous contribution to our Trails Forever program in honor of her friends Ann Marie Navar Boggan and Joel Boggan, and in celebration of their recent backpacking trip in the Smokies.

With the Aslan Foundation's dollar-for-dollar match of every gift made to Trails Forever, Anne said,

"Trails Forever seemed like the perfect opportunity with the grant and all. We were so shocked that our 5 days of backpacking was absolutely free, so wanted to "pay" something for the opportunity."

To see a list of the trails improved so far by the Trails Forever crew and volunteers, see our Note on Facebook. Anne Cherry also shared some outstanding fall foliage photos from her trip for us to enjoy- check them out here. Thank you, Anne!

Holiday Hike with Friends of the Smokies

You can even purchase an ornament featuring Mingus Mill at the GSMA bookstore!

By Hannah Epperson

Americorps Outreach Associate for

Friends of the Smokies

Add a little outdoor-joy to the holiday season with a guided hike of the Mingus Creek Trail, followed by a trip to the new Oconaluftee Visitor Center for some Great Smoky Mountain history and holiday shopping. Friends of the Smokies members receive 15% percent off purchases-so bring your boots, your membership card and your wallet!

To learn more, visit the Events Page of our website.

Thank you for being a Friend of the Smokies. In 2012, the Trails Forever crew and volunteers will finish the revitalization of the Forney Ridge Trail, and begin overhauling the Chimney Tops Trail with support totaling $141,600. To be part of this work, volunteer- Learn more.

Sincerely,

Holly Scott | Marketing Director
Friends of Great Smoky Mountains National Park

Our tweets on Twitter are another great way to learn more about the Park and how your support makes a difference.

See more great photos on our Flickr page- everything from projects funded to fun-filled events.

Save 10%	All members of Friends of the Smokies with a valid membership card receive 10% off store purchases at NOC Gatlinburg which celebrated Silver LEED certification last week. Must present membership card to receive discount- not to be used with other coupons or on sale items. Excludes boat purchases and guided activities (hiking, fishing, climbing wall and rafting). In-stock items only.