Happy Anniversary Friends of the Smokies (Video Message) | Watch Here
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Hello Friend!
For twenty years through the support of members who carry our official membership card in their wallets, drivers who proudly display our North Carolina and Tennessee Friends of the Smokies license plates on their vehicles, everyone who has attended one of our fun special events, as well as sponsors, businesses and foundations, we have been bringing the wonder, beauty, and biodiversity of Great Smoky Mountains National Park to kids. Parks as Classrooms (learn more in this great park video), Junior Ranger, high school internships, and archaeological field schools are just a few of the ways that your financial support of Friends of the Smokies is creating the stewards of tomorrow. Read on to see how Friends matter to environmental education in the Smokies. 
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| Making a Difference for Kids |
Parks as Classrooms
Every year Friends of the Smokies provides more than $100,000 for Parks as Classrooms in Great Smoky Mountains National Park. Since 2008 with the help of a $1 million grant from Toyota, the program has been growing and changing in big and important ways. Just one of the goals being achieved through this multi-year enhancement plan is integrating technology to make materials more accessible to teachers (more than 34 curriculum units are now online!) In 2012 alone, more than 11,400 students and 2,275 teachers + chaperones enjoyed going to school in nature's most awesome outdoor classroom- Great Smoky Mountains National Park. During the winter months, rangers went into area schools and worked alongside teachers to educate more than 3,812 students and 219 adults. The value of Parks as Classrooms may be best illustrated in the words of teachers- "Students were able to apply knowledge gained in the classroom to natural
resources near them and begin to develop a love and stewardship for their
Great Smoky Mountains National Park." - East Franklin Elementary 5th grade teacher
"Having our students outside to experience nature with experienced naturalists is so effective for the ones who rarely get to go to a park and learn about animals and habitats." - Jefferson Middle School 7th grade teacher
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 | | If you haven't seen Yosemite Junior Ranger Evie's letter to the park then click here for a smile- it shows you what kind of impact the Junior Ranger program can have on a young person |
Junior Rangers
Future land managers are emerging every day as part of the park's Junior Ranger program. Again thanks to support from the Toyota education grant to Friends of the Smokies our park rangers awarded Junior Ranger badges to thousands of kids in 2012, with an amazing 257 badges earned on National Junior Ranger Day alone (mark your calendars 'cause 2013's National Junior Ranger Day is April 27th!) Don't miss out on the fun- become a Not-So-Junior Ranger whether you're 13 or 130 years old. Just participate in 3 ranger-led programs, then get your patch and certificate!
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Save the Date- Experience Fontana with Friends
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SmartBank's annual contribution to Friends & GSMA
SmartBank President and CEO, Billy Carroll, recently presented donation checks to Friends of the Smokies President Jim Hart and Great Smoky Mountains Association Executive Director Terry Maddox from funds generated through SmartBank's SmartGreen Account.
The SmartGreen account is designed so that a donation is made to both organizations every time a SmartBank account holder uses their debit card for signature-based transactions. In addition to the donations accumulated through debit card usage, SmartBank clients have the option to make additional contributions to Friends of the Smokies and GSMA through automatic deduction from their SmartGreen account.
 | | Billy Carroll, Jim Hart, and Bill Carroll |
Kelley Fowler, Vice President, Marketing and Public Relations for SmartBank said, "We are very pleased with the donation totals this year. It's been a lot of fun and very rewarding to watch SmartGreen grow over the years. Since we launched SmartGreen in May of 2009, we've been able to donate over $49,750 to benefit the Great Smoky Mountains National Park. We wanted to cultivate something that had the ability to gain momentum year after year and that would truly impact our beautiful Park. The donations have the potential to grow substantially as the Bank grows, and this is something we considered when we created SmartGreen."
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Visit our events page so you can be with us for great fun-filled happenings with Friends of the Smokies. We're kicking off our Classic Hikes, gearing up for Get on the Trail, eagerly awaiting Sunny Days, and chomping at the bit for Banff (read all about it on our blog- click below)
And be sure to join Sarah Weeks for Hiking 101. It's an informative session on day hiking basics, local hiking groups and local hiking opportunities. The purpose is to provide knowledge of hiking fundamentals and equipment required to build confidence and ensure safety. It's free and includes light refreshments, handouts and discussion of equipment.
Wednesday, March 20, 2013
Blue Ridge Mountain Sports - Farragut
11537 Kingston Pike
Knoxville, TN
6:30 - 8:00 pmFor more information and to register, please call Sarah Weeks at (800) 845-5665 or email her at sarah@friendsofthesmokies.orgFinally, if it's time to start or renew your membership or give the gift of Friends for a special occasion please visit our website. To see a complete list of the ways membership will make a difference to the Park in 2013 click here. With Thanks,
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