Thursday, January 7, 2010

Hoot Like an Owl, Take a Hike at Wilderness Wildlife Week in Pigeon Forge

Salute to Great Smoky Mountains National Park is January 9-16

PIGEON FORGE, Tenn. (January 2010) – More than 230 programs, almost 60 hikes, more than 150 expert presenters and dozens of volunteers are ready for outdoor enthusiasts to arrive for the 20th presentation of Wilderness Wildlife Week, Jan. 9-16, in Pigeon Forge, Tenn.

Wilderness Wildlife Week is an eight-day extravaganza of talks, demonstrations, presentations and hands-on classes about Great Smoky Mountains National Park and other outdoor topics. Some people attend just for the opportunity to hoot like an owl on an “owl prowl.”

The City of Pigeon Forge stages the event, and all activities are free.
Indoor programs are at the Music Road Hotel and Convention Center. Transportation to and from all hikes and excursions is from the convention center, too.

The first day’s schedule of 27 programs includes a four-hour nature photography workshop, a talk about the history of LeConte Lodge, a session about fishing in the Smokies and a special children’s program about comparing human senses and abilities to those of wild animals. Almost 20 programs designed for children are spread through the week.

Great Smoky Mountains National Park Superintendent Dale Ditmanson is scheduled to give opening remarks, and the first day will end with a photography show from Ken Jenkins, the originator of the idea for Wilderness Wildlife Week.

A new program for 2010 is the Listening Post, a project of the Smoky Mountain Storytellers Association. Wilderness Wildlife Week guests are invited to share a story with a storyteller and receive a free recording of that tale. The Listening Post will be open from 2-4 p.m. daily.

Details of Wilderness Wildlife Week are available online at www.MyPigeonForge.com/wildlife or by calling 1-800-251-9100.

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