In East Tennessee, students at South Doyle and Alcoa middle schools live just miles from the majestic Great Smoky Mountains, but for many, exploring the country’s most visited national park is still a rare experience.
However, that has changed thanks to a Greening STEM grant from Arconic Foundation and the National Environmental Education Foundation (NEEF), which partnered with the Great Smoky Mountains Institute at Tremont, an environmental learning center nestled in the park’s northwest region. Tremont is known for its hands-on science programs and outdoor classrooms, where students can monitor streams, track wildlife, and measure biodiversity.
- NEEF partnered with Arconic Foundation and the Great Smoky Mountains Institute at Tremont on Greening STEM projects in the Smokies for middle school students in East Tennessee.
Two local schools brought the program to life, starting with outdoor learning on their own campuses and culminating with trips into the Smokies.
Creating Connections from the Creek to the Classroom
At South Doyle Middle School in Knox County, the program began in familiar spaces—the school forest, nearby Baker Creek, and campus gardens—where students held quarterly mini-BioBlitzes to log everything from pollinators to invasive plants, even joining the international City Nature Challenge. Sixth graders designed pollinator gardens certified as Monarch Waystations, seventh graders tested creek water and soil quality to gauge the health of their local ecosystem, and eighth graders extended their learning with trips to the University of Tennessee in Knoxville, where they explored agricultural labs, botanical gardens, and a dairy farm to connect science and sustainability concepts to real-world careers.
But perhaps the most memorable experience for students and teachers alike was a three-day trip to the Tremont campus in the heart of the Smokies. For many, it was their first time setting foot in the park. Students learned about mountain geology, hiked to waterfalls, and got their feet wet searching for macroinvertebrates before studying their finds under microscopes. Evenings brought campfires and s’mores, folk music, outdoor games, and plenty of laughter. Teachers noticed how different this trip felt compared to other field trips, where activities can sometimes feel disconnected from classroom lessons.
This grant has allowed [students] to take the standards we learn in the classroom and apply them to real-life situations, getting out into an environment where many have never been able to go before.
Jennifer Price, 6th Grade Teacher at Alcoa Middle School
At Tremont, every hike, lab, and campfire story was woven into what students had been studying. They also saw their students change in ways that simply don’t happen inside four walls. Some who were homesick on the first night soon settled in and began to thrive, stepping outside their comfort zones by the second day.
“The students really came alive outdoors,” said Jennifer Sauer, a science enrichment teacher at South Doyle. “Through student feedback, conversations between students, and discussions with teachers, I noticed more meaningful scientific dialogue and understanding … and much higher student engagement, especially around career education.” She also noted that behavior issues were minimal, and engagement soared as students hiked, studied the creek, and shared space around the campfire.
Many students had a similar reaction. One called it, “the best field trip I have ever had,” capturing the excitement that carried through the group. Parents echoed that enthusiasm in follow-up notes, with one writing, “This was a life-changing experience for them. You definitely made an impact on their lives. Thank you!”
- QUICK FACTS: South Doyle Middle School
- Grades: 6–8
- Students impacted: 600
- Activities: Mini-BioBlitzes with iNaturalist, water quality testing, pollinator garden creation, agricultural career field trips, overnight Tremont experience (36 students/4 teachers)
Sparking Curiosity and Enthusiasm through Outdoor Learning
Just down the road from South Doyle, Alcoa Middle School in Blount County launched a sixth grade-wide effort to connect students with the ecological region right outside their doors.
Getting there took some perseverance. When weather derailed their first scheduled overnight trip to Tremont, park staff came to Alcoa instead, leading a guided exploration of nearby Springbrook Park to give students a foundation in local ecology. While the overnight trip is now scheduled for next year, students did get the chance to visit Tremont for a day trip, where they rotated through three immersive activities: stream ecology, survival-style shelter building, and salamander monitoring.
- QUICK FACTS: Alcoa Middle School
- Grades: 6
- Students impacted: 317
- Activities: Salamander monitoring, stream ecology, survival explorations at Tremont Program Goals Introduce students to local ecosystems Expand hands-on STEM learning outdoors Foster environmental stewardship Engage more teachers in outdoor instruction
Sixth-grade teachers Amanda Collins, Jennifer Price, and Adrienne Adderhold shared their reflections on the experience.
“What an exceptional learning experience for our students!” said Collins. “They were enraptured the entire trip.”
“This grant has allowed [students] to take the standards we learn in the classroom and apply them to real-life situations, getting out into an environment where many have never been able to go before,” said Price.
Adderhold echoed this sentiment. “By connecting STEM to environmental issues that are often personally relevant to participants, such as local water quality or waste management, this program sparked curiosity and enthusiasm, leading to deeper learning and retention.”
Greening STEM Brings Environmental Education to Life
Sometimes, the most powerful discoveries happen close to home. Thanks to the support of NEEF and Arconic Foundation, students in East Tennessee are now seeing the Smokies not just as a distant backdrop, but as a classroom, a playground, and a shared responsibility to protect and explore. To learn more about NEEF’s Greening STEM program, including how your school can take part, visit our Greening STEM Hub.
