Great Smokies make for great outdoor classroom

In October, the fifth graders from Cherokee Bend spent five days at the Great Smoky Mountains Institute at Tremont. Their days were spent learning about life in the forest, looking for stream critters, using nature as inspiration for writing, and hiking through Cades Cove and an 8-mile trail. Each night, students participated in evening activities, including storytellers, folk dancing and a visit from the Knoxville Zoo’s Birds of Prey exhibit. The students had a great week learning, building new friendships and soaking up the mountains.