At Tremont, every season brings new ways to learn, explore, and connect — with the natural world and with one another. As our second campus in Townsend takes shape, we’re inviting you to be part of its early story through Seasons of Connection, a limited series of hands-on workshops for adults led by Tremont’s expert educators.
Each class in the series offers an opportunity to deepen your relationship with the land, discover new skills, and help shape the future of Tremont’s newest campus. Whether you’re a long-time Tremont supporter or simply curious about the evolving landscape in Townsend, these one-day workshops will connect you to the rhythms, stories, and stewardship that define this place.
Forest Stewardship – February 7, 2026
Step into the role of caretaker with Elizabeth Davis, Tremont’s land manager, and learn what it means to read and tend a living forest. Participants will brush up on winter tree identification, inventory a forest stand, and explore the land’s history, health, and potential for renewal. Then, you’ll roll up your sleeves to help protect the forest’s hemlocks from the woolly adelgid and practice traditional tree-felling techniques. This day of learning, discovery, and physical stewardship offers a rare chance to both study and serve the land in one of its earliest seasons of growth.
Wayfinding – March 14, 2026
Navigation is as much about awareness as it is about direction. Join Kathleen Reilly, Tremont’s field programs specialist, for a day of orienteering and map-based exploration across the ridges and hollows of the Townsend campus. You’ll learn to read topographic maps, take bearings, and interpret the land’s features before testing your new skills on a guided challenge. Expect a mix of on- and off-trail hiking — and leave with the confidence to find your way in both familiar and unfamiliar terrain.
Survival Skills – June 6, 2026
Survival isn’t about conquering nature — it’s about working in partnership with it. In this hands-on workshop with Kristen Ross, you’ll practice two timeless skills: crafting shelter and kindling fire by friction. Along the way, you’ll explore how adaptability, patience, and curiosity can turn challenge into connection. Through movement, experimentation, and reflection, participants will gain both practical know-how and a deeper respect for the resources the land provides.
Seasonal Rhythms – September 19, 2026
As summer turns to fall, join John DiDiego, Tremont’s education director, for a restorative day of observation, journaling, and creative engagement with the landscape. Through guided field time and simple sketching exercises, you’ll explore how plants and animals prepare for seasonal change — and how those patterns can help us find grounding in our own lives. You’ll leave with practices that bring more attention, joy, and connection to the everyday natural world.
Join Us on the Land
Each Seasons of Connection workshop takes place on Tremont’s second campus property in Townsend, adjacent to Great Smoky Mountains National Park. Registration includes all course materials; participants bring their own lunch and a spirit of curiosity.
This series marks the beginning of a new era for Tremont — one rooted in learning, stewardship, and shared experience. We invite you to join us for one class or all four as we explore what it means to live, learn, and grow together through the seasons.
Cover image by Tim Gels.
