Great Smoky Mountains NP—Appalachian Highlands Science Learning Center: Intern Keaton Rodland In 1934 Congress chartered the Great Smoky Mountains National Park (GSMNP) and in 1940 Franklin D. Roosevelt officially dedicated it. The Smokies is the most visited national park. After receiving a letter of congratulations, I realized I knew nothing about where I was going to be working. My first week, training week, would be my first visit ever to the Smokies. Most of the days I spent in the GSMNP felt diverse. Whether it was bear baiting, salamander collection, helping out at the visitors center, or mapping streams with a GPS I was never displeased. One of the hardest challenges I encountered was determing appropriate behavior in a government uniform both as a mentor to high school interns and an Appalachian educator to the public. Educating the public about air quality through a pop-up exhibit was a challenge. I could have let the public read the exhibit, but I wanted to tell them in a fun and attentive way. In order to achieve this I tried different approaches. This part of my job taught me about public relations and the details needed for successful and positive educational interactions. I had to assess the audience within seconds. What I said and how I said it varied depending mostly on age. I had 10 seconds to get a message out. While my delivery never felt perfect, I was satisfied with my progression of information. People are open to listening to environmental problems on their vacation to the Smokies, but need motivation to really try and change it. I will carry the knowledge I gained about the air quality in and around the Smokies into my life and educational career. A huge part of what will bleed into my every day life and future career are the people skills I gained from the public interaction. Co-facilitating educational activities for people of all ages helped me become comfortable with educating people of all ages. The Great Smoky Mountains are a great place to teach and learn about Appalachian history and environmental impact.
“I will carry the knowledge I gained about the air quality in and around the Smokies into my life and educational career.The Great Smoky Mountains are a great place to teach and learn about Appalachian history and environmental impact.”
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