Stream salamander monitoring in the Smokies: a model for lifelong connection

Great Smoky Mountains Institute at Tremont (Tremont Institute) is a residential environmental education center that has been connecting people and nature in the Great Smoky Mountains National Park for 45 years, and one of the... [ view full abstract ]

Great Smoky Mountains Institute at Tremont (Tremont Institute) is a residential environmental education center that has been connecting people and nature in the Great Smoky Mountains National Park for 45 years, and one of the ways we accomplish our mission is by facilitating deep connections through hands-on field research. We coordinate a number of citizen science research projects that contribute to our understanding of the ecosystems and animals that compose this exceedingly biodiverse national park. All of our participants, from 5th graders to retired nature enthusiasts, have opportunities to be scientists as they engage in collecting data, developing a sense of ownership for projects and subjects that previously seemed inaccessible or scary.

One such project at Tremont Institute is our long-term stream salamander monitoring study, which is among the longest-running studies of its kind in the country. Because we are located in the ‘Salamander Capital of the World,’ we are in the perfect position to study these endearing cold-blooded creatures.

Since the inception of this project, our participants of all ages have been directly involved in data collection and maintenance of our 6 stream transects. One of our core classes brings students on a journey of science discovery as they actively participate in the scientific method by collecting data on stream salamanders. Summer campers and adult naturalist course participants learn about amphibian conservation and population dynamics as they visit our streams. Local volunteers develop life-long connections to science and nature as they visit their adopted plots year after year. Schoolteachers continue the magic their students experienced at Tremont Institute by applying data the students collected to interdisciplinary concepts in the classroom. Fifteen years later, we are still making connections and forming partnerships around our little mascots, while ensuring their health and survival for future generations of stream explorers.