10 Years Later: Lessons We Can Learn from the Gatlinburg Wildfires
Register for Zoom Link/Recording
Thursday, November 5th, 7pm EST on Zoom
It is a ghastly day for residents of East Tennessee to remember: November 28, 2016. On that date, the Chimney Tops 2 forest fire that began in the higher elevations of the Great Smoky Mountains National Park a few days earlier was blown out of the park into Gatlinburg and on towards Pigeon Forge. The original wildfire had been contained by the Park service and should have burned itself out. But instead , 80 mph winds blew burning embers onto drought starved yards, creating a multitude of fires. Ultimately, over 14,000 people were displaced or evacuated, and 14 lives were lost.
There are many lessons for us to learn from this historic fire event as climate changes continue to impact our daily life. In 2022, the University of Tennessee Press and UT Libraries published the book “Rising From the Ashes” created from numerous firsthand eye-witness accounts. Join us on Thursday, November 5 at 7pm EST via Zoom as UT Arboretum education coordinator, Michelle Campanis, and naturalist and former Gatlinburg resident, Stephen Lyn Bales, discuss “Rising From the Ashes” and the lessons learned from the 2016 Gatlinburg Wildfire.
This program is free, but you must register to receive the Zoom link and a copy of the recording. Closed captions are available. For questions or registration issues contact Michelle at mcampani@utk.edu.
This program is co-sponsored by the UT Arboretum Society (UTAS) and The American Museum of Science and Energy (AMSE).
Guided Bird Walk: Wednesday, November 18 at 8am
Register to Reserve Your Spot
The American Museum of Science and Energy (AMSE) and the University of Tennessee Arboretum are partnering together for the November free guided bird walk at the UT Arboretum on Wednesday, November 18 at 8:00 am. Please meet at the kiosk outside of the UT Arboretum Visitors Center. This guided walk will be led by local ornithologist, Lucas Coe-Starr, and volunteers from the American Museum of Science and Energy in Oak Ridge. The event is limited to 30 participants. Please bring water, wear comfortable shoes, and hiking poles or binoculars if you wish. No pets please. There will be a limited supply of loaner binoculars on a first come basis at the hike. This will be our final Bird Walk of 2026. We plan to resume in March 2027.
“Bird watching is now North America’s second most popular outdoor activity (second only to gardening).” Says AMSE educator Corky Witt. “There must be something to it—so come out with us and find out why!”
For questions or more information please contact Courtney Beard at cbeard@amse.org or 865-385-6081
Location: 901 S. Illinois Avenue, Oak Ridge, Tennessee 37830*
*GPS sometimes directs people to Union Valley Road which is a service entrance only. Please use our main entrance on Illinois Avenue.
Let’s Give A Hoot for Owl Ridge Raptor Center
Saturday, November 21st, 10am -Noon
Free In-person program, Registration Required
Join us on Saturday morning November 21, as Lisa Thomison, co-founder of Owl Ridge Raptor Center, and their staff provide an introduction to the work of this federal and state licensed raptor rehabilitation center. Owl Ridge will bring some very special winged “ambassadors” for us to meet. Owl Ridge Raptor Center is a nonprofit organization that takes care of injured and orphaned birds of prey. These include owls, hawks, falcons, vultures, and eagles. The goal with each bird is full recovery and re-release back into their native habitat whenever possible. The program is free, but registration is required to confirm your seat. We will have a donation box available to benefit the work at Owl Ridge Raptor Center. Please make sure to register for all members of your group so that seats will be available. Seating limited to 100. The event will be held indoors from 10am -Noon at our Auditorium. UT Arboretum, 901 S. Illinois Avenue, Oak Ridge, TN 37830. * Parking is available at the auditorium.
For questions or registration issues contact UT Arboretum Education Coordinator at mcampani@utk.edu or 865-483-7277.
This event is co-sponsored by the UT Arboretum Society, Tennessee Citizens for Wilderness Planning, and The American Museum of Science and Energy.
*GPS sometimes directs people to a service entrance on Union Valley Road. Do not go to Union Valley Road, our main entrance is on S. Illinois Avenue.
