Returning to a favorite national park feels like coming home.

I drove only a few miles into the Smokies and was met with waves of nostalgia. I remember that trailhead! That huge majestic willow tree looks familiar!

My last visit to the park had involved multiple adventures over the course of a week. I trekked around the 520,000 acre space, enjoying waterfalls, views, and relaxing moments in nature. This time, however, I was on a very specific mission and eager to begin my task: research.

Yep. I couldn’t imagine any better location to explore a concept than in a wild space like the Great Smoky Mountains. Specifically, I was ready to investigate how national parks in general engage in educating the countless visitors who step (or drive) through their gates.

This process of educating has a special name – interpretation – and is the intentional way in which rangers guide guests into making meaning and understanding about the surrounding natural resources. As an outdoor educator within the school environment, I was excited to focus on this tourism portion of outside learning. As a grad student, I was eager to understand the goals, approaches, and content of national park interpretation.

I spent the next couple of days attending a variety of ranger programs, visitors centers, and wayside exhibits. I explored historical aspects of the park, and observed the available publications. Of course I still found time to hike, play in the campground creek, and sleep under the stars.

In a few months I hope to publish some of my findings [no spoilers]!

In the meantime, I savor the knowledge I gleaned from this beautiful place, and I process the intricacies involved in ranger-visitor communication.

Well done, Smokies, well done.