Everything You Need to Know About the Junior Naturalist Program in Gatlinburg
Gatlinburg's Junior Naturalist Program: What It Is, How to Join & Why Kids Love It
The Junior Naturalist Program in Gatlinburg is an educational outdoor activity for children exploring Great Smoky Mountains National Park. Kids complete nature-based activities, identifying plants and animals, exploring streams, learning about ecosystems, and earn an official Junior Ranger badge. The program is available at Sugarlands Visitor Center near Gatlinburg and is free with park admission. Designed for ages 5–12, it typically takes 1–3 hours — ideal for a morning before exploring Gatlinburg's main strip.
Looking for some screen-free things to do in Gatlinburg during your stay at Westgate Smoky Mountain Resort & Water Park? We’ve got you covered! Our Junior Naturalist Program is the perfect outdoor adventure for families looking to disconnect from Wi-Fi and reconnect with the world around them.
From learning about plants and animals that call the Great Smoky Mountains home to how to take care of them, this program is a breath of fresh air for the whole family. Literally.
Calling All Junior Naturalists
The Junior Naturalist Program is a guided outdoor experience for kids ages 5–12, led by one of the resort's onsite nature experts. The program takes small groups from the Activity Center into the neighboring woods for a hands-on introduction to the natural world right outside their door.
It's part nature walk, part wildlife lesson, and entirely free to join during your stay!
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Branch Out & Learn Something New
From tree ID to animal tracking, each session is led by an onsite nature expert who will guide kids through the kind of hands-on discovery that makes the Smokies feel like more than just a scenic backdrop.
Here is some of the knowledge you’ll leaf with:
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Wildlife tracking — learning to spot and identify signs of local animals, from deer prints to signs of black bear activity
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Tree and plant ID — putting names to what's growing around them and understanding why those plants belong here
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Stream and ecosystem basics — discovering how the natural systems of the Smokies are all connected, right down to the critters living under the rocks
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BearWise principles — how to safely and respectfully share the forest with the park's most famous residents
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Leave No Trace — the how and why of keeping wild spaces wild, and what kids can actually do to make a difference
After their outdoor adventure, Junior Naturalists receive activity sheets and a nature passport to keep the exploration going, perfect for self-guided fun throughout the rest of your stay.
Tips to Get the Most Out of It
Wear shoes you don't mind getting dirty. You're heading into actual woods. Opt for sneakers over flip-flops.
Bring a water bottle. Even a short outdoor session in Tennessee humidity will make you wish you had one.
Let the kids lead a little. The activity sheets and passport are designed to fuel curiosity beyond the guided session — if your kid gets fired up about spotting animal tracks, lean into it. That's kind of the whole point.
Layer up in cooler months. The Smokies can be unpredictable temperature-wise. A light jacket goes a long way, especially in the morning.
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Take a Hike… With the Junior Naturalists!
Gatlinburg has no shortage of things to do — go-karts, pancake houses, outlet shopping, you name it. But if part of the reason you came to the Smokies was the actual Smokies, the Junior Naturalist Program is a low-effort, high-payoff way to connect with that.
It's an hour or two that trades screen time for stream ecosystems, and kids genuinely leave knowing something new.
For more travel tips, dining guides, and things to see in Tennessee, visit our Westgate Resorts Travel Blog.
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