Gatlinburg-Pittman High School Students Join Find Your Park Movement

As a part of 2015 National Park Week, April 18-26, local art students at Gatlinburg-Pittman High School have created watercolor paintings of their favorite parks, which will be on display at Sugarlands Visitor Center and Park Headquarters through May 1, 2015. Additionally, students have created posters to line the halls of Gatlinburg-Pittman High School highlighting their favorite parts of Great Smoky Mountains National Park.

Each watercolor landscape painting features one of America’s National Parks in honor of National Park Week. Each student selected a park unit from across the nation including their hometown Great Smoky Mountains National Park and far off places like American Samoa National Park. Students created a watercolor image of a unique scene that reflected parks and also included a short piece on how they found their park.

“Tremont has always had a special place in my heart since I stayed there in the fifth grade. This summer I am completing a Citizen Science Internship at Tremont.” – Angel Chaffin on Tremont

 

“Grotto Falls is a beautiful waterfall year-round. It is always fun to walk behind the fall and search for salamanders.” – Jaynie Renfro and Abby Fortner on Grotto Falls

 

“No matter what time of year, Cades Cove holds so much beauty. I love to spend a nice day there with my family.” – Nidhi Mehta on Cades Cove

“Cades Cove is my favorite place because my family and I always go there to experience the beautiful views. When I was younger, we would bike through the path and that gradually became my favorite past time.” – Alexa Alana on Cades Cove

“Cades Cove is filled with so many beautiful views and it is a perfect place to visit anytime with friends and family.” – Poonam Patel on Cades Cove

 

“This is one of my favorite hikes.” – Angel Chaffin on Abrams Falls

 

The posters lining the halls of Gatlinburg-Pittman High School allow the students, faculty, and staff to see and learn about different parts of the Smokies. From Cataloochee in North Carolina to Cades Cove in Tennessee, each student or group chose a portion of the Smokies that meant something to them or their families. The following places are featured at the school: Tremont and Abrams Falls by Angel Chaffin, Chimney Tops by Rochelle Guenther, Cataloochee by Sterling Fisher, Grotto Falls by Jaynie Renfro and Abby Fortner, Cades Cove by Nidhi Mehta, Alexa Alana, and Poonam Patel.

“I think the students have done a beautiful job with their posters! They have carefully selected perfect images to entice students and teachers here in our school to find time to visit the park,” said Alice Fisher, art teacher and faculty sponsor of the school’s chapter of Friends of the Smokies. “Our goal was to remind the staff and student body about how lucky we are to live so near the National Park, and to encourage everyone to take appreciate the beauty of the Smokies, especially during National Park Week.”

Gatlinburg-Pittman High School student watercolor paintings on display at Sugarlands Visitor Center:

Fire Island National Seashore by Bonnie Morris

Glacier Bay National Park by Mackinley McMahan

Grand Tetons National Park by Stephen Muszik

Congaree National Park by Abigail Galiano

Gatlinburg-Pittman High School student watercolor paintings on display at Park Headquarters:

American Samoa National Park by Jojo Trees

Hawaii Volcanoes National Park by Simone Reim

Channel Islands National Park by Charles Smith

Timucuan Ecological Historic Preserve by Elayna Shaw

Great Smoky Mountains National Park by Kaylie Clevenger

Kings Canyon National Park by Katherine Miller

 

“Find Your Park” is also the theme for this year’s National Park Week, April 18 – 26. “National Park Week is a time for visitors, of all ages, to get out and experience their national parks, especially the Great Smoky Mountains,” said Superintendent Cassius Cash, “I hope during the National Park Week and over the next year as we celebrate the National Park Service’s second century, everyone will take the opportunity to Find Your Park.”

This year, the park, will offer annual special programs during National Park Week and a variety of special activities in conjunction with Find Your Park.

Visit www.NationalParkWeek.org to learn more about how you can join parks, programs, and partners in celebrating National Park Week across the country.