Bear Safety Podcast
The Great Smoky Mountains Association recently released
a podcast on hiking safety
and wildlife encounters.
Click here to view the podcast.

An Appalachian Celebration
Summer Camp Ages 9-17 Join us for an evening of
traditional ballads, stories
and music of southern
appalachia. Click here for more
information.

Naturalist Expeditions Camp
Summer Camp Ages 9-17Campers will spend their
days hiking, searching for
critters, taking in jaw-dropping
views, and being immersed
in the wonders of your
National Park.

This year, we have a special Expedition.
We will spend several days in the Big
Creek area of the Smokies, exploring
a different ecosystem, hiking to a fire
tower for 360 degree views, and cooling
off in one of America’s most gorgeous swimming holes. Click here for more information.

Tremont Events
Workshops, hikes, camping trips
and more!
View the 2010-2011 calendar.

Plans to Improve Tremont
Click here to learn more from Tremont
about the Environmental Assessment
that the park released on improving our facilities.

Tremont eNews
Email us to sign up for our
bi-weekly enewsletter including Tremont and park information and articles
by our naturalists.

Walker Valley Reflections
The Spring Edition of our newsletter is now available online. In this edition: 2009
Annual Report, articles from our naturalists, information on upcoming events, and more! View online.

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
February 12, 2009
Contact: Michelle Key
865/448-9732, x23
Michelle@gsmit.org
www.gsmit.org

Related Materials

Images:
John DiDiego Head Shot
John DiDiego Naturalist
Tremont 40th Anniversary Logo

Back to Press Releases


(Great Smoky Mountains) – Great Smoky Mountains Institute at Tremont has continued to showcase its educational excellence by adding John DiDiego to its staff as Education Director. He is responsible for overall planning and management of educational programs at Tremont. He also leads Tremont’s program leadership team, which sets course for professional development for teaching staff and programs.

John grew up catching snakes and turtles in the creeks of upstate South Carolina, and he has never lost his love of wild things and wild places. He has always enjoyed international travel and served two stints in the Peace Corps in Morocco and Russia. In over 12 years experience in environmental education, he has worked in places as far-flung as New England, Yosemite National Park, far eastern Russia, and Georgia; but there is no place he’d rather be than the southern Appalachians. He is looking forward to experiencing the changing seasons and the magic of changing students’ lives at Tremont.

DiDiego holds a BA degree in English Literature from the University of Notre Dame and an MS in Natural Resources/Environmental Education from the University of Wisconsin-Stevens Point. He is a member of the North American Association for Environmental Education (NAAEE), Association for Outdoor And Environmental Education (AEOE), and the Georgia Environmental Education Alliance (Ga EEA) where he was on the board in 2004-2005.

Diego and his wife Michele are settling into Maryville and enjoying spending time on the trails with their two young boys, Thomas and Mario. He enjoys hiking, biking, kayaking, turning over logs, and playing/singing folk tunes.

Great Smoky Mountains Institute at Tremont is a private 501(c)(3) non-profit organization within Great Smoky Mountains National Park. Since 1969, Tremont has provided in-depth experiences to over half a million people of all ages through residential educational programs designed to nurture appreciation of Great Smoky Mountains National Park, celebrate diversity, and foster stewardship.


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