Welcome to Naturalist Week!

Nature is everywhere. Are you noticing it?

At Tremont, we aim to give learners of all ages the tools and understanding needed to appreciate nature in their own neighborhoods. You’re invited to take part in Naturalist Week, a virtual event designed to help more people connect with nature, wherever they are.

There are many ways to celebrate Naturalist Week, but here are the basics:

  • When: June 15-21, 2026, with occasional special in-person and virtual events
  • Who: You! Naturalist Week is designed for kids and adults from around the country (and beyond!) Everyone is welcome to participate in any or all parts of the week.
  • Where: Your backyard, local park, neighborhood garden, or any other patch of green you can find!
  • How: Take the Naturalist Week Level Up Challenge! Choose how you want to earn points (details below) and discover how you can connect with nature in your own neighborhood. Be sure to report your points by noon on Monday, June 22, to receive a prize.

When you give to Tremont, you help connect people with nature.

We deliver experiential learning for youth, educators, and adults through programs that promote self-discovery, critical thinking, and effective teaching and leadership. From our home in Great Smoky Mountains National Park, our research and residential programs investigate the diversity that sustains all life, develop a sense of place, and cultivate a stewardship ethic that will influence lifelong decision-making. Your gift makes our work possible.

Take the Level Up Challenge at the Maryville Music Series

June 4 - July 30

The Big Day (From Wherever You Are!)

June 17

Naturalist Week Picnic at Knoxville Botanical Garden

June 20 @ 10:00 am - 1:00 pm

Take the Naturalist Week Level Up Challenge

How to Play

  1. (Optional) Download the Level Up Tracker to keep track of your points.
  2. Do the activities suggested below (printable version here). Do whichever ones you want in whatever order you want. Have fun!
  3. Once you hit 25 points, fill out this form to let us know!
  4. Watch your mailbox for a prize! Everyone who earns 25 points will receive a prize, and one lucky individual will win a custom in-person Tremont experience led by an experienced naturalist.

All final point totals should be submitted by noon on Monday, June 22, to receive a prize.

Earn 1 point when you...

  • Find a leaf bigger than your hand
  • Find a bug and give it a name
  • Find something that smells earthy
  • Listen for the farthest-away sound you can hear
  • Add an observation to iNaturalist (one point per observation – add as many as you want!)
  • Mimic a bird call. (Bonus point if it calls back!)
  • Touch something weird (not human!)
  • Tell a bug a secret
  • Compliment a tree
  • Find a leaf that’s bigger than your hand
  • Eat a meal outside
  • Take a “portrait” of a plant, rock, bug, or mushroom. (Bonus point if you email us a picture!)
  • Go outside barefoot and notice five sensations
  • Find a seed
  • Compare the smell of two different flowers

Earn 3 points when you...

  • Ask someone to tell you about their favorite tree
  • Use the Merlin Bird ID app to notice 3 different bird songs.
  • Follow a bug for 3 minutes
  • Share an observation on The Big Day on June 17
  • Find a fallen feather
  • Sit in silence for five minutes
  • Choose one square foot of ground and count how many living things you can find
  • Do the My New Best Friend nature journaling activity
  • Find a nature mystery and share it with a friend or in your nature journal
  • Find something that changed since yesterday
  • Notice a new pattern
  • Teach someone younger than you one cool thing about the outdoors
  • Find a place where nature is “winning”

Earn 5 points when you...

Earn 10 points when you...

  • Spend one full hour outside with no agenda except noticing
  • Visit a secret spot at least three times during the week
  • Write a story or a poem
  • Find something beautiful, something gross, and something mysterious
  • Without moving anything, spell your name with natural items that are shaped like letters. (3 bonus points if you email us pictures!)
  • Join us for the Naturalist Week Picnic on June 20
  • Invent a game that could only be played outside
  • Go camping – backyard camping counts!
  • Create a “before humans wake up” or “after dark” nature journal entry
  • Plan and lead a 10-minute nature walk for family, friends, neighbors, or co-workers
  • Do one thing to help the wild where you live – clean up litter, remove invasive plants, or plant a native plant that pollinators love
  • Make a donation in any amount to Tremont

Connect With Us for Daily Activities During Naturalist Week