University of Tennessee Continuing Education Courses

Total offered: 902

Soil Analysis and Conditioning – New technological and scientific studies and findings have made it possible to enhance the fertility, bio effectiveness and productivity of soil. This course takes full advantage of and digs even deeper into some of those scientific finds that promise great things for your efforts in your own garden or landscape. We’ll go underground to analyze the soil and recommend improvements and we’ll review specifics on fertilizer types, usage, and benefits.
Introduction to Fly-casting & Fly-fishing – This course provides a basic working knowledge of fly-fishing equipment, casting techniques and fly identification. The novice fly-fisherman will be instructed to properly read stream in order to get the most out of each cast.
Edible and Poisonous Fungi of the Smokies – The Smokey Mountains are world-renowned for mushrooms and home to more than 2,000 species. Here’s a chance to learn about the many kinds of mushroom and how to identify them by size, shape and color. We’ll take short hikes and through these field explorations, learn about the habitats for mushrooms, toxicology and the association between fungi and tree roots.
Photography for Naturalists – As naturalists we have the opportunity and desire to how other the many natural wonders that intrigue us. At times we are asked to present our knowledge regarding particular subjects. The next best thing to being in the field is a well-done visual presentation. Photography is an important tool for many naturalists and one worth pursuing both for the presentation of our subjects and for the pure enjoyment of this creative outlet.
Landscape Plant Selection for East Tennessee – Poor plant selections for landscapes is a common problem that plagues neighborhoods and, perhaps, even your own house. In this course you’ll discover this growing problem and learn when specific plants are perfect not only for your home but East Tennessee area.
Nature and Travel Photography – In this stimulating course you’ll both discover and capture the beauty of landscapes, wildlife and all aspects of nature. Whether you’re taking a walk through the park or traveling to an exotic jungle or desert, you’ll soon be able to take stunning photographs of the natural world that surrounds us.
Lawncare and Fertilization: Spring Edition – Keeping a green lawn is not easy in East Tennessee but if you plant the right type of grasses and keep them fertilized and maintained.
Cades Cove: A Window to the Past- Embark on a geologic hiking journey through Cades Cove. Learn the secrets of mountain building, see the processes that shaped the high elevation peaks, and cross the Great Smoky Fault! On this 7.5 mile loop hike, we'll look at the rocks that demonstrate the older Great Smoky Rocks thrusting over younger Paleozoic limestone, followed by erosion that created this classic example of a geologic "window." We'll discuss the geologic history and the continuing geologic activity of Cades Cove while enjoying the spectacular views as we move through several major forest types that characterize the Great Smoky Mountains.
Home Landscape Design & Installation – A well-designed landscape can complement your home’s architecture and make your yard more attractive by adding color, texture, and fragrance. In this course we’ll discuss all aspects and home landscape design, including the design process, planning process, and installation process each with emphasis on practicality and low maintenance.
Pruning: Art and Science – Whether you need to prune, trim, shear, chop, or saw, you should know a few methods that’ll keep you from butchering, maiming whacking, or disfiguring you valuable plants. In this course we’ll demonstrate various forms of pruning to ensure continued plant health and beauty.
Fall Nature Photography – Learn techniques for designing photographs of combined subjects such as landscape, waterscapes, and fall color.
Mt. LeConte Hike and Overnight in the Lodge – What better way to experience the beauty of the Smokies than through a hike and overnight stay at LeConte Lodge?
Winter Tree Identification – Spend a day in the forest and find out how to identify trees and shrubs in the wintertime. We’ll cover the basic ecological requirements of the dominant tree species that make up the forest types of the Smokies.
Advanced Landscape Design – Landscape design is a practice that takes many years to develop into an art form. It also takes an intimate knowledge of many different skills pertaining to landscaping to make a practical, yet visually stimulating landscape.
Elkmont– Transition and Change – Join a retired Smokies ranger and writer on an easy and informative walking tour of one of the most fascinating areas of the Smokies, the Elkmont area. Arguably no other area in the park’s 800 square miles has experienced as much transition from one use to another as Elkmont.
Exploring the Night Sky – Learn to navigate the heavens with binoculars and telescopes, observing galaxies, globular and open clusters, star-forming regions, planets, and Earth’s moon. We’ll glimpse the future of our manned space program as well as the unmanned robotic exploration of our solar system.
Hiking – Just Getting Started – Learn from a pro the proper clothing to wear and necessary gear for beginning hikers. Time will be spent on trip planning details, and then you’ll hike to see some of the wonders that lie ahead with proper planning and gear. The instructor brings knowledge, experience, and enthusiasm to make for an exciting day of learning valuable skills and useful outdoor techniques.
Animal Tracking and Nature Observation – Tracking is an ancient survival skill, but it can open up a whole new world to the inquiring mind. Tracking is a focus that enables us to be more aware, to experiences, and to see much more of the natural landscape. We don’t need to see the animals to tell that they were there, what they were doing, and when they might come back; we’ll learn their stories from the traces they have left behind.
Polliwogs, Eggs, and Singing Frogs – Visit various ponds in Cades Cove and help find Spotted Salamander and Wood Frog eggs, tadpoles, and salamanders. We’ll discuss amphibian biology, ecology, and research throughout the afternoon.
Spring Wildflower and Nature Photography – Want to develop your technical and visual skills in nature photography? We concentrate on the two main subjects of spring photography in the Smokies: wildflowers and landscapes.
Residential Landscape Renovation – Your landscape should be an extension of your home, an outdoor getaway where you can relax and enjoy the beautiful sights and sounds of your garden. If your landscape has outlived its design, you can get time and money-saving tips from a professional landscape designer and renovator in this handy course.
Birding in the Smokies– Join two fellow birders for a day of field observation and discovery of common birdlife in the Smokies. As we seek familiar and elusive species, we’ll ponder on the best binoculars, field guides and calls, and song CDs as we add to our “Life List”.
Low Acid Canning – The University of Tennessee Extension and the UT Culinary Institute are pleased to announce this course to help with canning foods safely at home.
Canning College: Preserving Nature’s Bounty- During the first portion of each class you’ll learn basic food preservation and home canning principles and terminology. The second portion of each class will be spent in the kitchen canning foods.
Principles of Home Canning- You’ll discover the steps in canning, basic canning equipment and how to use it properly, and certain techniques. You’ll also learn how to preserve high acid foods using a water bath canner.
Fermented and Pickled Foods-This course covers how to preserve pickles and protect the quality of the product as well as the vast variety of items which can be pickled. We’ll also discuss the proper equipment and steps in pickling.
Healing Foods: Your Health Prescription- In this course you’ll lean the healing power of a wide variety of foods. You’ll also get an introduction to herbal remedies you can make or try at home. Foods for common ailments such as asthma, cholesterol, depression, headaches, high blood pressure, obesity and many more will be discussed.
Essential Oils for Your Health- In this course, taught by a holistic health coach, you’ll learn which essential oils are thought to work for which ailments, including skin conditions, hormonal issues, diabetes, anxiety and depression, and more. You’ll receive recipes for making your own aromatherapy blends as well as face and body products.
Cherokee Plant Lore and More- Start the day with a media visit with the “Plant Tribe” to learn what was used for flavor and pharmacy. Sample some traditional Cherokee foods and then tour the Indian Botanical Gardens. There is an optional visit to the Cherokee Fall Festival to see the winning crafts and agricultural exhibits.
Cherokee Heritage Adventure- Explore the culture of the Cherokee. Hear some of the legends at the Story Circle, play some traditional games, and take a nature walk along the Oconaluftee River Trail. Learn how the plants and trees provided food and medicines for the Cherokee.
Waterfeatures, Gardens, and Fountains – Through this intensive workshop you’ll discover the soothing sounds and visual interest created by water features and learn what water features will work for your landscape design, lifestyle, and budget. We’ll also discuss planning, installation, maintenance, costs, plants and suppliers.
Introduction to Tree Identification – On several short walks in various elevations and habitats, you’ll learn methods of identifying trees in the field. Time is spent learning hot use summer keys along with photographs to identify tree species using readily observed traits of their bark, twigs, and leaves
Ferns, Wildflower, and Ecological Relationships in Roan Mountain – Join us for the flame azalea bloom and the start of the mountain rosebay rhododendron bloom. We’ll focus on flora but also discuss geology, balds restoration, and Roan’s unique Alder bald.
The Light Show in the Smokies- We’ll visit the Elkmont area of the park in the evening in order to learn about the history of the area and the natural cycle of the synchronous fireflies.
Foraging for Food and Farmacy– Spend a day discovering how to identify plants and trees Native Americans and early settlers used for dye, food, medicine, crafts, and other items of daily life. Sample delicious wild flavors appropriate of the seasons.
The Mystery of Monarch Butterflies- Monarchs are an iconic American butterfly known the world over as the only butterfly that makes a true migration in the fall. And this migration occurs only in North America where the butterfly can travel over 2,000 miles to its winter destination. But as the media has been reporting, this natural event is considered endangered. This class will share detailed information about the monarch butterfly, its life cycle, migration and when monarchs are expected to be seen in the Smoky Mountains. We will spend time in the field chasing monarchs while learning to identify family groups of butterflies that we find in Cades Cove. You will also learn of a number of citizen science projects you can join here in the Smokies or from your own home. Bring field guides, lunch, plenty of drink and a large hooped butterfly net if you own one!
Father & Son Overnight Canoe Trip- Enjoy the wilderness of Fontana Lake as a father and son duo on an overnight canoe trop. We’ll paddle from Tsali Recreation area into the main channel of Fontana, spending the night at a backcountry campsite. The next day we’ll spend time in either Hazel Creek or the Tuckasegee River embayment before returning to our put-in. A portion of the trip will be dedicated to paddling, skills, the history of canoes, and the importance of wilderness preservation.
Understanding the Black Bear-Join Joel Zachry for a day toward greater understanding of black bear habits and travels in the Smoky wilderness. Zachry will share insight into how this remarkable large mammal avoids conflicts and eludes Park visitors as it endures the challenges of the rugged landscape. After class time, you’ll set out on an easy to moderate hike in search of bear foods, den sites, and frequently over-looked clues to the bruin’s presence.
Bears of Our Smokies- Join Joey Holt for a day filled with fascinating facts about our Smokies black bear. Holt brings a keen perspective on bear habits and knowledge of how to avoid potentially troublesome encounters. After class time, complete with multiple show and tell items, you’ll take an easy to moderate fall hike into the park’s backcountry in search of dwindling fall food options and possible den sites. With his experience in tracking and interpreting terrain, Holt provides you with the best opportunities to identify bear trails, tracks, scats, and other often-missed signs.
Care and Release of Orphaned and Injured Black Bear Cubs- Join Appalachian Bear Rescue biologist Coy Blair and discover how this organization has successfully cared for and released orphaned and injured young bears since its inception in the 1990s. Blair will discuss each step from when the bear arrives at the facility until it is deemed releasable to the appropriate park or wildlife agency. You’ll learn about safety issues, veterinary care, and various capture and work-up techniques and hear intriguing stories of several releases.
Managing Black Bears and Hogs—Native and Exotic Species- Meet at the Appalachian Bear Rescue training room in Trillium Cove Shopping Village, Townsend, TN.
Preserving Our Heritage- Join Foothills Land Conservancy staff for an informative “walk and talk” hiking session on preserving our land heritage in and around the Smokies. You’ll come away with vital information about conservation and preservation. Join others of a like-minded nature for a day of learning and enjoyment about what you can do to ensure that our public and private lands are protected for future generations. As a bonus, you’ll leave with a greater understanding of the importance of diversified habitats and more knowledge about seasonal flowers and trees.
Composting: Life from Dead Stuff- This course takes full advantage of and digs even deeper into some of the scientific finds that promise great things for your efforts in your own garden and landscape. We’ll review the creation and practical usage of this under-appreciated free resources (leaves, twigs, and other garden debris) and investigate why it’s so important and effective. This is a companion course to Soil Analysis and Conditioning.
Junior Naturalist Culture and History-Geologic History, Cherokee Heritage, Early Settlers, Future Park Challenges
Junior Naturalist Park Fauna (Animals)- Amphibians and Reptiles, Insects and Birds, Small Mammals, Big Game Animals
Junior Naturalist Park Flora (Plants)- Ferns and Mosses, Wildflowers, Bines and Shrubs, Trees
Junior Naturalist Camp- A week long camp in the park where children can learn from experts about park flora and fauna, outdoor safety and preparedness, and culture and history of the Smoky Mountains. Traveling from the classroom to the mountains will enable you to experience hands-on learning on trails, along streams, and all around nature’s outdoor laboratory.
Friend or Foe? Species Interaction- Come discover the new world of microbes and fungi and learn how they interact not only with plants and animals but also with you.
Snakes Alive- In this exciting camp, you’ll study reptiles and amphibians and discover their unique characteristics, behavioral patterns, and habitats. We’ll also explore the future of these fascination creatures, including problems such as overhunting and habitat destruction.
Vertebrate Zoology- In this camp, you’ll explore the biology and diversity of vertebrates as well as the incredible variation in feeding, locomotion, appearance, and habitats of fishes, amphibians, reptiles, birds, and mammals. We’ll observe animals in both their natural habitats and in the lab.
Bugs!- Learn about the ecology and biology of insects and spend some time collecting and preserving them. Activities include insect Olympics, a visit to the UT Botanical Gardens, meeting scientists that study insects, and an insect play. You’ll end the week with your own personal insect collection.
Plant Kingdom- You’ll discover how plants grow and bloom and how important they are in your everyday life. Through classroom discussions, hands-on activities, and short hikes around the UT campus, you’ll learn how to identify tree and flower species, how plants adapt to different environments, how to collect and preserve scientific plant specimens, and much more.
The Unseen World: Microbes and the Environment- Become an environmental microbiologist for a week.