Internships in the Great Smoky Mountains National Park gave not only students but teachers hands-on experience in science this summer. Teachers and students spent their summer in the field with park rangers, conducting environmental research and outreach with park visitors and helping them understand and appreciate the Smokies.

The teachers this summer included Phyllis Kapsalis with Waynesville Middle School, Greg Tucker with Pisgah High School in Canton, and Jane Jenkins, the librarian at Jonathan Valley Elementary. High school interns included students from Robbinsville High, Cherokee High, Swain County High and Tuscola High. Funding for the internships came from Alcoa, Friends of the Smokies, Toyota and two federal grants.