PIGEON FORGE, Tenn. (Smokies.LIVE NextGen Center) — As students head back to school and Dollywood prepares to open NightFlight Expedition to the public on Aug. 19, a new educational program is giving fifth graders the chance to explore one of the Great Smoky Mountains’ most fascinating natural wonders.
Glow Life is a partnership between Dollywood, Smokies Life and Discover Life in America. The free curriculum teaches students about bioluminescence and biofluorescence—the glowing organisms that inspired NightFlight Expedition.
Fifth-grade classrooms in eligible East Tennessee and Western North Carolina counties can submit creative projects, including artwork, essays, videos, songs or original creations, for a chance to win one of five class trips to Dollywood in spring 2027.
The program aligns with Tennessee and North Carolina science standards while encouraging students to discover the incredible biodiversity of Great Smoky Mountains National Park.
Scientists have documented more than 22,000 species in the Smokies, with thousands more believed to remain undiscovered. Organizers hope Glow Life inspires the next generation of scientists and conservationists while connecting classroom learning to the natural wonders found in their own backyard.
Teachers can learn more and download the free curriculum at the Glow Life program page.
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