Smoky Mountains Adventure

There are 120 spots available per trip. If a trip fills up as part of the random lottery draw, remaining individuals will automatically be placed on a wait list and will be contacted by Community Ed if/when a space becomes available.

The trip fee is $725. A $225 deposit is due upon acceptance on the trip. If you choose the installment option, your account will automatically be set up to make four installment payments of $125 each due on November 1, December 2, January 2 and February 3.  There is an option of paying the balance in full. Limited fee assistance is available.

Students are assigned to buses and activity groups by trip administration prior to trip check-in. Bus assignments are made by school and/or gender. Regarding activity group assignments, two students per school, per gender, are placed in a group so that students will have someone else of their gender from their school.  Groups will also include students from other schools.  Our goal is to create activity group assignments that introduce students to others who may attend the same middle and/or high school.  Students select their own sleeping space upon arrival at Tremont.

Each gender will be assigned one of the dorm floors. The inside of the dorm building is divided up into several large rooms and same-gender chaperones will sleep at all entry/exit points as well as throughout the space. All beds are bunk beds and students are able to choose their sleeping space upon arrival at Tremont. All bathrooms have private toilet stalls, shared sink space and private shower stalls. Shower time is available after daily activities (during free time) or in the evening.

The registration system will recognize siblings and will group them together prior to the random lottery draw. However, each sibling or twin must register for the lottery separately.

We stop at predetermined rest stops and gas stations that are easy to get into/out of and keep students away from busy traffic areas. Chaperones check the restrooms and buildings before allowing students off the bus. When students leave the bus, they remove their name tag and hand it to the designated chaperone who returns it when students return to the bus. Chaperones check the building and restrooms after all students finish and take a headcount prior to departure.

The Tremont Institute is located inside the Great Smoky Mountains National Park. The Rockwood trips will be the only program taking place at the facility while we are there.  Chaperones are with students during all activities, meals, dorm time and free time.

Teachers and employees from Rockwood attend the trip with the students. Parents are not allowed to be chaperones, as a goal of the trip is to foster independence among the students.

ParentSquare will be our form of communication while traveling and during our time in the Great Smoky Mountains. Each Smoky Mountain trip will have their own group on ParentSquare. Families will be auto-enrolled into the ParentSquare group prior to the trip and will receive notifications based on the preferences you have set up in ParentSquare (i.e. texts, email, app, etc.) The best time for us to update is right after meal times as students head to activities with their groups. Please note there is no guarantee we will have the ability or internet connectivity to provide  real-time updates throughout the day.

When you drop your child off for the trip, take a photo of the name tag with your phone or camera. We will use group names to identify groups in updates on ParentSquare (i.e. A2 or E1).

Students will have access to cellular service on the bus to and from the Smoky Mountains. There is no Wi-Fi available on the bus. Cellular service is unavailable for all providers inside the park and the limited Wi-Fi available at Tremont is restricted to office use. Phones will remain locked up on the bus for the time students are at the Tremont Institute. A landline is available in case of an emergency and Community Ed staff are on call during the weekend to help with any problems, concerns or emergencies.  Digital or disposable cameras are encouraged for picture taking.

As cellular reception is not available at Tremont and student phones are locked up on the buses, please plan to obtain updates on your child's Smoky Mountain Adventure via the Rockwood ParentSquare group that has been set up for your child's trip.  All families on the trip were auto-enrolled into the ParentSquare trip group and you will receive updates based on preferences you have set up in your ParentSquare account.

Upon arrival at the Tremont Institute, we will pick up a rental car. In the event a child is injured, two adults would transport the child to the emergency room or urgent care facility.  There are multiple urgent care facilities located close by and an emergency room within 30 miles of the Tremont Institute.  If an injury is severe, we will call 911. In addition, Tremont Institute staff are certified Wilderness First Responders.

In cases of a child becoming ill or injured, the child's parents or guardians will be contacted.

Children who become ill during the trip will be quarantined and a parent or guardian will be required to come to the Tremont Institute in Tennessee to pick up the child. Students who are ill cannot ride back on the bus and must be transported separately by a parent or guardian. This is a requirement of attending the trip.

Trek and Travel strives to help all students find success within the program. Participatory standards include:

Physical Requirements

Throughout the duration of this trip, we expect all participants to be able to:

• Follow proper safety procedures at all times, including:
  • Avoidance of causing harm to themselves and others
  • Follow directions from Smoky Mountains staff and chaperones
  • Stay with group inside set boundaries
• Walk unassisted on uneven terrain for extended periods of time
• Be outside in all weather conditions
• Endure travel on various types of vehicles (Charter bus, school bus, etc.)
• Manage their own personal needs and belongings
• Assist in care and cleaning of facility
• Share a living and sleeping space with students of the same gender and age
• Maintain a safe sleeping environment
• Independently manage their activities of daily living (i.e. toilet hygiene, bathing, eating, etc.)

Behavior Expectations

Students are expected to exhibit appropriate behavior at all times. View the Community Ed Behavior Management and Discipline Guidelines for more details.

A parent or guardian must be willing and able to pick up the student from the Great Smoky Mountains Institute at Tremont if their behavior dictates they must leave the trip.

A review of behavior over the previous year may be conducted if necessary to determine eligibility for the trip.

Support for Children With Special Needs

Community Ed supports the inclusion of children with varying ability levels and needs. It is essential that parents advise Community Ed Administration of any allergies, health conditions, accommodations or needs that their child may have at time of registration. Without full disclosure of a child's needs, Community Ed may not be prepared to ensure the child's success in the program. Enrollment will not be considered final until all requirements have been met and reviewed. Upon receipt of all relevant documentation, Community Ed will determine whether, and what, reasonable accommodations can be made. Community Ed strives to support children of all ability levels. Please note that Community Ed does not have the same staff resources available that children may receive during the normal school day. If the support a child needs cannot be provided without fundamentally altering the nature of the program, Community Ed reserves the right to deny or terminate the child's enrollment.

For questions regarding inclusion, contact Chloe Kersten, Community Ed Inclusion Specialist.

Information regarding a child's dietary restrictions and food allergies is asked for as part of the Smoky Mountain Adventure registration process, and there is a follow-up process to communicate with those families about each child's needs.  The Tremont Institute also has guidelines and procedures when it comes to nutrition, food allergies, and special dietary needs.

For any additional questions about allergies or dietary restrictions, contact Chloe Kersten, Community Ed Inclusion Specialist.

We are happy to talk to you about any needs of your child during the trip. Please contact Chloe Kersten, Community Ed Inclusion Specialist.

See the chart below outlining the last date to receive a full refund minus a $20 processing fee for each trip. Full refunds, minus the processing fee, for cancelations made after these dates are not guaranteed unless we are able to place another student on the trip as Community Ed will have already submitted non-refundable deposits for transportation and lodging. If we are not able to place another student on the trip, you will receive a maximum refund of $255. Exceptions may be made for emergency and/or documented medical reasons, such as a doctor's note.

We're here to help. Submit your question via the form below and our team will follow up with a response.  You may also email our office at info@prcommunityed.org or call or text us at 636-891-6644.

Submit a Smoky Mountain Trip question