The Smoky Mountains deserve protection — and it starts with all of us.
Join Smoky Mountains Wilderness Watch at one of our Chapter Social events and learn how we’re working to rewild, protect, and conserve habitat across Western North Carolina.
SMWW Kickoff Event Waynesville, NC
Are you passionate about wildlife? Join chapter leaders at a Chapter Social in your area to learn more about us and discover different ways to get involved. You must register as space is limited.
Location: Balsam Mountain Inn
Timeline: Thursday February 5th 6:00pm - 8:00pm
Event Registration: Balsam Mountain Inn
SMWW Kickoff Event Canton, NC
Are you passionate about wildlife? Join chapter leaders at a Chapter Social in your area to learn more about us and discover different ways to get involved. You must register as space is limited.
Location: Mountain Fly Outfitters
Timeline: Friday February 13th 6:00pm - 8:00pm
Event Registration: Mountain Fly Outfitters
In 2026, the Smoky Mountains Wilderness Watch begins its journey to become one of the leading voices in the Smoky Mountains.
With your support, we can help secure landmark protections, advanced science-based conservation, and reshape how people in the Smoky Mountains think about living alongside wildlife. That legacy belongs to the advocates, scientists, donors, volunteers, and partners who believe, often against long odds, that the Smoky Mountains deserve a wild future.
Today, that work is more urgent than ever. Habitat fragmentation, accelerating development, climate pressures, and political headwinds are placing unprecedented strain on Smoky Mountain wildlife populations and the landscapes they depend on. Too often, fear-based narratives and outdated management approaches continue to drive policy, undermining solutions that can protect both people and wildlife.
As we enter our first decade, the Smoky Mountains Wilderness Watch is focused on increasing our impact and reach. We will promote strong advocacy at the local levels, working to ensure wildlife policy is grounded in sound science, ethical management, and long-term conservation outcomes. We are also committed to supporting and translating research to inform better decision-making and more effective conservation strategies.
At the same time, we recognize that conservation is as much about people as it is about wildlife. Equally central to our work is expanding coexistence programs that equip communities with practical, science-based tools to live safely alongside Smoky Mountain wildlife through clearer public-facing materials, strengthened education initiatives, and outreach that replaces fear with understanding. In partnership with other organizations, we will be working to correct misinformation and elevate balanced, fact-based narratives about Smoky Mountain wildlife and their role in healthy ecosystems.
Going forward, we will emphasize collaboration with state and local agencies to advance pragmatic conservation programs that prioritize both wildlife conservation and public safety, recognizing that durable sustained solutions require partnership and trust.
We consider our first year as a call to act with urgency and purpose. With your support, the Smoky Mountains Wilderness Watch will build a leadership group dedicated to ensure that the Smoky Mountains not only survive, but flourish, for generations to come.
Thank you for being part of this journey.
Can you help us with a $25 donation? Your generous gift will help fund our nature based initiatives.
We would love for you to join us for a chapter membership meeting at Frog Level Brewing on Wednesday, January 28th from 6:00-8:00. Please let us know you're coming by filling out the registration form Thank you!
At the meeting, you can meet NCWF staff, local chapter leaders, and other conservation-minded neighbors. Learn how you can get involved in grassroots wildlife efforts and be part of shaping the future of conservation in the Smoky Mountains.
If you're not able to attend on Wednesday but are interested in being a part of the chapter, please respond to this email (luke@ncwf.org) and we'll add you to the chapter's distribution list. There will be plenty of opportunities to get involved in 2026.
We look forward to seeing you there!
Join the Smoky Mountains Wilderness Watch and help fund local habitat projects, educational programs, community events and advocacy, all for wildlife. With your membership of $25 or more you will not only receive our monthly newsletter and notices of our events, tours and workshops, you will also receive the NC Wildlife Federation's quarterly magazine as well as special invitations and access to NC conservation news, events and happenings in the Smokies and throughout the state.
Join Smoky Mountains Wilderness Watch at one of our Chapter Social events and learn how we’re working to rewild, protect, and conserve habitat across Western North Carolina.
SMWW Kickoff Event Waynesville, NC
Are you passionate about wildlife? Join chapter leaders at a Chapter Social in your area to learn more about us and discover different ways to get involved. You must register as space is limited.
Location: Balsam Mountain Inn
Timeline: Thursday February 5th 6:00pm - 8:00pm
Event Registration: Balsam Mountain Inn
SMWW Kickoff Event Canton, NC
Are you passionate about wildlife? Join chapter leaders at a Chapter Social in your area to learn more about us and discover different ways to get involved. You must register as space is limited.
Location: Mountain Fly Outfitters
Timeline: Friday February 13th 6:00pm - 8:00pm
Event Registration: Mountain Fly Outfitters
With your support, we can help secure landmark protections, advanced science-based conservation, and reshape how people in the Smoky Mountains think about living alongside wildlife. That legacy belongs to the advocates, scientists, donors, volunteers, and partners who believe, often against long odds, that the Smoky Mountains deserve a wild future.
Today, that work is more urgent than ever. Habitat fragmentation, accelerating development, climate pressures, and political headwinds are placing unprecedented strain on Smoky Mountain wildlife populations and the landscapes they depend on. Too often, fear-based narratives and outdated management approaches continue to drive policy, undermining solutions that can protect both people and wildlife.
As we enter our first decade, the Smoky Mountains Wilderness Watch is focused on increasing our impact and reach. We will promote strong advocacy at the local levels, working to ensure wildlife policy is grounded in sound science, ethical management, and long-term conservation outcomes. We are also committed to supporting and translating research to inform better decision-making and more effective conservation strategies.
At the same time, we recognize that conservation is as much about people as it is about wildlife. Equally central to our work is expanding coexistence programs that equip communities with practical, science-based tools to live safely alongside Smoky Mountain wildlife through clearer public-facing materials, strengthened education initiatives, and outreach that replaces fear with understanding. In partnership with other organizations, we will be working to correct misinformation and elevate balanced, fact-based narratives about Smoky Mountain wildlife and their role in healthy ecosystems.
Going forward, we will emphasize collaboration with state and local agencies to advance pragmatic conservation programs that prioritize both wildlife conservation and public safety, recognizing that durable sustained solutions require partnership and trust.
We consider our first year as a call to act with urgency and purpose. With your support, the Smoky Mountains Wilderness Watch will build a leadership group dedicated to ensure that the Smoky Mountains not only survive, but flourish, for generations to come.
Thank you for being part of this journey.
Can you help us with a $25 donation? Your generous gift will help fund our nature based initiatives.
North Carolina Wildlife Federation is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization.
We would love for you to join us for a chapter membership meeting at Frog Level Brewing on Wednesday, January 28th from 6:00-8:00. Please let us know you're coming by filling out the registration form Thank you!
At the meeting, you can meet NCWF staff, local chapter leaders, and other conservation-minded neighbors. Learn how you can get involved in grassroots wildlife efforts and be part of shaping the future of conservation in the Smoky Mountains.
If you're not able to attend on Wednesday but are interested in being a part of the chapter, please respond to this email (luke@ncwf.org) and we'll add you to the chapter's distribution list. There will be plenty of opportunities to get involved in 2026.
We look forward to seeing you there!
Stay Connected with SMWW
Join the Smoky Mountains Wilderness Watch and help fund local habitat projects, educational programs, community events and advocacy, all for wildlife. With your membership of $25 or more you will not only receive our monthly newsletter and notices of our events, tours and workshops, you will also receive the NC Wildlife Federation's quarterly magazine as well as special invitations and access to NC conservation news, events and happenings in the Smokies and throughout the state.
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Subscribe to our newsletter and stay on top of our efforts to keep the wild in the Smoky Mountains of Western North Carolina