As the leaves change color and the mornings grow cool, the Great Smoky Mountains beckon to backpackers from all over the region and U.S.
Jaimie Matzko, the next speaker in the Community Treasures Lecture Series at Pellissippi State Community College’s Blount County Campus, knows well how to prepare for those excursions.
Her presentation “Backpacking 101 in the Smokies” is scheduled for 6:30 p.m. on Oct. 13 in the West Chevrolet Auditorium at the Blount County Campus.
Matzko brings to the lecture series more than 15 years of experience backpacking in eight states. She has led backpacking trips through the Great Smoky Mountains Institute at Tremont, has taught “Leave No Trace” ethics and is currently a guide for A Walk in the Woods Guide Service in Gatlinburg.
In this lecture, she will share tips on how to plan your backpacking trip, how to minimize your impact on the backcountry and national park resources, and how to make the most of your next trip. In addition to covering the essentials of backpacking, Matzko will discuss the National Park Service’s permit system.
The Blount County Campus is located at 2731 W. Lamar Alexander Parkway. There is no charge for admission, and light refreshments will be served.
Learn more about the Community Treasure Lecture Series at www.pstcc.edu, or call the Blount County Campus at (865) 981-5300 or Lisa Robinson at 981-5326.
To request accommodations for a disability, contact the executive director of Human Resources and Affirmative Action at (865) 694-6607 or humanresources@pstcc.edu.