GATLINBURG – Smokies partners have granted an additional three weeks for fifth-grade classrooms in East Tennessee and Western North Carolina to participate in the 'Glow Life' contest. The new deadline for submissions is Friday, Dec. 4. This extension aims to provide students and teachers more time to complete the provided curriculum unit and organize their class entries.
The 'Glow Life' initiative, accessible online, centers on a science curriculum exploring bioluminescence and biofluorescence within Great Smoky Mountains National Park. These natural phenomena involve living organisms producing light.
Jacqueline Harp, CEO of Smokies Life, noted that the organization consistently seeks to highlight the Great Smoky Mountains National Park as "a special place." She stated that engaging students through 'Glow Life' is an exceptional method to achieve this. Harp also mentioned that showcasing the national park as a "park of science" to area fifth graders can ignite curiosity for the next generation of scientists and stewards of the Smokies, expressing hope that the extended deadline will encourage more participation.
Great Smoky Mountains National Park is recognized as the most biodiverse U.S. national park, housing an extensive variety of animals, plants, insects, fungi, and other living organisms. Discover Life in America has documented over 22,000 species to date, with scientists estimating that 60,000 to 80,000 total species reside in the Smokies. This leaves an estimated 60–70% of species yet to be discovered by current and future scientists.
At night, the park's landscape often exhibits a captivating glow from bioluminescence and biofluorescence. Bioluminescence occurs when living organisms generate light through a chemical reaction. Biofluorescence happens when an organism absorbs ultraviolet or blue light and then emits it in another color, typically red, orange, or green.
Todd Witcher, executive director for Discover Life in America, pointed out that synchronous fireflies have brought global attention to the scientific and aesthetic aspects of bioluminescence in the national park. He added that the 'Glow Life' contest encourages scientific exploration beyond fireflies to a wide array of other bioluminescent and biofluorescent organisms, including mushrooms and salamanders, inviting students to investigate the "how, what and why of Smokies species that seem like magic."
The 'Glow Life' program includes a choice of two free lesson plans, an educational video, and the contest, all designed to foster scientific curiosity among fifth-grade students in counties near the park in North Carolina and Tennessee. Five winning classes will receive a trip to Dollywood in spring 2027.
This prize trip will allow students to experience Dollywood's new NightFlight Expedition ride. Industry experts, media, and influencers have called NightFlight Expedition the most anticipated new attraction of 2026. It is described as a groundbreaking immersive indoor adventure coaster where adventurers journey aboard vehicles, flying backward and forward from majestic peaks to churning rapids and gliding across a shimmering lake. The ride immerses guests in the Smokies’ hidden depths after dark, as they search for radiant light from bioluminescent creatures and plants.
Carol Agee, Dollywood Community Affairs and Philanthropy Manager, stated that Dollywood's goal is to be authentic to the region. She highlighted the desire to share the fascinating story of bioluminescence found in the Smokies, expressing hope that the 'Glow Life' contest will help teachers across the region encourage student growth and achievement in science, ultimately deepening their appreciation for Great Smoky Mountains National Park.
For contest entries, classrooms are encouraged to create a project in a medium of their choice. This project should explore bioluminescence and biofluorescence and their significance to living things in the Great Smokies. Submissions can include essays, art projects, plays, videos, songs, or even the imagining of a new bioluminescent creature.
