Tennessee: Once Upon A Time

Community Partner: Once Upon A Time

Trip Dates: May 4-11, 2024

Location: Walland, Tennessee

Number of Participants: 10

Price: $500

Included in participant fee:

All logistical and travel expenses: Rental vehicles for roundtrip transportation (damage/insurance coverage included), gas for rental vehicles, parking for rental vehicles, any toll fees incurred during travel, and overnight lodging for entire week.
Project/service fees OR donation to community partner for facilitating week of service/alternative break experience.
Buck-I-SERV supplies/swag: Individual items (t-shirts, water bottles, pens, and reflection booklets for each group member) and group items (first aid kit, disinfecting wipes, hand sanitizer, deck of playing cards, and thank you card for community partner).
Buck-I-SERV Events and Training: Summer Kick-Off and Welcome Back events with catering and pre-trip education and training.
Most meals and group activities: The group will be provided a budget to use for group meals and group activities. Participants should plan to bring money for out of pocket expenses.

Travel and Housing:

Participants will drive to and from Walland, Tennessee in rental vehicles.
Housing for the trip will be hosted in a bunkhouse on-site in the Smoky Mountains. Visit details are available on the Once Upon A Time website.
A packing list will be provided to participants and discussed during pre-trip meetings leading up to departure.

What to expect:

Once Upon A Time’s mission is to introduce students to the natural and cultural history of the Southern Appalachian Mountains through service projects with Great Smoky Mountains National Park, the Eastern Band of the Cherokee, the Smoky Mountains Heritage Center, and Cherokee National Forest.
Service sites include Rocky Branch, the Sequoyah Museum, Great Smoky Mountains National Park, Smoky Mountain Heritage Center, and Cherokee National Forest.
Projects may include trail maintenance, ecological restoration, invasive species removal, and education about the Cherokee Nation.