friends of the smokies plates fund student internships

Of the extra $35 annual fee for the specialty license plate, $31.24 goes to Friends of the Smokies to support conservation, education, and other park priorities.  Plate sales in the most recent quarter were more than $103,800.  Launched in 1997, the Smokies license plate has now raised a grand total of $5,019,805.

Through the Student Conservation Association (SCA) internship program, college students and recent graduates can apply for a variety of short-term positions available in the Smokies almost year-round.  Those interns help with everything from trail repairs and education programs for local schoolchildren to black bear conservation efforts.  For many years, Great Smoky Mountains National Park has hosted more SCA interns than any other site in the entire country.  More information is available online at www.thesca.org.

 “The SCA internships not only supply the park with valuable assistance, but they also help cultivate and train the next generation of conservation leaders,” said Jim Hart, President, Friends of the Smokies.    “It’s a great program for everyone involved, and we thank our license plate supporters for helping to make it possible.”

Friends of the Smokies is an independent, non-profit organization that helps preserve and protect Great Smoky Mountains National Park.  The Smokies plate is available any time from any Tennessee County Clerk’s office.  More information is available online at www.friendsofthesmokies.org or by calling (865) 932-4794.