Sneak Preview of Firefly Walks for Master Naturalists (and their families)
Monday, June 9, there will be a special Firefly Walk at Coler Firefly Sanctuary ONLY for Master Naturalists and their families. The Firefly Walks this year are completely full with a long waiting list, but you can still experience one by coming to the Master Naturalist Preview Night. This free preview night gives our volunteers a chance to have a "dress rehearsal" before the public Firefly Walks. There will be activities, crafts, education, costumes, and firefly viewing. Join us and support our firefly volunteers! This event will count as Continuing Education.
Date: Monday, June 9
Time: 8:30 pm - 9:30 (you're welcome to stay longer to enjoy the fireflies)
Location: South Gateway Parking Lot on NW 3rd Street, Coler Mountain Bike Preserve, Bentonville
Contact Pam Morgan at pk2morgan@gmail.com if you have questions.
|  | RESCHEDULING - Take a Hike: Logan Springs Preserve
Hello all,
The votes are in and we have rescheduled the Logan Springs hike.
Open from dawn to dusk, Logan Springs Preserve is a 210-acre sanctuary that's home to birds, bats, beavers, and more. Managed by the Nature Conservancy, this wildlife haven was a fish hatchery that was built in the 1950s, so you'll see some remaining pieces of that. Some of the best things here are the natural springs, an oxbow lake with a floating dock, and the kiddie fishing pond. Kids 15 years and under can fish for bluegill, largemouth bass and catfish. Walking on maintained dirt trails. Bring sensible shoes, water to drink, and a camera or binoculars if you'd like!
15300 Osage Hill Rd, Siloam Springs
Open to all Nits, family and friends.
Register for Hike #1 https://forms.gle/RfgF4ctA2B51jkuS8
Saturday, June 24th, 9am-noon with a BYO Picnic at the end -
Holler if you have any questions.
Ms. Shawn Hunter
(479) 238-3195
https://thedianaproject.org/
|
Off the Shelf – a weekly notice from the Awe in Arkansas with Children’s Literature project.
1. Provide books as gifts!
2. Use for programs!
3. Share with nature gift shops!
Plant a Pocket of Prairie by Phyllis Root
Age Range: 6 - 10
Readers learn the history of prairies which originally covered much of the US. And learned about ecosystem interactions.
Send book suggestions to littrel@uark.edu. | Ozark Natural Science Center (ONSC) Volunteer Opportunities and Continuing Education
ONSC has many volunteer opportunities and continuing education classes. ONSC volunteers assist with outreach, trail and grounds maintenance, education, and much more!
Learn more about upcoming volunteer work days, volunteer orientations, and continuing education here: www.onsc.us/events or reach out to Liz Hill, Education and Volunteer Coordinator at liz.hill@onsc.us or 479-202-8340 |  | Attention: New Master Naturalists in the Bella Vista Area
VOLUNTEER OPPORTUNITY
The native plant beds at the Buckingham Trailhead need volunteers to weed the beds. There are grasses, especially Bermuda, that have encroached into the beds and need to be removed. Also needed is someone that is willing to help with mowing and weed eating. We have a volunteer, but need a backup to perhaps fill in or help out throughout this season. This is a great opportunity to log some hours. The gardens are located near the corner of Trafalgar and Buckingham Drive next to the biking trail in Bella Vista. We have tentatively planned three upcoming workdays, June 7, 14, and 28, from 9-11 a.m. and hope to have monthly workdays beginning in July. These gardens need our attention.
Please respond to Cheryl Hall @501-529-3426 if you are able to help. | Arkansas River Valley Nature Center
Volunteer Opportunities:
June 12th- Youth Volunteer Work Day- (10:30-12:30) We have invited high school students who need volunteer hours to come do garden work this day if anyone would like to help out we would love that!
June 17th- Intern Garden Work (10:00- Noon) AGFC Interns have been invited to do garden work at the nature center we would also love any MN assistance
June Nature Center Events:
Fishing every Thursday at 9:00am
Animal Make and Take Craft every Thursday at 2:30
Animal Spotlight every Friday at 2:30
PRADCO fishing derby June 7th 10am- Noon
Boater Education Course 9am-3pm - registration is required https://www.register-ed.com/events/view/223385
Kiley VanMatre
Mobile: 501-541-8670 Office: 501-710-6285
kiley.vanmatre@agfc.ar.gov | www.agfc.com
| Upcoming Volunteering Opportunities
[List represents a rolling one-month in advance known opportunities]
Members can proactivity reach-out to NWAMN Official Project Leaders for focused interests. Find listing of official NWAMN projectsDocument Library - Arkansas Master Naturalists, or manually navigate via Arkansas Master Naturalists website > log in as a member > Resources > Documents > Document Library/ Document Folders > NWAMN Documents/ Educational Resources/ NWAMN Projects > 2024 NWAMN Projects List. | Upcoming Continuing Education Events
[List represents a rolling one-month in advance known events]
|  | Devil’s Den State Park
Other Upcoming Events at Devil’s Den State Park:
June 6th – 8th Devil’s Den 35th Bat-O-Rama - It's time to celebrate one of the most beneficial and misunderstood creatures in the world, BATS! Join us this weekend for the 35th Annual Bat-O-Rama to check out some bat-focused programs to learn why these animals are so amazing.
June 21st Kids’ Fishing Derby - Join us for the 2025 Kids' Fishing Derby here at Devil's Den State Park. This event is free and for children 15 years old and under being accompanied by an adult guardian. Registration for the derby begins at 8:30 a.m. at the Café Pavilion. Fishing begins after registration at 9 a.m. Be sure to bring your own tackle, bait, and fishing pole.
Annual 4th of July Devil’s Den Games - Enjoy a fun-filled family day of horseshoes, egg toss, sack races, bike parade, and of course softball tournaments. It will be a July 4th celebration your family won’t soon forget!
September 13th – 36th Annual NWA Mountain Bike Championships Race - Devil's Den State Park proudly celebrates 35 years of mountain biking. It started in 1989 with the first bike event and has become a September tradition. All events are spectator friendly.
For general programs, we are offering programs Fridays through Sundays except for Fridays when I have a school group. Please check out our park’s events page at Events | Arkansas State Parks for the latest information on program times and locations. Starting late spring/early summer, we hope to offer programs every day.
We may need volunteers for our Kids’ Fishing Derby, 4th of July Devil’s Den Games, Annual Lee Creek Cleanup, and Devil’s Den Fall Fest.
KARA HELTON
Park Interpreter
Devil’s Den State Park
11333 W. HWY 74
West Fork, AR 72774
P:479-761-3325 | Hobbs State Park – Conservation Area, June 2025 Event Schedule: REVISED 5/28
Most programs/events are free and will meet at the Visitor Center unless otherwise noted. Call the park office at 479.789.5000 or visit the Arkansas State Parks web site under Hobbs State Park events or the Friends of Hobbs State Park Facebook page or web site to check on future programs.
Saturday, June 7th, 8:30 a.m. – 12:30 p.m.
Fishing 101 Workshop: It’s Arkansas Free Fishing Weekend and no permits are required. Both kids and adults are welcome to join our park interpreters and spend the morning fishing along the banks of Beaver Lake in this hands-on workshop. Learn the basics of fishing including how to rig a pole, select bait, and identify fish. Bring your own gear or use some of ours. Bring a chair if you like. This program may be cancelled if severe weather is forecast. Meet at Van Hollow Road public access. Call (479) 789-5000 for directions.
Saturday, June 7th, 9:00 – 11:30 a.m.
Hobbs Hiking Club for Adults: Join a park interpreter for our monthly hike for adults on the first Saturday of each month. Each hike will include healthy outdoor recreation, sharing some of nature’s secrets, and the opportunity to socialize. Bring a friend and meet some new ones! Dogs are welcome if they are leashed and not aggressive and owners pick up their dog waste. The trail, distance, and time may vary month to month, but fun will always be had! For our June hike we’ll meet at the Pigeon Roost Trailhead and hike the 3-mile round-trip section to the lake and back which includes a moderately strenuous uphill section. Snacks will be provided for all to enjoy at the lake overlook, halfway through the hike. Parking is limited so please carpool if possible. Recommended age 18+
Sunday, June 8th, 11:00 a.m. – 1:00 p.m.
Fishing on Beaver Lake Tabletop: Learn more about fishing in the Natural State during the Arkansas Free Fishing Weekend. Find out where to access the lake from within the park for your next fishing adventure and learn more about the common fish species in Beaver Lake. All ages can see how well they can cast by playing a fun fishing game and take home a fishing guide. A 15-minute program will start every half hour. Come and go as you please.
Tuesday, June 10th, 8:00 – 10:00 p.m.
Full Moon Kayak Tour: Spend the evening paddling on Beaver Lake with a park interpreter under the full moon. Learn the basics of kayaking, see what’s visible in the night sky, and enjoy the sounds of the night on the lake, weather permitting. Meet at the Visitor Center and then caravan to the launch site. All equipment is provided. Bring a bottle of water, insect repellent, flashlight, and dress for the weather. Minimum age 9. NO charge for this event. Space is limited to 10 people. Registration required. Call (479) 789-5000 to register.
Wednesday, June 11th, 1:00 – 3:00 p.m
“Got Water?” Monument Trail Tabletop: Water is essential to have available on your outdoor adventures, whether hiking or biking the trails. Learn how to figure out how much water you need to take on hikes or rides to avoid dehydration. Find out methods of purifying water for longer hikes or camping trips, and in case of an emergency. Test your knowledge of the water cycle and see if you can figure out how to create a water still from simple materials. This tabletop will be set up at the Monument Trail parking area near the Visitor Center. A 15-minute program will start every half hour. Come and go as you please.
Thursday, June 12th, 1:00 – 3:00 p.m.
Leave No Trace Tabletop: The choices you make when you are outside making a big difference. The Leave No Trace principles are important for all ages, but especially for girls and boys who are just beginning to experience camping, hiking, and the outdoors in general. Come and go as you please. A 15-minute program will start every half hour.
Friday, June 13th, 1:00 – 3:00 p.m.
Trees of Hobbs Tabletop: Hobbs is dominated by forests made up of various tree species, including the now rare Ozark chinquapin. Discover more about these TREE-mendous providers of food, shelter, and oxygen, as well as other important products, for us and many forest creatures. A 15-minute program will start every half hour. Come and go as you please.
Saturday, June 14th, 10:00 – 11:00 a.m.
Van Winkle History Hike: Join a Park Interpreter on an easy 0.5-mile hike on an ADA
accessible trail through the Historic Van Winkle Hollow and learn about the Van Winkle family and their mill, the largest steam-powered mill in the state during the 1870’s. The area is on the National Register of Historic Places. Meet at the Van Winkle Trailhead.
Saturday, June 14th, 11:00 a.m. – 1:00 p.m.
Monument Trail Tabletop: Wolf Den: Come spend some time biking or hiking the Monument Trails at Hobbs State Park! We’ll have a fun photo op and trail information waiting for you at the Monument Trail parking area near the Visitor Center. Get the inside scoop on how Wolf Den trail got its name during a brief 15-minute program that will be offered every half hour. Come and go as you please.
Sunday, June 15th, 11:00 a.m. – 1:00 p.m.
Venomous Snakes of Hobbs Tabletop: Did you know that there are 4 species of venomous snakes at Hobbs? Come learn more about the lives and behavior of these secretive creatures and how to tell the difference between them and non-venomous snakes. Make a snake craft! A 15-minute program will start every half hour and visitors that choose to can interact with a live, non-venomous, snake ambassador. Come and go as you please.
Wednesday, June 18th, 10:00 a.m. – 12:00 p.m.
Pollination Station Tabletop: Come celebrate Natl. Pollinator Week and learn about our native pollinators – some might surprise you! Find out how pollinators help bring beauty to our landscapes and help our crops grow in a fun 15-minute program that will be offered every half hour. A pollinator-themed craft will be available to make. Come and go as you please.
Thursday, June 19th, 10:00 a.m. – 12:00 p.m.
Pollination Station Tabletop: Come celebrate Natl. Pollinator Week and learn about our native pollinators – some might surprise you! Find out how pollinators help bring beauty to our landscapes and help our crops grow in a fun 15-minute program that will be offered every half hour. A pollinator-themed craft will be available to make. Come and go as you please.
Friday, June 20th, 11:00 a.m. – 1:00 p.m.
“Got Water?” Monument Trail Tabletop: Water is essential to have available on your outdoor adventures, whether hiking or biking the trails. Learn how to figure out how much water you need to take on hikes or rides to avoid dehydration. Find out methods of purifying water for longer hikes or camping trips, and in case of an emergency. Test your knowledge of the water cycle and see if you can figure out how to create a water still from simple materials. This tabletop will be set up at the Monument Trail parking area near the Visitor Center. A 15-minute program will start every half hour. Come and go as you please.
Saturday, June 21st, 10:00 – 11:00 a.m.
Goin’ on a Bug Hike: Insects and other invertebrates are very important but are often misunderstood. Join a Park Interpreter on a bug hunt around the Visitor Center as we discover their diversity and learn how we can help them. Nets and bug jars are provided.
Saturday, June 21st, 11:00 a.m. – 1:00 p.m.
Mysterious Forest Objects Tabletop: Look at some mysterious objects found in the forest around Hobbs, see if you can identify them, then learn more about them. A 15-minute program will start every half hour. Come and go as you please.
Saturday, June 21st, 2:00 – 3:30 p.m.
Reader’s Theater Hike: A Brief History of Hobbs State Park-Conservation Area: Join a Park Interpreter for this reader’s theater-style program where you – the audience members – help tell the interesting story of this place right where it happened! We’ll hike the ADA accessible Van Winkle Hollow Trail, an easy half-mile round trip. This program will be both
educational and fun, but you must be willing to participate! Meet at the Van Winkle Trailhead.
Sunday, June 22nd, 11:00 - 1:00 p.m.
Trees of Hobbs Tabletop: Hobbs is dominated by forests made up of various tree species, including the now rare Ozark chinquapin. Discover more about these TREE-mendous providers of food, shelter, and oxygen, as well as other important products, for us and many forest creatures. A 15-minute program will start every half hour. Come and go as you please.
Wednesday, June 25th, 7:00 – 9:00 p.m.
Sunset Kayak Tour: Spend the evening paddling on Beaver Lake while guided by a park interpreter. We will learn the basics of paddling and enjoy the sunset on the lake. Meet at the Visitor Center and then caravan to the launch site. All equipment is provided. Space is limited to 10 people. Bring a bottle of water, insect repellent, flashlight, and dress for the weather. Minimum age 9. NO charge for this event. Registration required. Call (479) 789-5000
Friday, June 27th, 10:00 – 11:00 a.m.
Black Bear Hike at Sinking Stream Trail: Black Bears were once so plentiful in Arkansas that our state was known as the Bear State. Join a park interpreter on this family-friendly 0.5-mile hike along Sinking Stream Trail to discover more about the black bear, how to live safely in bear country, and other “bear” necessities. Meet at the Sinking Stream Trailhead.
Friday, June 27th, 1:00 – 3:00 p.m.
Monument Trail Tabletop: Wolf Den: Come spend some time biking or hiking the Monument Trails at Hobbs State Park! We’ll have a fun photo op and trail information waiting for you at the Monument Trail parking area near the Visitor Center. Get the inside scoop on how Wolf Den trail got its name during a brief 15-minute program that will be offered every half hour. Come and go as you please.
Friday, June 27th, 7:00 – 8:00 p.m.
Friends of Hobbs Speaker Series: Trail Trees with Don Wells: Trail trees, also known as trail marker trees, crooked trees, prayer trees, thong trees, or culturally modified trees are
hardwood trees throughout North America that Native Americans intentionally shaped with distinctive characteristics that convey that the tree was shaped by human activity. Join Don
Wells, the author of the book, "Mystery of the Trees", which is based on his research on the use of trees by Native Americans for the purpose of marking trails.
Saturday, June 28th, 10:00 a.m. – 2:00 p.m.
ENTO-ROADSHOW!: Come visit Hobbs for the ENTO-ROADSHOW, a travelling STEAM (science, technology, art, and math) classroom trailer that has interactive displays from the
University of Arkansas Arthropod Museum, as well as insect and arthropod related art generated by U of A students. Visitors will get a chance to see specimen collections, play
insect themed games, make arthropod art and even try and find some bugs themselves. Come and go as you please.
Saturday, June 28th, 10:30 a.m. – 12:00 p.m.
Monument Trail Etiquette and Safety Tabletop: Before or after your bike ride or hike, stop by a tabletop at the Monument Trail parking lot by the Visitor Center and visit with a Park
Interpreter about trail etiquette, outdoor safety, and Leave No Trace. A 15-minute program will start every half hour. Come and go as you please.
Saturday, June 28th, 2:00 – 3:30 p.m.
Creek Critter Hike: A Park Interpreter will lead an exploration of Little Clifty Creek along the Van Winkle trail. We’ll catch crawdads, aquatic insects, and other creatures! Learn how they can tell us if the water is clean or polluted. Meet at the Van Winkle Trailhead and wear water shoes or old tennis shoes for wading. Total hike length will be 0.5-mile. Recommended age 5+
Sunday, June 29th, 11:00 a.m. – 1:00 p.m.
Venomous Snakes of Hobbs Tabletop: Did you know that there are 4 species of venomous snakes at Hobbs? Come learn more about the lives and behavior of these secretive creatures and how to tell the difference between them and non-venomous snakes. Make a snake craft! A 15-minute program will start every half hour and visitors that choose to can interact with a live, non-venomous, snake ambassador. Come and go as you please.
| 2025 Volunteer Opportunities with IRWP!
We are excited to kick off 2025 with lots of volunteer opportunities for our Northwest Arkansas Master Naturalists to get involved in the management of their watershed! This email is to provide a broad view of this year's big events, as well as some opportunities and events happening in the near future.
Field Trips at the Sanctuary in Cave Springs - all school year
Our Youth Educator Specialist, Suzanne Murphy has 16 field trips scheduled for this upcoming spring, and each field trip calls for 2-3 volunteers depending on the size of the class. Our field trips are crafted for each class's educational needs, but the labs can consist of: a Nature Hike, Enviroscape to show the effects of Non-Direct Pollution, Groundwater Pollution & Aquifers lab, and an Erosion lab. If you are interested in volunteering, please email suzanne@irwp.org to learn more.
Bats and Bluegrass 2025 - July 19th from 4:30 pm to 9:00 pm
We’re thrilled to invite you to our Bats and Bluegrass Festival at our Sanctuary in Cave Springs this summer! This lively event brings together the conservation community and features live music, delicious food trucks, educational booths for kids, lawn games, and plenty of fun activities for the whole family. To ensure everything runs smoothly, we’re looking for enthusiastic volunteers to help with various tasks throughout the evening—such as assisting with ticket sales, guiding parking in our fields, and providing general support.
If you have any questions regarding these events, feel free to email sarah@irwp.org. Thank you all for what you do for your local watershed!
IRWP - Illinois Review Watershed Partnership | Bats and Bluegrass Festival 2025
• Saturday, July 19, 2025
• 5:00 PM - 9:00 PM
• Illinois River Watershed Partnership; 221 South Main Street; Cave Springs, AR, 72718
Bats and Bluegrass returns July 19th to IRWP’s Watershed Sanctuary in Cave Springs. This year marks 20 years of conservation for the Illinois River Watershed Partnership, and we’re celebrating with live music from Sons of Otis Malone and Bouse, hands-on watershed education, nature hikes, scavenger hunts, nature journaling, and the seasonal emergence of Gray Bats from the Sanctuary's cave. Relaunched to a sold-out crowd in 2024, this signature event is a vibrant blend of local culture, conservation, and community.
Tickets are $10-$30, and you can purchase them on Eventbrite, here. Learn more about the event on our event page, here.
While this a ticketed event, it will be teeming with Continuing Ed opportunity and fun! It is not sold out at this time, but last year it sold out. NWAMN volunteers will have a hands-on craft and bat interpretation station, so contact carebutler@aol.com to help and for general volunteer event needs contact morgan@irwp.org. | Future NWAMN Chapter and Board Meetings
[Limiting to two known months in advance]
| ATTENTION NWAMN Project Leaders
To help inform a larger audience of NWA Master Naturalists, please add the NWA Events email address to communications sent to project/ committee members. That way the NWA Communications Committee can accurately post activities happening in our area to the NWAMN's Events Calendar and to the NWAMN Weekly Update. The cutoff for submissions is end of day Tuesday for Friday membership delivery, assumes no revisions are required.
nwamnevents@gmail.com
Weekly Update Format:
• Event statements must be provided
• Statements must be concise to minimize email length
• Bullet points are highly encouraged
• Please keep media, commentary and influential statements on fliers, websites, or reference material that can be referenced
• Calendar of Event postings may have tool limitations
Weekly Update requested statement content information (content used for both Calendar link and/ or the Weekly Update):
• Name of Event
• Name of NWAMN Project/ Organization hosting the event
• Location of the event, including full address
• Contact name and number
• Date (start and end)
• Time (start and end)
• Is it a volunteer opportunity OR continuing education?
• Any pertinent information about the event including the nature of the event, intended audience, and what participants need to bring, directions, etc.
• Link to event or organization website, if available
• Link to Virtual Meeting, if available
| The NWA Master Naturalist Weekly Update is compiled by Susan Eagleson with support from Sarah Roberson, Troy Warfield, and Erica Holthus. If you have a volunteer opportunity or continuing education event, please email
Let us know of other Community activities as your fellow NWAMNs might be interested too! | Join our chapter's Facebook group for cool photos, questions, and more!
https://www.facebook.com/groups/NWAMN | |