Arkansas Master Naturalists

My name is Sara Shettle and I work in the Wellness Department over at Butterfield Trail Village, a senior living community. We are going to be starting our fall hiking season in late September, where we go on a midday hike every Monday over 8 weeks. We have a different location each week, within an hour and a half of Fayetteville (but usually much closer than that) and are in search of a Naturalist in the area that might be interested in guiding us on one of our hikes. We are flexible with the date and would be happy to work our hike around their schedule if someone were to be interested. We are a group of primarily seniors, aged 75 to 85, so we tend to move a bit slower already, which makes guided hikes perfect. We would love the opportunity to learn from a Master Naturalist to add another layer to our hike!

Please let me know if this is a possibility!

 
Thank you for your time in reading this,

Sara Shettle
651-788-3060

 

Learn about native plants by volunteering at Compton Gardens in Bentonville! Come help with garden or greenhouse work. The following opportunities are available:

Thursday, August 27 - 9 - 11 am

 

Location: Compton Gardens Maintenance Building, 407 NE B St., Bentonville

Questions: Contact Meagan Love at meagan.love@peelcompton.org

 

It’s now time to get the next book for our September NWAMN Book Club! We will meet on Thursday, September 17 6-8pm at Shiloh Museum Store to discuss Science under Siege by Michael E. Mann and Peter J. Hotez. Get your copy now!

 

   

 

Most programs/events are free and will meet at the David H. Pryor 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 for more info. 


Fri., September 4, 4:00 – 6:00 p.m.
Welcome to the Weekend Social: Hobbs Community Picnic and Trivia Contest: Kick-off the holiday weekend with a fun trivia contest about YOUR state park! We’ll enjoy an end-of-summer picnic with hot dogs, chips, lemonade, watermelon, and popsicles, all free! This is a great opportunity to relax and meet other folks who are passionate about this park.

Fri., September 4, 6:30 – 8:30 p.m.
Sunset Kayak Tour: Labor Day Kick-Off Event: 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. Starting at 5:00 you can enjoy a free picnic and trivia contest at our pavilion, no registration required for that. Meet at the Visitor Center and then caravan to the launch site. All equipment is provided. Space is limited to 10 people. Bring a water bottle, insect repellent, flashlight, and wear water shoes. Minimum age 9. NO charge for this event. Registration is required by 5 p.m. the day before the tour. Call (479) 789-5000

Sat., September 5, 9:00 a.m. – 12:00 p.m.
Hobbs Hiking Club for Adults: Join us 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. The trail, distance, and time may vary each month, but fun will always be had! For the September hike we’ll meet at the Visitor Center and hike approximately 5 miles on the Huckleberry Loop of the Pigeon Roost Trail. This is a moderate hike. Snacks will be provided. Recommended age 18+

Sat., September 5, 1:00 – 2:30 p.m.
Black Bear Program and Hike: Black Bears were once so plentiful in Arkansas that our state was known as the Bear State. Join us in the outdoor education pavilion for a short program and then we’ll go on this family-friendly, 0.25-mile hike along the ADA accessible Ozark Plateau Trail to discover the “bear” necessities, including why bears eat so much in the fall.

Sat., September 5, 3:00 – 3:45 p.m.
Live Reptiles and Amphibians of Hobbs: These important creatures don’t deserve the bad rap they’ve gotten! Check out some live examples of these “herps” found at Hobbs and discover their role in our ecosystems. Join the park interpreter in singing the reptile rap!

Sun., September 6, 11:00 – 11:45 a.m.
Leave No Trace Principles on Monument Trails Hike: The choices you make while enjoying outdoor recreation can have a positive or negative impact on the park resources and trails. Join the park interpreter on an easy 0.25-mile hike on the ADA accessible Ozark Plateau Trail as we discover the Leave No Trace principles.

Sun., September 6, 1:00 – 2:00 p.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. 

Sun., September 6, 1:00 – 3:00 p.m.
Waterfowl Tabletop: Learn some amazing facts about ducks and other waterfowl that migrate to Arkansas and Beaver Lake. Where do they come from? Why do they migrate here and why do they leave? A 15-minute program will start every half hour. Come and go as you please.

Sun., September 6, 3:00 – 3:45 p.m.
Outdoor Safety on Monument Trails Hike: There are several potential dangers you could encounter when exploring the trails at Hobbs or elsewhere. Hike along the 0.25-mile, A.D.A. accessible Ozark Plateau Trail and spin the “wheel of misfortune” as we discover more about these dangerous situations, the plants and animals to avoid, and what to do if you should encounter them.

Mon., September 7, 9:00 – 11:00 a.m.
Morning Kayak Tour: Spend the morning paddling on Beaver Lake while guided by a park interpreter. Learn the basics of kayaking while enjoying nature. Meet at the Visitor Center and then caravan to the launch site. All equipment is provided. Bring a water bottle, insect repellent, and wear water shoes. Minimum age 9. NO charge for this event. Space is limited to 10 people. Registration is required by 5 p.m. the day before the tour. Call (479) 789-5000

Mon., September 7, 1:00 – 1:45 p.m.
Leave No Trace Principles on Monument Trails Hike: The choices you make while enjoying outdoor recreation can have a positive or negative impact on the park resources and trails. Join the park interpreter on an easy 0.25-mile hike on the ADA accessible Ozark Plateau Trail as we discover the Leave No Trace principles.

Sat., September 12, 2:00 – 3:00 p.m.
Black Bear Hike: 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 0.25-mile hike along the ADA accessible Ozark Plateau Trail to discover more about the black bear, how to live safely in bear country, and other “bear” necessities.

Sat., September 12, 6:30 – 9:30 p.m.
Astronomy Night with Sugar Creek Astronomical Society: We will begin with an indoor program on the origins of modern astronomy and how we came to know the solar system by Jack McDaniel. Weather and cloud cover permitting, outdoor viewing will begin around 7:30 p.m. Club members will bring high-quality amateur telescopes for public viewing. Items you may wish to bring include a red light, binoculars, and a lawn chair. Reservations not required. Recommended for ages 8+

Sun., September 13, 10 a.m. – 12:00 p.m.
Hooray for Hummingbirds Tabletop: Join us on our front porch as we observe the hummingbirds at our feeding station and learn more about these amazing birds as they prepare to migrate South for the winter. A 15-minute program will start every half hour. Come and go as you please.

Fri., September 18, 9:00 – 11:00 a.m. 
Morning Kayak Tour: Spend the morning paddling on Beaver Lake while guided by a park interpreter. Learn the basics of kayaking while enjoying nature. Meet at the Visitor Center and then caravan to the launch site. All equipment is provided. Bring a water bottle, insect repellent, and wear water shoes. Minimum age 9. NO charge for this event. Space is limited to 10 people. Registration is required by 5 p.m. the day before the tour. Call (479) 789-5000

Sat., September 19, 1:00 – 3:00 p.m.
Butterfly Tabletop: Butterflies are probably the most popular insects, due to their beautiful wings. They play an important role as pollinators of many plants, and some are food for birds and other wildlife. Discover the butterflies you could see while exploring at Hobbs and how you can help these insects thrive at home. A 15-minute program will start every half hour. Come and go as you please.

Sun., September 20, 1:00 – 3:00 p.m.
Hooray for Hummingbirds Tabletop: Join us on our front porch as we observe the hummingbirds at our feeding station and learn more about these amazing birds as they prepare to migrate South for the winter. A 15-minute program will start every half hour. Come and go as you please.

Sat., September 26, 8:00 -11:00 a.m
Great Arkansas Cleanup & Natl. Public Lands Day Volunteer Workday: Show your appreciation for YOUR state park on National Public Lands Day by volunteering for this Keep Arkansas Beautiful event! We’ll meet at the Visitor Center pavilion to organize and give away t-shirts. We’ll have two different projects including a trash pick-up along park roads and trail maintenance. The minimum age for trash pick-up is 15 and 10 for trail maintenance. Join us at the pavilion afterwards for drinks and snacks. Registration is required by Sept. 19th. Register at https://friendsofhobbsstatepark.com/volunteer-sign-up/. Call (479) 789-5000 for more information.

Sat., September 26, 11:00 – 11:45 a.m.
Leave No Trace Principles on Monument Trails Hike: The choices you make while enjoying outdoor recreation can have a positive or negative impact on the park resources and trails. Join the park interpreter on an easy 0.25-mile hike on the ADA accessible Ozark Plateau Trail as we discover the Leave No Trace principles.

Sat., September 26, 7:00 – 9:00 p.m.
Moonlight Kayak Tour: Spend the evening paddling on Beaver Lake under the moon guided by a park interpreter. Learn the basics of kayaking, see what’s visible in the night sky, weather permitting, and enjoy the sounds of the night. Meet at the Visitor Center and then caravan to the launch site. All equipment is provided. Bring a water bottle, insect repellent, flashlight, and wear water shoes. Minimum age 9. NO charge for this event. Space is limited to 10 people. Registration is required by 5 p.m. the day before the tour. Call (479) 789-5000

Sun., September 27, 1:00 – 3:00 p.m.
The Rocks Beneath Our Feet Tabletop: The rocks at Hobbs can reveal a lot to us about what the Earth was like here in the past. Discover the types of rocks and how they formed and learn about the karst landscape at Hobbs known for its caves, springs, and sinkholes. A 15-minute program will start every half hour. Come and go as you please.

 

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