Briefs

Leonid meteor shower -- Hobbs State Park Nov. 18

Tempel-Tuttle is a periodic comet and the parent body and source of the Leonid meteor showers. An annual Leonid meteor shower may deposit 12 to 13 tons of particles across the entire planet. In mid-November, these spectacular "shooting stars" will streak through the night sky as they invade the earth's atmosphere. The Tempel-Tuttle comet is responsible for some of the most intense meteor storms in history. This November, viewers should expect to see 10 to 20 "shooting stars" per hour. Bring a flashlight covered with a red cloth or red balloon, binoculars and/or telescope (if you have them), a folding chair per person, and a star chart (if you have one).

The program will be held at 4:15 p.m. (lecture) and 5:15 p.m. (night viewing) Saturday, Nov. 18, at Hobbs State Park visitor center located on Arkansas Highway 12, just east of the Highway 12/War Eagle Road intersection. The program is free. For more information, call 479-789-5000.

Free God Bless America Concert Dec. 7

The Veterans Council of NWA, the JM Band of NWA and the Bella Vista POA will host the "God Bless America Concert" at 7 p.m. Thursday, Dec. 7, at Riordan Hall in Bella Vista. The 17-piece JM Band will present a free two-hour patriotic concert in remembrance of 911 and the Dec. 7 attack on Pearl Harbor. Everyone is welcome to attend this free concert. Come early for seating; no tickets or reservations are required. Just come and enjoy.

Arthropods, bugs and insects revealed -- Hobbs State Park Dec. 16

It was an entire year. Austin Jones, president of the Arkansas Entomological Society, accumulated and identified creepy crawlies at Hobbs State Park just east of Rogers. He collected specimens in five different Park habitats: Creek Riparian, Reservoir Riparian, Wooded, Upland, Cleared Upland Field, and Glade. Austin's project is the first at Hobbs to trap, identify and now disseminate information on the arthropods, bugs and insects found within the 12,054 acres of Arkansas's largest state park. Birds, mammals, reptiles, trees, flowers, bushes, amphibians, butterflies, etc. have been noted and inventoried at the 52 Arkansas state parks, but Austin Jones' year-long list will now allow some of the often missed critters to be included in this extensive inventory. Jones' program will be the first time anyone, even the staff of Hobbs State Park, will have knowledge of his fascinating study results. This program will be held at 2 p.m. Saturday, Dec. 16, at Hobbs State Park visitor center located on Arkansas Highway 12 just east of the Highway 12/War Eagle Road intersection. The program is free. For more information, call 479-789-5000.

Intro to Overnight Backpacking Clinics at Hobbs State Park -- Nov. 11-12, Nov. 24-25, and Dec. 9-10

Hobbs State Park Conservation Area is ready to help the beginning backpacker get started through its "Intro to Backpacking Clinics." These hands-on, overnight trips are designed for people with little to no backpacking experience to try out backpacking and learn some tricks to having a positive experience on the trail. The clinics are led by a park interpreter along the 8.5-mile Pigeon Roost Trail. Participants will be able to try out their own equipment in a safe environment with expert guidance. Topics covered during the clinics include packing, cooking, safety, leave no trace, and navigation. Those ready for a new kind of adventure should contact Hobbs State Park Conservation Area to register for one of these Intro to Backpacking Clinics. Backpackers will need to bring their own food, water and equipment to camp overnight. Backpackers will meet at the Pigeon Roost Trail Head, on Arkansas Highway 12, 6/10 mile east of the Hobbs State Park visitor center. The three clinics times and dates are: first clinic, 2 p.m. Saturday, Nov. 11, to 12 p.m. Sunday, Nov. 12; second clinic, 2 p.m. Friday, Nov. 24, to 12 p.m. Saturday, Nov. 25; and third clinic, 2 p.m. Saturday, Dec. 9, to 12 p.m. Sunday Dec. 10. The cost is $10 plus tax, and prepayment is required. Make sure to ask for a gear list when you register. To register, call 479-789-5000.

Hobbs State Park Announces its Eagle Watch Cruises through end of February 2018

Hobbs State Park Conservation Area offers eagle watch tours on Beaver Lake from November 2017 through February 2018. Tours will take place during these months on the following dates:

November 4, 5, 11, 12, 18, 19, 22, 24, 25, 26; December 2, 3, 9, 10, 16, 17, 22, 23, 27, 28, 29, 30; January 1, 6, 7, 13**, 14, 15, 19, 20, 21, 27, 28; February 3, 4, 10, 11, 17, 18, 19, 24, 25.

**This special tour on "How to Photograph Eagles" is being offered to adults only, who wish to know how to photograph eagles, from 2 to 4:30 p.m. The tour includes a lecture by a professional photographer from the Photographic Society of Northwest Arkansas

"We have always been lucky seeing eagles on our tours -- some mature, some immature -- and we always see other beautiful wildlife as well," said Rebekah Penny, park interpreter. "It could be migrating osprey, great blue herons, kingfishers, deer or red-tailed hawks. No one will ever be disappointed on our eagle tours. We can only take 20 guests at a time, so it's important that folks call the park in a timely manner to ensure that their names get on the boarding lists," she added.

Tickets must be purchased in advance: Adults -- $10 plus tax; Children 6-12 -- $5 plus tax. Tours depart Rocky Branch Marina promptly at 3 p.m. (except for the special tour on Jan. 13 which departs at 2 p.m.). For more information, call 479-789-5000.