Sunset Tours on Beaver Lake
Hobbs State Park and Conservation Area have released the dates of four sunset pontoon boat cruises on Beaver Lake during the month of October. Nothing could be more enjoyable than viewing a beautiful sunset out on Beaver Lake. Many birds will be coming back to their nests this time of day. Participants will observe and listen for their calls. Don't forget your cameras. All tour departures leave from Rocky Branch Marina promptly at stated times: Thursday, Oct. 25 -- 4:45 p.m.; and Sunday, Oct. 28 -- 4:45 p.m.
Tickets must be purchased in advance. Adults are $10 plus tax and children (ages 6-12) are $5 plus tax. For more information and to make reservations, call the park at 479-789-5000.
Living Forest -- A Non-Scary, Fall Treat
Join Mother Nature as she introduces her many woodland friends at Hobbs State Park-Conservation Area's "Living Forest" from 1 to 5 p.m. Saturday, Oct. 27, to begin at the Visitor Center. The cost is free and kids of all ages are invited to participate. Join in this fun, 40-minute, non-scary, fall treat for the whole family. Strollers and wagons are welcome as participants meander along a wide, paved, barrier-free path. If you want to be like Mother Nature's animal friends, come in costume. Plus, there will be crafts and free S'mores -- yum.
Listen to each animal's story, as they have a lot to tell. These educational messages will be uncomplicated and easy for young children to understand. Teenagers and adults will learn too. Living Forest is for families with members of all ages. Who are these critters who will be delivering the informative messages? They include a barred owl, deer, spider, bat, blue jays, skunk, raccoon, eagle, squirrel and more. Costumed Northwest Arkansas master naturalists will be delivering the meaningful messages.
Three Loon Migration Cruises
By popular demand -- Hobbs State Park has teamed up with the Northwest Arkansas Audubon Society to offer three memorable loon migration cruises on Beaver Lake. Each cruise will be led by guides well experienced with waterfowl migration.
Beginning the end of October to mid-November, the waterfowl migration will be in full swing. There will be many bird species to see and identify on these cruises. Besides common loons, those participating could see red-throated loons, Pied-billed and horned grebes and, possibly, western and eared grebes. These trips fall right in the middle of waterfowl migration and the possibility of seeing 10 or more species of ducks, one to three gull species, and even bald eagles. The cruises will explore a loop that starts at Rocky Branch, goes down the lake towards Twin Cove, crosses to Lost Bridge-Glade and a little further west, then returns to Rocky Branch.
The three cruises will leave Rocky Branch Marina at 10 a.m. each of the three days scheduled for Saturday, Oct. 27; Saturday, Nov. 3; and Sunday, Nov. 11. These are adult-only cruises with a cost of $10 plus tax per adult (13 years and up). Reservations are necessary. For more information and to make reservations, contact the park at 479-789-5000.
Wilderness First Aid Course
This two-day course immerses participants in basic wilderness medicine procedures, preparing individuals to take immediate action when an outdoor activity doesn't go as planned and 911 responders are hours away. Time is split between interactive classroom sessions and hands-on field scenarios to prepare participants and help them quickly develop basic backcountry medical care skills.
The course focus is on patient assessment, stabilization and emergency treatment of issues such as hypothermia and snakebites, as well as an understanding of when and how to attempt evacuation. Participants will emerge capable of calmly responding to a wide variety of emergency situations after this course.
The instructor is Tom Burroughs, NREMT/EMT-W, with team leader Washington County AR Search and Rescue Team. The certifying body is ASHI (American Safety and Health Institute), and the course is accepted by the Boy Scouts of America.
This two-day course will be held from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. each day, Saturday, Nov. 24, and Sunday, Nov. 25, at the Hobbs State Park Visitor Center. The cost is $135 per person. Pre-registration is required. For registration and any additional information, call 479-595-1655 or email [email protected].
Lingering Fall Color Photo Walk
Hobbs State Park enjoys a working partnership with the Photographic Society of Northwest Arkansas. Coming soon will be a fall photography "Photo Walk" led by Cleeo Wright, nature photographer, and other members of PSNWA.
The theme of this event is "Lingering Fall Colors," focusing on the final changing colors of the foliage at Hobbs State Park. Bring whatever camera gear, including your smartphone, that is comfortable for you to use. If you are a seasoned photographer or just beginning, you will not want to miss the chance to attend this lovely photo walk of lingering fall color photography. The photo walk will take place, rain or shine. Overcast and wet mornings create some of the best photographic fall color opportunities.
All participants will meet at the parking lot of the Historic Van Winkle and Sinking Stream trailheads to begin the photo walk promptly at 7 a.m. on Saturday, Nov. 3, and conclude as the morning light begins to shift. Traveling east out of Rogers on Arkansas Highway 12, about 10 miles from downtown, is a paved parking lot on the right with restrooms. This is the site of both the Historic Van Winkle and Sinking Stream trailheads. The trails are described as "easy" in difficulty, yet it is suggested to bring sturdy shoes suitable for hiking. Sinking Stream Trail has one small elevation. The Historic Van Winkle Trail is wheelchair accessible. Each trail is 0.5 miles in length. There is no cost for this activity and all levels of ability are welcome.
Mother Nature Reading Times
Mother Nature herself has become a permanent fixture at Hobbs State Park-Conservation Area lobby in the visitor center. Every second Saturday at 10:30 a.m. she visits the park to excite the imaginations of all the children around her. Upcoming Mother Nature visits and reading topics are Nov. 10 -- Stories the Osage Nation Tells; and Dec. 8 -- Squirrels: Busy All Year 'Round. There is no cost for this activity and the length is one hour. Storytime will be followed by "hands-on" nature-craft activities. Children of all ages are welcome, however, most stories will target children 3-6 years of age.
Park Visitor Center Location & Contacts
The Hobbs State Park-Conservation Area Visitor Center contact phone number is 479-789-5000. The Visitor Center is located on Arkansas Highway 12 just east of the War Eagle Road intersection. To learn more about upcoming Friends of Hobbs speakers and other park programs, go to www.friendsofhobbs.com and www.ArkansastateParks.com/hobbsstateparkconservationarea.
General News on 10/17/2018