Hobbs State Park – Conservation Area, September, 2024 Event Schedule:

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 Friends of Hobbs State Park Facebook page or web site to check on the latest status of programs.

Sunday, September 1st, 10:00 – 10:45 a.m.
Animal Ambassadors: The animals that live on exhibit at Hobbs State Park are animal-kingdom ambassadors to our 30,000+ annual visitors. Come hear the stories of each of our resident “critters”. Learn what they eat, how we care for them and the important roles they play in our ecosystem. Participants will get a “peek behind the scenes” and can join in the feeding and care activity if they choose. Recommended age 6+

Sunday, September 1st, 1:00 – 2:00 p.m.
Nature Journaling for the Non-Artist: Do you like the idea of nature journaling but are intimidated by all the drawing? You can have a great nature journal even if you “can’t draw”. Explore the reasons to keep a nature journal and learn some techniques to make a GREAT journal without having to draw. Bring your nature journaling materials with you if you choose, but additional materials will be provided. Recommended age 11+

Saturday, September 7th, 10:00 a.m. – 2:00 p.m.
Hooray for Hummingbirds!: Join a Park Interpreter on our front porch for National Hummingbird Day as we observe the hummingbirds at our feeding stations and learn more about these amazing birds as they prepare to migrate South for the winter. Come and go as you please. A 15-minute program will start every half-hour from 10:30 a.m. – 1:30 p.m.

Sunday, September 8th, 10:00 a.m. – 2:00 p.m.
Hooray for Hummingbirds!: Join a Park Interpreter on our front porch for National Hummingbird Day as we observe the hummingbirds at our feeding stations and learn more about these amazing birds as they prepare to migrate South for the winter. Come and go as you please. A 15-minute program will start every half-hour from 10:30 a.m. – 1:30 p.m.

Saturday, September 14th, 1:00 – 4:00 p.m.
Girl Scouts Love State Parks: Trees, Please!: Join park interpreters to learn all about trees and forest ecosystems as you take the Tree Pledge and earn the Trees badge (Cadettes). Experiment with capillary action to see how trees grow so tall. Solve a tree-cookie mystery and learn to ID common Arkansas trees. Explore the Ozark Plateau Trail and use some of the same techniques foresters use. Make your own clinometer and compare to other techniques to measure tree height. Learn about prescribed fire and its role in maintaining healthy forests. Space is limited and pre-registration is required by September 9th. Call (479) 789-5007 to register or for more information. #GSLSP2024

Saturday, September 14th, 10:00 a.m. – 2:00 p.m.
Mysterious Forest Objects: Look at some mysterious objects found in the forest around Hobbs, see if you can identify them, then learn more about them. Come and go as you please. A 15-minute program will start every half-hour from 10:30 a.m. – 1:30 p.m.

Sunday, September 15th, 10:00 a.m. – 1:30 p.m.
Mysterious Forest Objects: Look at some mysterious objects found in the forest around Hobbs, see if you can identify them, then learn more about them. Come and go as you please. A 15-minute program will start every half-hour from 10:30 a.m. – 1:00 p.m.

Sunday, September 15th, 2:00 – 3:00 p.m.
Friends of Hobbs Speaker Series: The Arkansas Timber Project: Peter MacKeith, Dean of the Fay Jones School of Architecture and Design at the University of Arkansas, is an advocate for sustainable forestry supporting a “forest-centered” economy and culture, one that enables a wood-centered approach to architecture, engineering and construction. He will be speaking about innovative design in wood, and valuable implementation of new wood products, specifically CLT (cross-laminated timber), which is now in production in Arkansas. MacKeith is also guiding the design and construction of the Anthony Timberlands Center for Design and Materials Innovation for U of A in Fayetteville’s Art and Design District. This new facility will be a regional center for research and development of new wood products and new approaches to sustainable construction materials.

Saturday, September 21st, 10:00 a.m. – 2:00 p.m.
Hobbs History Day at Historic Van Winkle Hollow: Join Park Interpreters in the historic Van Winkle Hollow and learn about the people and history behind this place, from Peter Van Winkle to Roscoe Hobbs. Can you identify different kinds of artifacts? Try the archeology maze to find out. Test your skills at old-time games and learn what life was like for children in the hollow. Help out with some typical chores and sample some Johnny cake and apple crisp made in a Dutch oven. Bring a sack lunch to enjoy in the picnic area, dip your toes in Little Clifty Creek, and make a day of it! Come and go as you please.

Saturday, September 21st, 10:30 – 11:00 a.m. or 1:00 – 1:30 p.m.
Reader’s Theater: A Brief History of Hobbs State Park-Conservation Area: Join Park Interpreter Chris in Van Winkle Hollow for this reader’s theater-style program where you – the audience members – help tell the interesting story of this place and how it came to be a state park. This program will be both educational and fun, but you must be willing to participate!

Saturday, September 21st, 7:00 – 10:00 p.m.
Astronomy Night with Sugar Creek Astronomical Society: We will begin with an indoor program as the speaker discusses current space topics and an overview of what to see in the autumn sky. Weather permitting, outdoor viewing will begin about 8:00 p.m. when we will observe constellations of late summer and early fall. Saturn is returning to evening viewing and we should see it towards the end of the viewing time slot. Club members will bring high quality amateur telescopes for public viewing. Items you may wish to bring include a red light, binoculars, lawn chair, and bug spray (do not apply near telescopes). Reservations not required. Recommended for ages 8+

Sunday, September 22nd, 10:00 a.m. – 2:00 p.m.
History of Hobbs: Join Park Interpreter Steve to learn more about the history that took place here, including the establishment of this state park, and the interesting people that made history happen! Come and go as you please. A 15-minute program will start every half-hour.

Saturday, September 28th, 8:00 a.m. – 12:00 p.m.
Great Arkansas Cleanup Volunteer Work Day: Show your appreciation for YOUR state park on National Public Lands Day by volunteering for this Keep Arkansas Beautiful event to help us make it better! We’ll meet at the Visitor Center pavilion first to organize and give away t-shirts. We’ll have two different projects you can choose from including a trash pick-up along Piney Road or trail maintenance. The minimum age for trash pick-up is 15 and 8 for trail maintenance. Join us at the pavilion for a free lunch afterwards. Registration is limited and required by Sept. 21st. Call (479) 789-5000 to register or for more information.

Saturday, September 28th, 10:00 a.m. – 2:00 p.m.
Magnificent Monarchs!: It’s that time of year when the monarch butterflies are heading for their winter home in Mexico. Join us on the front porch to learn more about these incredible insects! Come and go as you please. A 15-minute program will start every half-hour from 10:30 a.m. – 1:30 p.m.

Sunday, September 29th, 10:00 a.m. – 1:30 p.m.
Magnificent Monarchs!: It’s that time of year when the monarch butterflies are heading for their winter home in Mexico. Join us on the front porch to learn more about these incredible insects! Come and go as you please. A 15-minute program will start every half-hour from 10:30 a.m. – 1:00 p.m.

Sunday, September 29th, 2:00 – 3:00 p.m.
Friends of Hobbs Speaker Series: Insect Pollinators of Ozark Chinquapin Trees: Lilia Stemet, a PhD student in the Insect Ecology Lab at the University of Arkansas, will present this program based on research here at Hobbs with our Ozark chinquapin restoration project. Her overall research focuses on habitat restoration for flower-visiting insect biodiversity.

For details https://www.arkansasstateparks.com/parks/hobbs-state-park-conservation-area