Hobbs State Park news

Wednesday, June 13, 2018

Day camp offered

Hobbs State Park-Conservation Area's Outdoor Adventure Camp is a new day camp designed for 13- to 15-year-olds to explore the Park on land and in water for three action-packed days. Campers will learn to kayak and snorkel on Beaver Lake.

Outdoor Adventure Day campers will have unique hands-on learning experiences like re-living the history of the Park through Dutch oven cooking and using a two-man cross cut saw. Campers will also learn how to discover and identify some of the natural resources found along the park's trails.

Where: Pick-up and drop-off at the visitor center located on Ark. Hwy. 12 just east of the Ark. Hwy. 12/War Eagle Road intersection

When: 9 a.m. - 3 p.m. July 11 - July 13

Cost: $50 each

For information and to register, call 479-789-5000.

Sometimes misunderstood "glades" is topic

At its most simple definition, "glade" means an open space in a forest. Here in the Ozarks, it is just a little more complicated. Realize that our mountains -- vastly older than magnificent Rocky Mountain peaks or craggy Appalachian ledges -- were worn down by erosion endless ages past.

When traveling into the Ozarks from the north, you do not drive up into the mountains, but rather slowly down into an increasingly hilly, eroded, landscape. As this erosion took place, some hillsides were washed clear of most any soil, especially on south and westward facing slopes. Ozark glades formed. These slopes absorb hot afternoon sunlight, and now only certain animals and plants can live here.

Wildflower specialist and master naturalist, Joan Reynolds, will address the unique plant and animal communities that are specific to our Ozark glades.

"These land features are sometimes referred to as balds or barrens," according to Reynolds. "Glades are essentially shallow, rocky soils with exposed bedrock characterized by an abundance of wildflowers and native grasses, with only a few trees and shrubs. Periodic fires and local conditions of topography, bedrock and soil greatly influence glade development. Today, eastern red cedar has taken over most of our natural glades and the wildlife that we used to find there."

Reynolds will also explain what has taken place at the large glade restoration on Hobbs State Park. Many master naturalists and members of the Friends of Hobbs worked together with park staff to remove hundreds of eastern red cedar trees to allow plants and animals native to Ozark glades to once again return and flourish.

When: Saturday June 23, 2018

Time: 2 p.m.

Where: Hobbs State Park visitor center located on Ark. Hwy. 12 just east of Ark. Hwy. 12/War Eagle Road intersection.

Cost: Free

For information, call: 479-789-5000

To learn more about upcoming Friends of Hobbs speakers and other park programs, go to: http://www.friendsofhobbs.com/ and www.ArkansasStateParks.com/hobbsstateparkconservationarea

Community on 06/13/2018