Central Arkansas Master Naturalists January Trail Cleanup at the Nature Center

Phil Wanzer, January 3, 2016

Today, Larry Price and I went to South Fork Nature Center to clear the leaves from as many trails as we could. Most of the trails are a crushed gravel type that disappear under many fallen leaves.

If you don’t know of this nature center, it is a gem along the banks of Greers Ferry Lake. Throughout the school year, school children and other groups are bused out to the center to go on a hike and hear of nature’s wonders. Some stay back at the pioneer cabin and learn about insects, for example, with plenty of microscopes for everyone to look through. Some days they have events that the general public is invited to attend. This is all done with volunteer docents. Teachers (often retired) and other willing volunteers can easily contact the center and become a docent or guide to help lead these tours. After all, isn’t that what it is all about – getting youth (and adults) interested in nature’s beauty?

Eventually, Larry & I managed to get 80% of the trails blown and raked off. We ran out of gas about the same time as we ran out of stamina for the first round. It would have been great if we had just two more people with us. We got this all done in 3 ½ hours which included us sitting down on a picnic table at the cabin and eating a enjoyable lunch. A great time it was.

So next time you see an event there, please mark it down and show up!