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Saturday, June 10: Raptor Rehab Program

Join us for an exciting free program at the Nature Center as we welcome Raptor Rehab, who will share about their mission, and introduce some magnificent birds of prey that are part of the release program!

10:00am, June 10, 2023 at the South Fork Nature Center Pavilion

Raptor Rehab of Central Arkansas provides quality care and rehabilitation for ill, injured or orphaned birds of prey with the goal of their release back into the wild. Visit their website to learn more: http://www.rrca-raptors.org/

All ages are welcome to attend! Parking is available across from the entrance gate, and pedestrians should use the foot path next to the gate and follow signs for the Pavilion. If you would like to stay after the program to explore our trails, we recommend bringing hiking boots, bug spray, and drinking water.

Directions

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Cleburne County Homeschool Co-Op 2023

We have to admit, April is particularly good month for a field trip at South Fork! These kids & parents from the Cleburne County Home School Cooperative enjoyed their first visit to South Fork with a field-based education day led by docents Bob Verboon, Shirley Pratt, Robert Fuhler, and Connie Smith.

During the hike, students learned about plant identification, noted the newly-painted tree ID markers completed by thee Master Naturalists, and explored connections of the unique watershed habitats at Greers Ferry Lake.

This group was awesome and we can’t wait to have them back!

If your homeschool group is interested in a field trip at South Fork, we’d love to get you in touch with some of our education enrichment programs! Reach out to us by e-mail at grf@artelco.com to schedule a visit.

The trails are open to the public sunup to sundown year-round, free of charge. Hikers can use the trail opening next to the gate.

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Job Well Done

Last of the South Fork Tree ID Stones Painted

The Fates were smiling! 7 painters arrived at Pat and Fred’s house Friday afternoon to paint the 7 remaining South Fork Nature Center ID stones. Robert was kept busy distributing paint supplies, making sure everyone had what they needed, and standing ready to wipe a brow if necessary — a Stone-Painting-Concierge Extraordinaire! Painters included Pat Bradley, Cathy Connaughton, Becky Pierce, NiT Laurie Gaines, Connie Smith, Sunnie Ruple, Sharon Roberson, Robin Harris, Robert Fuhler.

While the paint on the stones dried, the crew had tea and snacks and enjoyed a beautiful view of the afternoon sunshine on Lake Conway. Then Fred and Robert hauled the stones to the truck so they could be transported to their permanent homes on the trail the following morning.

Special thanks to Fred Hendricks for scrubbing the stones, as well as hauling the marker stones around with his truck and his back…over and over and over.

Ed, Fred, Laurie, Becky, and Pat gathered at South Fork to place the newly painted stones in their places. The group discovered quite a bit of invasive grape holly. Becky and Fred made some excellent kills…

Thanks to Bob Verboon for sharing this exciting update from the FAMN newsletter!

For more on the cool projects of the Foothills of Arkansas Master Naturalist team, you can follow them on Facebook at @FoothillsArkansasMasterNaturalists

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Repainting the Marker Stones

Admiring the beautiful work of these Master Naturalists!

Many of the tree ID stones at South Fork Nature Center had weathered to the extent that they were unreadable. This team from FAMN (Foothills of AR Master Naturalists) collected & cleaned them & repainted the information before replacing them on the South Fork trails.

Look for these marvelous markers on your next hike along our trails!

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We’re Open for Hiking!

We’re happy to announce that our hiking trails are once again OPEN to the public!

As of May 1, 2022, visitors can now hike and explore our nature trails on Greers Ferry Lake. Please remember to take only photos, and leave nothing but footprints. Pets are allowed on a leash.

Please contact us to request access for group activities.

Happy Trails!