Saturday, October 18, 2014

The Clinton High School Environmental Club members will host activities at South Fork Nature Center in Choctaw along with docent Krissi Graham. This year’s theme is titled “The Haunted Cabin.” There will be food and drinks, a camp fire, Educational Ghost stories, Terror on the Trail, Ghoul-y Geo-caching, and live music.

Students of all ages are invited to attend this event. Donations will be accepted for food and drinks. (In case of very bad weather it will be rescheduled.)

Contact Trish 501-745-6444 for details.

Verna Hicks, Van Buren County Master Gardener President, conducts the monthly meeting. SFNC Riddle Cabin in background.

By Steve Smith

On September 15, the Van Buren County Master Gardeners held their monthly meeting at South Fork Nature Center. Eighteen members gathered at the entrance where Nature Center Docent and Master Gardener Steve Smith gave a brief talk on the history of the Center and explained how, at the gated entrance, walk-in explorers are always welcome 24-7, to walk and explore over 2 miles of improved trails. The gate is opened on 3rd Saturdays for programmed docent walks March thru October.

The group then proceeded to the Riddle Cabin, a 100 plus year old restored pioneer cabin, at present the only permanent building on the nature center’s 65 acres, where they enjoyed refreshments before conducting the monthly meeting.

After the meeting Docent Smith lead the group on a trail walk identifying interesting flora and talking about nature.

For information on becoming a Master Gardener contact the Van Buren County Extension Office at 501-745-7117.

September 20, 2014

9am – 11am at the Nature Center’s Outdoor Classroom
(Click here for directions)

Scientists have been studying skulls of vertebrate animals for years. Looking at the skulls and comparing their differences and similarities can tell them a lot about an animal’s lifestyle and also major events and traumas in an animal’s life.

Master Naturalist, Bob Verboon will give a presentation at the South Fork Nature Center’s outdoor classroom on Saturday September 20th, 2014 from 9-11 am. Bob, along with docents Don Culwell and Janet Miron, will spend the morning with participants exploring how to infer information about an animal from the animal’s skull and understand the relationship between the skeletal structure and the animal’s environment. How could animals survive in their natural habitats? Were they predators? Were they the prey? What did this animal eat? Was it a carnivore, herbivore or omnivore? Discussions and activities are appropriate for all ages and a guided trail walk will be held for those wishing to participate after the presentation.

Families are invited to attend to spend the morning together in nature’s great living room using your feet, eyes, hands and ears to explore South Fork Nature Center’s vast area of trails and listen to a great presentation.

Educators are invited to attend to scout possible field trips to extend the learning in the classroom. Skulls can be used as instructional objects when teaching biological and anatomical concepts. Skulls can be very useful when focusing on dietary habits, food chains, predator/prey relationships, anatomy, biology, ecology, habitats, adaptation, evolution and animal behavior. This presentation can be scheduled for your classroom visit to South Fork Nature Center. We have listed some links to more information on this subject below.*

Home-School students are invited to attend this presentation. Both Bob and Janet were science teachers in Arkansas Public School Districts, but have now chosen to channel their desire to teach into the South Fork Nature Center Educational Program to reach more nature enthusiasts in an outdoor classroom setting. Dr. Don Culwell is a retired Botany Professor and serves as the Educational Events chair on the South Fork Nature Center’s Board.

No need to register. E-mail any questions to grf@artelco.com.

*Web Resource: Museum of Osteology
Web Resource: Nature Notes – Curiosity About Bones

Saturday, August 16, 2014

South Fork Nature Center’s FREE monthly guided tour will be led by docent Krissi Graham, beginning at 9 AM. She will be out in the woods at South Fork leading a group around in the forest.

Trees are everywhere: pines, cedars, oaks, hickories, maples… just what is a tree…and why all the different kinds? Do plan your schedule and be a part of this group soaking up a bit of the out-of-doors; folks of all ages will find it fascinating!

More info

Call 501-745-6444. The South Fork Nature Center is located on Bachelor Road near the Choctaw side of Greers Ferry Lake. Click here for driving directions & hiking maps…

Are your children bugging you……
to do something fun this summer?

The following books feature creatures that were spotted recently at South Fork Nature Center. The proof is in the pictures as we proudly display images captured on site by a Leslie Goff, a frequent South Fork Nature Center visitor. What better way to combat the “summer slide” than to read about local creatures and then set out to explore their habitat at the South Fork Nature Center? We’ve chosen some books from the NSTA’s Outstanding Science Trade Books for Student K-12:2014 list.

A Dragonfly’s Life. Ellen Lawrence. Bearport Publishing.

Hide-and-Seek Science: Animal Camouflage. Emma Stevenson. Holiday House
Complex graphics of 293 camouflaged animals in various environments.
Frog Song. Brenda Z. Guiberson. Macmillan Children’s/Henry Holt Books for Young Readers

National Geographic Kids First Big Bird Guide of North America. John Alderfer. National Geographic Society.

Ultimate Bugopedia. Darlyne Murawski and Nancy Honovich. National Geographic Society.