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South Fork Closed Temporarily

Due to the continued precautions surrounding COVID-19 and the importance of social distancing in public spaces, our board has decided to keep the South Fork trails closed until further notice. Please watch our website and social media for updates on re-opening, and other exciting news. As summer approaches, we hope that you will keep safety in mind and enjoy outdoor spaces responsibly.

Remember, you can continue your support of South Fork and the Gates Rogers Foundation from home! Leave reviews online or donate to our conservation efforts with a tax-deductible contribution!

On behalf of the Gates Rogers Foundation board, thank you & be well!

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Board Member: Bob Verboon

We are honored to welcome the talented Bob Verboon to our Gates Rogers Foundation board! Mr. Verboon has contributed to our educational outreach for years as a docent educator.

Taxidermist Bob Verboon with an extensive collection of animal skulls
for students to learn to identify.
  • Member of Arkansas Master Naturalists since 2013
  • President – Foothills Chapter Master Naturalists
  • Avid Fly Fisher
  • Amateur Taxidermist

Graduated with B.S. 1968 Fresno State University. Major: Animal Science; Minor: Biological Sciences

M.A. 1976 San Jose State University-Vocational Education

Graduate work at U of A and Oklahoma State University

45 years in Vocational Education; California as a Vocational Agriculture teacher; State Departments of Vocational Education in Arkansas and Oklahoma State Department of Career and Technical Education.

Retired in 2000 and worked several educational positions, including Executive Director of the Arkansas Association of Technical Educators, teaching at an Alternative School and driving a school bus until finally retiring in 2015.

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Spring Family Scavenger Hunt

Bring the family and hike our trails. Print a copy of our Scavenger Hunt list here, or shoot a picture of it on your phone when you reach the kiosk, and head out for a fun day of Social Distancing Outdoors!

Remember to pack out any trash you bring in and don’t remove items from our trails. Just check them off the list!

Parking available across from the Gate. Hike into our nature center using the trail head located to the right of the gate. Bring a water bottle and wear comfortable shoes.

(Click the image for Printable PDF)

Visiting South Fork for the first time?

We’re a short drive off Hwy 65, on Greers Ferry Lake. Click here for easy directions!

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South Fork is OPEN!

South Fork Nature Center is Open!

We are open for walk-in visitors who practice social distancing. Our 2 miles of trails are budding and blooming. This is a great way to get some good exercise and relaxation. Some of our benches provide great views of the lake.

We at Gates Rogers Foundation want you to have a positive, safe experience. Please do not congregate in groups and allow everyone their space. Please take all trash home with you. As the weather warms up, you may want to bring your drinking water and possibly bug spray. Enjoy our beautiful trails, our budding trees and our sights and sounds of the forest!

Follow us on Facebook at @SouthForkNatureCenter for more information and future scheduled events.

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Happy 2020 from South Fork!

The team at South Fork Nature Center would like to wish you a new year full of excitement & wonder!

We’re grateful for all the amazing visitors who have come to explore our Greers Ferry Lake trails, from elementary students watching caterpillars wiggle, to the conservation groups that team up to preserve our unique lakefront ecology.

Remember that the trails at South Fork are open every day, year round! We’re not far from the recreational area on Greers Ferry Lake off Highway 330. Feel free to enjoy the beautiful woodlands – bring a friend, a camera, or even a pet!

If you’re a teacher, scientist, artist, or just a nature buff, you might be interested in joining our docent team (ask us how!)
If you’d like to host a class or group event, we have experts ready to guide you!
If you’d like to contribute your love of nature in another way, please consider a tax-deductible donation to our efforts.

May 2020 be the year you reconnect with nature in a magical way. We hope to be a small part of that.

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Summer Cleaning

Shout out to our trail maintenance team led by Don Culwell, Bob Verboon, Chris Graham and Charles Thompson! They’ve been busy as bees removing fallen trees from the trails this summer. Also, Philip Miron dutifully cuts the grass on the trails and the side of the road coming into South Fork.

Thanks boys, we couldn’t do it without YOU!