Special thanks to the Arkansas Game & Fish Commission for letting us borrow all kinds of cool gear to use in this month’s feature story photo shoot! Adorable explorers Kai, 8, Mika, 13, Quinn, 10, Garrett, 7, and Peyton, 4, had a great time.

Countless creatures and lush landscapes were just a wee step out the back door. We hiked, picnicked, swam and actually took Sunday drives. No one’s noses were buried in cell phones. We looked around and talked about what we saw. We often visited the Norfork Lake fish hatchery. I remember seeing fish at all stages of development from small slimy eggs to whoppers that seemed as long as my arm. From a young age, I learned about the circle of life and developed a deep passion and respect for nature.

Growing up in Mountain Home, Arkansas was a treat. Nature was my playground. I guess in a naïve way I thought every kid grew up similarly, except for in places I read about or saw on television. Looking back now I know that’s not the case. I often wish every child could grow up in a place like I did.

The 26th U.S. President Theodore Roosevelt said, “Here is your country. Cherish these natural wonders, cherish the natural resources, cherish the history and romance as a sacred heritage, for your children and your children’s children.”

Roosevelt was an avid outdoorsman whose legacy of protecting nature for future generations lives on today through the National Park Service and other entities. He saw natural resources decline in the early 1900s due to overhunting and overharvesting. Not long after his presidency, the notion of conservation was making its way to Arkansas, but it was almost too late. Many wildlife species—especially wild game—were on the brink of oblivion by March 11, 1915, the day Act 124 created the Arkansas Game and Fish Commission (Source: Arkansas Wildlife Magazine, “A Century of Conservation”).

Since the AGFC’s inception 100 years ago, the agency has worked diligently to restore wildlife habitats and native species populations. They have partnered with state and federal agencies, organizations and private citizens to enforce regulations, reintroduce species and ensure habitat recovery throughout Arkansas for all to enjoy.

Nature is for everyone of all abilities. It’s not just for one socioeconomic group, culture or gender. It’s for all and benefits all. “Unlike television, nature does not steal time; it amplifies it. Nature offers healing for a child living in a destructive family or neighborhood. Nature inspires creativity in a child by demanding visualization and the full use of the senses. Given a chance, a child will bring the confusion of the world to the woods, wash it in the creek and turn it over to see what lives on the unseen side,” Richard Louv, best-selling author of “Last Child in the Woods: Saving our Children from Nature-Deficit Disorder” and co-founder of the Children & Nature Network.

Little Rock Family salutes AGFC’s 100 years of work to provide and protect places for kids and families to get muddy, bird watch, see a king snake slither across a path, and open their eyes to the wild wonderful world around them!


When: Friday, October 30 & Saturday, October 31 • 6-9 p.m.
Where: Governor Mike Huckabee Delta Rivers Nature Center, 1400 Black Dog Road, Pine Bluff

These two nights of fun and scary activities are for goblins young and old. Wear costumes and enjoy games, inflatables, a rock climbing wall and the “Trail of Terror.” Call (870) 534-0011 for more information.


AGFC Fun Facts for Youth

Did You Know? The AGFC website is a great resource to use for school. You’ll find information about endangered and threatened species, water trails, wildlife viewing areas and rehabilitation, guides to snakes, birds, hunting, fishing, conservation programs, kids’ publications and more. Plus, there are eight nature and education centers located around the state, each of which boasts a whole host of family friendly events and exhibits. Check it all out at AGFC.com.


Hunting Around the Natural State

Migratory bird seasons range from early September to mid-February with the Light Goose Conservation Order going into late April.

Special Youth Waterfowl Hunts will be held December 5, 2015 & February 6, 2016. Go to Greenhead.net to learn more.

According to the AGFC, youths 15 and younger may hunt ducks, geese, coots and mergansers. The youths must have completed a hunter education course and be accompanied by an 18 or older mentor. Youths who have not completed a hunter education course must be accompanied by a mentor 21 or over.

There are hunting and trapping seasons for deer, bear, elk, quail, rabbit, squirrel, crow and furbearers. Special modern gun youth deer hunts are scheduled for November 7-8, 2015 and January 2-3, 2016. A special modern gun youth bear hunt is scheduled for November 7-8, 2015 for only zones 1 and 2.

Go to AGFC.com for more details, specific dates and zones.


Something’s Fishy & Fun!

AGFC Family & Community Fishing Program Destinations

The program provides the following fishing venues (listed alphabetically) for the more populated areas of Arkansas. It includes regular seasonal stockings of catchable trout and catfish. Fishing derbies are a popular activity at several sites.

  1. Boyle Park Pond, Little Rock
  2. Cabot City Pond, Cabot
  3. Cherrywood Lake, Sherwood
  4. Conner Park, Little Rock
  5. Hindman Park, Little Rock
  6. Kiwanis Park Pond, Little Rock
  7. Lake Valencia, Maumelle
  8. MacArthur Park Pond, Little Rock
  9. Mike Freeze England Community Pond, England
  10. Paradise Lake, Jacksonville
  11. Pinnacle Mountain State Park, Little Rock
  12. Rock Creek in Boyle Park, Little Rock
  13. Sherwood Pond, Sherwood
  14. Sunset Lake, Benton
  15. War Memorial Park, Little Rock
  16. Willow Beach Park, Scott

For a complete list of venues in Arkansas (plus stocking dates and number of trout), sink your hook into AGFC.com.