The Arkansas Game & Fish Commission is bringing nature to you with its newest resource, the Virtual Nature Center. Through this online experience, families can learn a variety of outdoor skills such as fishing 101 and how to catch crappie, knot tying and mushroom hunting. The fun doesn’t end there –– a multitude of recipes, inside looks at Arkansas wildlife, and family-friendly activities await. 

Fun for the Whole Family

Here are a few of our favorite family-friendly activities from the Virtual Nature Center:

  • Crooked Creek and Smallmouth Fishing. Join wildlife artist and fly fisherman Duane Hada as he goes in search of Crooked Creek’s legendary smallmouth bass with fellow fly fishing guide Ben Levin.

  • DIY Bluebird Box. In less than 90 seconds, learn how to make a cozy spot right in your backyard for the Eastern Bluebird, just one of many birds that call Arkansas home.

  • Venomous Snakes of Arkansas. Grab a bowl of popcorn and pile up on the couch to tune in as Education Specialist Danielle Simmons profiles 4 of the 6 venomous snake species found in Arkansas.

Visit the full Virtual Nature Center any time, anywhere. 

More Arkansas Outdoors

To celebrate our gradual reintroduction to life outside the house, we’ve compiled some of the best that Arkansas has to offer: 

  • Parks of Arkansas. With 52 state parks, seven national park service sites and three national forests covering more than 2.9 million acres of Arkansas, the state boasts natural beauty from top to bottom. 

  • Scenic spots. Mountain ranges, waterfalls, natural bridges, lakes and rivers can be found all over Arkansas for breathtaking views.

  • Lakes, beaches, and swimming holes. Arkansas swimming holes will reopen on May 22! Among the 23 state parks located on rivers or lakes, eight offer Arkansas beaches, 15 lakes have sandy shores and eight watery playgrounds can be found in the Ozark and St. Francis national forests. 

Check out all the Arkansas fun here.