
Discover Events

Petit Jean State Parks
Arkansas State Parks Calendar of Events
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Lake Cruise
Wednesday, May 21, 2025
/ 10 a.m. - 11:30 a.m.
Sign up in advance for a relaxing cruise on Bull Shoals Lake. Sit back and enjoy the breezes as we explore this fascinating Ozark region and learn how the construction of the dam shaped both the…
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Birding from Shepherd Springs Road
Wednesday, May 21, 2025
/ 10 a.m. - 11 a.m.
Sometimes the best birding comes from pulling over on the side of the road in an area of prime habitat. Join a park interpreter for a carpool road trip down Shepherd Springs Road to bird from the…
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Dip Net Discovery
Wednesday, May 21, 2025
/ 10:15 a.m. - 11 a.m.
Is the water dirty, clean, or somewhere in between? Small creatures that live in the water can teach us about water quality. Join a park interpreter to catch and identify these critters in the creek…
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Snakes of Arkansas
Wednesday, May 21, 2025
/ 11 a.m. - 11:45 a.m.
Calling all snake sleuths! Arkansas is home to a diverse population of snake species. Join a park interpreter in the Ouachita Room to discover the importance of snakes, hone your…
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Discovering Nature Journals
Wednesday, May 21, 2025
/ 2 p.m. - 2:45 p.m.
Preserve your memories and experiences in the great outdoors in a journal. Meet a park interpreter outside the Lake Center to make your own journal and learn some outdoor journaling…
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Kayak Koving
Wednesday, May 21, 2025
/ 2 p.m. - 4 p.m.
Kayaking gives you the opportunity to interact with Lake Ouachita in a fun and engaging way. Join a park interpreter as we paddle out to explore nearby coves. Kayaks, paddles and…
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Nature Sense
Wednesday, May 21, 2025
/ 2 p.m. - 2:30 p.m.
Join Park Interpreter Mystina to put your sense of sight, touch, smell, and hearing to the test as you try to guess what some of the natural things are found in Lake Fort Smith State Park.
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Daybreak Diamond Tour
Thursday, May 22, 2025
/ 8:30 a.m. - 9 a.m.
Join a park interpreter in the Diamond Discovery Center, lower level to walk through the search area and learn about the best places to search for diamonds. Along the way, you’ll hear stories of past…
Heart Healthy
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Trail Tales
Thursday, May 22, 2025
/ 9 a.m. - 9:45 a.m.
Put on your detective caps and figure out what the animals have been up to in Lake Ouachita State Park. Animal signs can be found all around us here in the park, and they tell us the stories of the…
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Leave No Trace
Thursday, May 22, 2025
/ 10 a.m. - 10:30 a.m.
Ever wonder what's the harm in leaving that orange peel on the trail? Find out what it really means to Leave No Trace as you attend a family friendly Leave No Trace Program. Learn the Seven Principles…
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Diamond Mining 101
Thursday, May 22, 2025
/ 10 a.m. - 10:15 a.m.
Meet a park interpreter in the Diamond Discovery Center to learn the tricks of the trade at this demonstration of diamond searching methods!
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Let's Go Birding!
Thursday, May 22, 2025
/ 10 a.m. - 10:30 a.m.
Lake Fort Smith State Park is home to many kinds of birds from vultures to warblers. Meet Park Interpreter Mystina to go on a birding stroll to look for the many birds in the park. Binoculars are…
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Healing Waters
Thursday, May 22, 2025
/ 11 a.m. - 11:30 a.m.
The "healing" waters of Three Sisters Springs had an impact on many people from the past as they continue to be important to us today. Join a park interpreter for a trip back in time to rediscover the…
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Built to Last Hike
Thursday, May 22, 2025
/ 11 a.m. - 12 p.m.
Join a park interpreter for a walking tour to see the many different structures that the Civilian Conservation Corps built in the 1930s and 1940s that are still around today. We'll start at the…
Heart Healthy
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Disney Animals
Thursday, May 22, 2025
/ 2 p.m. - 2:30 p.m.
Did you know some of the animals seen in Disney's animated movies can be found at Lake Fort Smith State Park? Join Park Interpreter Mystina to find out which of your favorite Disney animals live here…
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Ozark Chinquapins
Thursday, May 22, 2025
/ 2 p.m. - 2:30 p.m.
Meet a park interpreter and learn the story of the Ozark chinquapin! Find out about restoration efforts currently happening at Bull Shoals-White River State Park.
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Scenic Lake Tour
Thursday, May 22, 2025
/ 2 p.m. - 3:30 p.m.
Lake Ouachita's immense size, pristine shoreline, and numerous islands offer breathtaking scenery that is unparalleled in the state. Enjoy a tour with a park interpreter as you explore the wildlife,…
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Knot Navigator
Thursday, May 22, 2025
/ 2:30 p.m. - 3 p.m.
From tying your shoes to tying your boat so it doesn't float away, knots are necessary! Join a park interpreter to learn how to tie different types of knots. Appropriate for all ages.
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What Doesn't Belong?
Thursday, May 22, 2025
/ 3 p.m. - 3:30 p.m.
Plants and animals that live here in the park can be categorized into different groups. Join Park Interpreter Mystina to play a fun activity to see what belongs in certain groups and what…
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Nature Games
Thursday, May 22, 2025
/ 3 p.m. - 3:30 p.m.
Discover all about the food chain at Devil’s Den State Park with a park interpreter as we play the game “Into the Forest.”
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