
Discover Events

Petit Jean State Parks
Arkansas State Parks Calendar of Events
Know Your Knots-Go Fishing!
Friday, May 16, 2025
/ 2 p.m. - 2:30 p.m.
Have you ever lost a fish off your line because the hook slipped the knot? Tying a good knot helps all anglers to have the best fishing experience in Lake Ouachita. Come join a park interpreter to…
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Ouachita Watercolors
Saturday, May 17, 2025
/ 10 a.m. - 10:45 a.m.
Throughout time, water holds power at Lake Ouachita State Park! Discover the history and importance of Lake Ouachita and its powerful water by joining a park interpreter during this lakeside…
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Kids to Parks Day: Nature Scene Investigation
Saturday, May 17, 2025
/ 10 a.m. - 10:30 a.m.
Something is going on in the forest and we need your help to figure out what! Join a park interpreter to become a nature detective. See if you can use the clues like tracks, scat, and food left by the…
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Kids to Parks Day: Discovery on the Lake Trail
Saturday, May 17, 2025
/ 11 a.m. - 11:45 a.m.
It’s time to take a hike with a park interpreter on the easy, 1-mile (total) Lake Trail to see what natural things we can discover along the way that we might normally overlook! Be sure to wear…
Heart Healthy
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Exploration Station: Skins, Skulls, and Scat
Saturday, May 17, 2025
/ 11 a.m. - 11:45 a.m.
Join
a park interpreter at the Exploration Station in Camp Area A to learn about the
local animals that call Lake Ouachita State Park home. Park interpreters will
have pelts, skulls, and tracks and…
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Scenic Lake Tour
Saturday, May 17, 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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Kids to Parks Day: Creek Crawl
Saturday, May 17, 2025
/ 2 p.m. - 2:30 p.m.
Crawfish, minnows, and variety of insects, there is an entire world of its own in the creek. Join a park interpreter to walk along a section of Lee Creek to observe the organisms that live there. It’s…
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Kids to Parks Day: Trash Time!
Saturday, May 17, 2025
/ 3 p.m. - 3:30 p.m.
Join a park interpreter for a fun game about recycling and learn some interesting facts about how long some of our trash will be hanging around! #KidstoParks
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Turtle, Turtle
Sunday, May 18, 2025
/ 10 a.m. - 10:30 a.m.
What is the difference between a terrapin and box turtle? Why are they important to the park? Join a park interpreter to learn all about the turtles that can be found at Devil’s Den State Park.
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Morning Lake Tour
Sunday, May 18, 2025
/ 10 a.m. - 11:30 a.m.
Begin your day with a peaceful cruise on Lake Ouachita! Bring a warm drink as a park interpreter will serve as your guide while you admire the scenery, wildlife, and stories of Lake Ouachita.…
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Dark Forests, White Tails
Sunday, May 18, 2025
/ 11 a.m. - 11:30 a.m.
What do you know about white-tailed deer?
Join Park Interpreter Kara to learn how this amazing animal survives here in
the park.
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Camouflaged Critters
Sunday, May 18, 2025
/ 2 p.m. - 2:30 p.m.
When exploring the park, critters can be hard to spot. Some blend in with the background, some look like different objects, and others pretend to be other animals. Join Park Interpreter Kara to learn…
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Journey of a Water Drop
Tuesday, May 20, 2025
/ 10 a.m. - 10:45 a.m.
Join us as we explore the incredible adventure of a water droplet, from its humble beginnings to its grand destination. Through engaging activities and hands-on experiments, participants will learn…
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Drops In The Bucket
Tuesday, May 20, 2025
/ 10:45 a.m. - 11 a.m.
Join us for the family-friendly "Drops In the Bucket" program, inspired by Project WET! Through fun, interactive activities, learn about water conservation and the significance of Lake Ouachita.…
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Scenic Lake Tour
Tuesday, May 20, 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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Discovery Hike (Dogwood Trail)
Wednesday, May 21, 2025
/ 9 a.m. - 10 a.m.
The
Ouachita National Forest provides a protective zone for wildlife around the
lake. Meet a park interpreter at the Dogwood trailhead to take a guided 1/2-mile
hike and discover the…
Heart Healthy
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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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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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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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