
Discover Events

Petit Jean State Parks
Arkansas State Parks Calendar of Events
Geocaching Island Hopper
Thursday, July 17, 2025
/ 8:30 a.m. - 10 a.m.
Whether you are a diehard geocacher or completely new to the activity, this excursion is sure to satisfy your craving for adventure! With GPS units/smartphones in hand, we will travel by…
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Art in the Park
Thursday, July 17, 2025
/ 8:30 a.m. - 9:30 a.m.
Memories are made here at Lake Catherine State Park! Join a park interpreter outside the nature cabin to discuss the natural beauty of Lake Catherine during this lakeside painting activity.
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A Bird's Buffet
Thursday, July 17, 2025
/ 9 a.m. - 9:30 a.m.
Which birds eat what? Join a park interpreter at the Lake Center to play a fun game and learn how birds use their different types of beaks to eat certain foods. This program will last about…
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Trail Tales
Thursday, July 17, 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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Hike Along the Rim Trail
Thursday, July 17, 2025
/ 9 a.m. - 11 a.m.
Join a park interpreter to set off on a section of the Winthrop P. Rockefeller Boy Scout Trail known as the Rim Trail. The walk offers scenic views of Cedar Creek’s lower canyon, as well as woodland…
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Hands-On History: Telegraphs, Washboards, and Model-Ts
Thursday, July 17, 2025
/ 10 a.m. - 11 a.m.
Come to the museum and learn about how people lived in south Arkansas during the 1920s oil boom. Explore the Boomtown Street with the museum's curator, as you complete a scavenger hunt. See and learn…
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Diamond Mining 101
Thursday, July 17, 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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Healing Waters
Thursday, July 17, 2025
/ 10 a.m. - 10:30 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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Ranger Beads
Thursday, July 17, 2025
/ 10:30 a.m. - 11 a.m.
Are we there yet? If you were hiking a trail or blazing your own path without the luxury of modern GPS technology, how would you know how far you had traveled or how far you had left to go to reach…
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Butterflies vs. Moths
Thursday, July 17, 2025
/ 10:30 a.m. - 11 a.m.
Butterfly or moth? What's the difference? Join a park interpreter at the nature cabin to find out! Participants will have the opportunity to craft their very own butterfly or moth.
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Guess That Creature
Thursday, July 17, 2025
/ 11 a.m. - 11:30 a.m.
How well do you know
the special creatures and features of Lake Ouachita State Park? Meet a park interpreter to take the "creature challenge." We see how good you at are at identifying photos,…
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Journey to Germination
Thursday, July 17, 2025
/ 11 a.m. - 11:45 a.m.
Join a park interpreter at the Lake Center to discover what a seed must overcome in its journey to germination, as well as the different methods of seed dispersal. This program includes a…
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Legacy of Mather Lodge
Thursday, July 17, 2025
/ 1 p.m. - 1:45 p.m.
Join a park interpreter for a tour of this architectural park gem. Discover some secrets of the past and gain insight into the undergone changes of one of Arkansas’ most treasured landmarks.
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Diamond Mining 101
Thursday, July 17, 2025
/ 1:30 p.m. - 1:45 p.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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Food Web Wonders
Thursday, July 17, 2025
/ 1:30 p.m. - 2 p.m.
Every living thing at Lake Ouachita State Park is connected! Join a park interpreter to discover the delicate balance of the food web, the role it plays at Lake Ouachita, and our role in protecting…
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Swim and Cruise Lake Tour
Thursday, July 17, 2025
/ 1:30 p.m. - 3 p.m.
Enjoy a relaxing and scenic cruise on DeGray Lake before beating the heat and taking a dip in its refreshing water! We will cruise the lake for the first half of the tour taking in the beautiful…
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Wildflower Bingo
Thursday, July 17, 2025
/ 1:30 p.m. - 2 p.m.
Lake Catherine State Park is home to many stunning wildflowers! Meet a park interpreter at the nature cabin to play this fun game and learn all about the beautiful flowers that grow here.
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Scenic Lake Tour
Thursday, July 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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In-seine Adventure
Thursday, July 17, 2025
/ 4 p.m. - 4:45 p.m.
Join a park interpreter at the fishing pier for your chance to pull a seine in Lake Bennet! Once we have seined, we will identify what we catch. Please wear appropriate clothes and shoes for…
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Bike the Park
Thursday, July 17, 2025
/ 7 p.m. - 7:45 p.m.
Join a park interpreter to see Daisy State Park by bike! Meet at the main pavilion for this evening bike tour around the park. We will see the entire park on this exciting evening ride and learn some…
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