
Discover Events

Petit Jean State Parks
Arkansas State Parks Calendar of Events
Dixie's Home Front
Saturday, August 02, 2025
/ 10 a.m. - 10:30 a.m.
With their fathers, brothers, and husbands gone off to fight in the Civil War, Southern women had to do not only their own housework, but learn to take on the jobs of their male relatives, too! Join a…
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Build a Bee Hotel
Saturday, August 02, 2025
/ 10:15 a.m. - 11:15 a.m.
How many bees can you name? There are so many more bees than honeybees and bumblebees, and most of them are solitary bees. They need homes and temporary "hotels" to stay at on their journeys to…
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Origami Folding: Forest Friends
Saturday, August 02, 2025
/ 11 a.m. - 11:45 a.m.
Ready to try your hand at folding origami animals? Join a park interpreter outside the visitor center to learn about the native wildlife around Village Creek State Park that call the forest home.…
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Tracker Training
Saturday, August 02, 2025
/ 12 p.m. - 1 p.m.
Can you tell the difference between the tracks of a squirrel and an opossum? Become an outdoor wildlife detective and find out who has been walking around Lake Frierson State Park! Join a park…
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Talk Like A Sailor 101
Saturday, August 02, 2025
/ 1 p.m. - 1:30 p.m.
Have you ever wondered where some of the phrases we use came from? Surprisingly, many originated from steamboat lingo. Join a park interpreter and learn how these phrases may or may not have changed…
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Mr. Whitney’s Cotton Gin
Saturday, August 02, 2025
/ 2 p.m. - 4 p.m.
Cotton plants grow fluffy white bolls, but you can’t just pick them and turn them into cloth. Join a park interpreter to learn how one important machine built an entire industry in the past…
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Who Flooded the Lake?
Saturday, August 02, 2025
/ 2 p.m. - 3 p.m.
What is pollution? How does it affect our waterways? Join a park interpreter for an interactive demo of what can happen when we dump things into waterways and lakes. How can we keep the fish in Lake…
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Water Safety
Saturday, August 02, 2025
/ 2 p.m. - 2:30 p.m.
Ready to beat the summer heat at Lake Dunn? Join a park interpreter to talk about ways to stay safe (while having fun) in and around the water! This is a free, family-friendly event and no…
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Tree Detectives – A Plant and Tree ID Adventure
Saturday, August 02, 2025
/ 2:30 p.m. - 3:30 p.m.
Become a nature detective and learn how to identify trees using leaves, bark, and other clues! We’ll use a simple dichotomous key to explore the park’s trails and uncover the secrets of local trees…
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White River Hunters and Trappers
Saturday, August 02, 2025
/ 2:30 p.m. - 3:15 p.m.
Hunting and trapping served an important role on the White River and contributed to Jacksonport's economy. Join a park interpreter to learn what animals were hunted and trapped in this area. Learn…
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Nature Jeopardy
Saturday, August 02, 2025
/ 4 p.m. - 5 p.m.
Here is a chance for you and your family to be in the “hot seat!” Bring your whole family to this fun game and challenge your brain on every aspect of the nature of Arkansas. Meet a park interpreter…
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Scales, Tails and Survival Tools
Saturday, August 02, 2025
/ 4 p.m. - 5 p.m.
Join us to discover how snakes survive without legs! Learn about their amazing adaptations, then build your own custom snake designed for life in the wild. Fun, hands-on, and perfect for children ages…
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Sounds of the Night
Saturday, August 02, 2025
/ 5:30 p.m. - 6:30 p.m.
Have you ever been outside and heard a weird noise? Have you ever been camping and heard something you couldn't explain? There are plenty of nocturnal animals in our park that make all sorts of…
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What's that Smell?
Saturday, August 02, 2025
/ 6 p.m. - 6:30 p.m.
Visit with a park interpreter to learn about the beautiful, but smelly striped skunks that call Arkansas home. What do they eat? How long do they live? Other than their odor, what makes them special?…
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Picture Perfect
Saturday, August 02, 2025
/ 6:30 p.m. - 7:30 p.m.
The protections of Village Creek State Park give us endless opportunities for picture perfect memories. Even though we can’t take pieces of the park home with us, a picture lasts forever! Meet a park…
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Hike the Rainbow
Sunday, August 03, 2025
/ 9 a.m. - 9:30 a.m.
Village Creek State Park protects a rainbow of relationships! Join a park interpreter on this journey to find colorful connections along the Arboretum Trail (0.5-mile, easy difficulty). Please bring…
Heart Healthy
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Bug Builders: Insect Collecting and Pinning
Sunday, August 03, 2025
/ 9 a.m. - 10 a.m.
Get up close with the tiny world of insects! In this hands-on program, young naturalists will learn how to safely collect, observe, and preserve real insects found right here in the park. We’ll…
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In Search of the White River Monster
Sunday, August 03, 2025
/ 10 a.m. - 10:45 a.m.
Join a park interpreter for a hike along the beach and learn about the history of White River Monster sightings while watching for items that may have been mistaken for this mythical monster in the…
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Animal Signs Hike
Sunday, August 03, 2025
/ 10:15 a.m. - 11:15 a.m.
Sometimes we don't see the animals that live at Lake Poinsett State Park because they're nocturnal or good at hiding. How else can we see signs of these critters at the park? Join a park interpreter…
Heart Healthy
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There's Something Fishy Going On
Sunday, August 03, 2025
/ 10:30 a.m. - 11:30 a.m.
Join us to explore the anatomy of fish and the unique species found in Lake Frierson. Learn about where these fish live, how their features help them survive, and discover the diverse aquatic world…
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