Animals Tell All at Hobbs State Park

Courtesy Photo A spider is one of many woodland creatures who will share information about Hobbs State Park at the Living Forest event on Oct. 27.
Courtesy Photo A spider is one of many woodland creatures who will share information about Hobbs State Park at the Living Forest event on Oct. 27.

Who better to educate us about the ecosystem in Hobbs State Park than the inhabitants of the forest themselves? At the "Living Forest" -- the park's family friendly educational event -- that's exactly what happens.

"The Master Naturalists work with us, and they dress up in animal costumes -- a bear, a turtle, a deer, for example -- and they place themselves at different locations all around the Ozark Plateau trail," says Steve Chyrchel, a park interpreter. After a short conversation with Mother Nature -- another employee of the park -- the group sets off. "It's a short trail, about a third of a mile. About every 20 or 30 minutes we take people in groups and lead them to each stop, and the animals talk about themselves a little bit."

FAQ

Living Forest

WHEN — 1-5 p.m. Oct. 27

WHERE — Hobbs State Park near Rogers

COST — Free

INFO — 789-5000

The entire trail takes around 40 minutes to traverse, and each session with a woodland creature is relatively short.

"We know little kids don't have long attention spans," says Chyrchel. "But it's a great way for the kids to learn about the animals."

Chyrchel says the path itself is a paved, six-foot wide trail, stroller- and wagon-friendly.

"And people won't be walking in grass -- so no need to worry about ticks," he adds.

The event's date -- Oct. 27 -- was selected for its potential to be a prime autumn leaves extravaganza.

"If Mother Nature plays along, it's the week that most often has the best color," says Chyrchel.

And if it rains -- as it has once in the past -- no worries: The 17,000-square-foot visitors' center and its educational taxidermy makes an ideal Plan B option.

"It's a family event and is especially for little kids, but the adults really get a kick out of it as well," says Chyrchel.

-- Lara Jo Hightower

[email protected]

NAN What's Up on 10/21/2018

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