Arkansas Wild | Spring 2022

ARKANSAS WILD MEET SHEA LEWIS. SEE PAGE 34.

greers ferry angler’s paradise wild events see what’s happening

MARCH 2022 ARKANSASWILD.COM

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MARCH 2022 ARKANSASWILD.COM

FEATURE

25 WHAT’S NEXT? THE FUTURE OF THE WILD

26 SPACE FOR EVERYONE

ADAPTING TRAILS, CAMPGROUNDS

30 NEXT GENERATION

TURNING KIDS ON TO CAMPING

31 QUEENS OF THE FOREST BOW TEACHES OUTDOOR SKILLS

33 KATHERINE ANDREWS LEADING THE PACK

35 SHEA LEWIS

REDEFINING STATE PARKS

36 AUSTIN BOOTH

AGFC MISSION CRITICAL

ON THE COVER: Shea Lewis, director of Arkansas State Parks, takes in some Arkansas splendor. Photography by Novo Studio.

4 | Arkansas Wild | MARCH 2022

NOVO STUDIO

DEPARTMENTS 10 OUTDOOR ESSENTIALS 12 ARKANSAS MADE 18 EXPLORE 38 WILD EVENTS

Katherine Andrews leads the new generation.

See page 33.

Stroll through endless fields of color at Garvan Gardens’ Tulip Extravaganza. Discover rejuvenation, entertainment and outdoor dining along Bathhouse Row. Hike and bike your way through the fresh, spring air. Enjoy fishing across sparkling lakes and rivers. The Diamond Lakes Region is where you come to experience spring.

ARKADELPHIA • CADDO VALLEY • GLENWOOD • HOT SPRINGS MALVERN MURFREESBORO Not •allMOUNT rainbowsIDA are in• the sky. Check out our White River excursion on page 22.

Visit DiamondLakes.org to request a FREE Hot Springs/Diamond Lakes Guide. @HotSprings_DiamondLakes BikeHotSprings.org DiamondLakes.org

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LOCO R

Mountain View

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A D VEN S E P O

ARKANSAS WILD ARKANSASWILD.COM FOLLOW US FOR MORE WILD

#ARKANSASWILD

BROOKE WALLACE Publisher brooke@arktimes.com DWAIN HEBDA Editor dwain@arktimes.com

locoropes.com Ad paid for using a combination of private and state matching funds Ad paid for using a combination of private and state matching funds.

Replica’s from the Water to your Wall

MANDY KEENER Creative Director mandy@arktimes.com LESA THOMAS Senior Account Executive WELDON WILSON Production Manager/Controller ROLAND R. GLADDEN Advertising Traffic Manager MIKE SPAIN Advertising Art Director JORDAN LITTLE Director of Digital Strategy ROBERT CURFMAN IT Director CHARLOTTE KEY Administration JACKSON GLADDEN Circulation Director

Highest quality fiberglass replica by artist Duane Hada.

ALAN LEVERITT President

Rivertown Gallery Bringing you The Ozarks on Canvas 3512 Hwy. 62 West • Mountain Home, AR 72653 rivertowngallery.com • 870-425-3898 Ad paid for using a combination of private and state matching funds.

6 | Arkansas Wild | MARCH 2022

©2022 Arkansas Times Limited Partnership 201 E. MARKHAM ST., SUITE 150 LITTLE ROCK, AR 72201 501-375-2985 All Contents © 2022 Arkansas Wild

KNOW THE PERFECT PLACE THAT COULD USE A SIDEWALK, OR MAYBE A TRAIL THAT NEEDS SOME TLC? Your ideas may qualify for funding through the Transportation Alternatives Program (TAP) or the Recreational Trails Program (RTP). Visit www.ardot.gov and search for “TAP” to learn more about these grant programs administered by the Arkansas Department of Transportation.

eligible examples include, but are not limited to:

• Conversion of abandoned railroad corridors • Sidewalk improvements • Development & rehabilitation of trailside and trailhead facilities To apply, download an application from our website. Completed applications can be emailed to LFPA@ardot.gov or mailed to the address below. Applications must be received by June 1.

Arkansas Department of Transportation c/o Program Management Division 10324 Interstate 30 Little Rock, AR 72209

hot springs greenway trail ARKANSASWILD.COM | 7

FROM THE EDITOR

WELCOME BACK, SPRING The more time you’ve spent in other places, the more you appreciate Arkansas’s gorgeous springtime. The flowering dogwoods and azaleas and the mild, balmy weather are hard to beat, especially when taken in from your favorite fishing spot or hiking trail. We are truly fortunate people.

This issue of Arkansas Wild takes a look at the future of our beloved outdoors, taken from various perspectives. Challenges of conservation and maintenance are constant, but leadership must also look at changing usage patterns and needed enhancements to make the outdoors more accessible to all Arkansans.

Ready to get out on the lake? Sure you are! This month, we take you on a fishing trip to Greers Ferry Lake, and our gear page gives you a glimpse at some of the new gadgets every angler needs. We also visit a legendary Arkansas boat maker to see what’s up with DuraCraft and War Eagle. Not a bad weekend’s activity if you think about it.

We’ve said for two years now that we’re looking forward to things getting back to normal and, well, we’re still saying it.

Happily, many events and festivals in Arkansas are cautiously coming back on line, and it’s certainly much easier to dine out these days. Through it all, Arkansas’s wild spaces have become more important than ever, to all of us. As you get out there to soak them in, please remember to do your part to keep them clean and beautiful for the next pilgrim to enjoy.

Wander far,

Dwain Hebda Editor, Arkansas Wild

8 | Arkansas Wild | MARCH 2022

STAY & PLAY THIS SPRING AT

BEAR CREEK LOG CABINS

YOUR HOME AWAY FROM HOME! If you are looking for a rustic retreat near the Buffalo National River at Tyler Bend, look no further than Bear Creek Log Cabins. There are six cabins scattered over hundreds of acres, all with access to the fishing holes of Bear Creek—a tributary to the Buffalo—right on the property.

The ranch is about five minutes south of Middle Buffalo access areas and the Ozark Highland Trail, but you will also find plenty

of trails right on the Bear Creek property for hiking, biking or ATV use. It is a photographer’s paradise, with sweeping views of the buttresses that line the creek and wildlife on every adventure.

The nearby private Lake House property, with a 22-acre stocked lake with dock and fishing boat right out the back door, is also a favorite location for all ages.

The spacious cabins feature native rock fireplaces, outdoor fire

pits, charcoal grills, full kitchens, linens, flat screen tvs with satellite reception (including SEC and ESPN channels), wi-fi and heat/ air that will accommodate up to 52 guests.

Bear Creek is open yeararound, offers hunting in season, and is pet-friendly. Special winter discount rates are available in January and February. Bear Creek Log Cabins will quickly become your go-to getaway destination.

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OUTDOOR ESSENTIALS

DIVE IN

HERE’S THE FISHING GEAR YOU NEED TO CATCH THE BIG ONE (OR LOOK GOOD LYIN’ ABOUT IT).

1

1. RACK ‘EM

Don’t risk damaging your rods in the back of a pickup or trunk of your car; get the RodMounts Rod-Up rack. This ingenious device keeps your rods out of harm’s way with a simple, customizable fit with models for cars (shown), SUVs and trucks. Adjustable tension makes switching between vehicles a breeze, too. rodmounts.com

2. GET AN EDGE

2

3

Some people consider fish finders unsporting, but since the fish know the lake better than you do, we think it’s just evening the odds. Garmin’s Striker model packs a lot of tech into an easy-to-use package, including sonar technology and a bright display. The fish won’t know what hit them. garmin.com

3. WEIGH YOUR OPTIONS

Look, everyone knows no pictures equals didn’t happen. The next time you land a monster, get the weight in the shot with this KastKing model that handles a catch up to 50 pounds. This bad boy floats, and for a slight upcharge, the combo model includes a no-puncture lip grabber. kastking.com

4. PACK IT UP, PACK IT IN

4

5

Arkansas has great fly-fishing, but getting to the best spots sometimes takes some doing.

Trekking to that remote stream can make a conventional tackle box feel like carrying a boat anchor. Stow your gear in the roomy Lunkerhunt LTS tackle backpack and save your arm strength for the trout. lunkerhunt.com

Solid, dependable gear doesn’t have to cost you a week’s pay, especially if you’re just starting out. Shimano’s Solara is a good example, providing durability and performance that rival much pricier rivals.

It’s light, it’s responsive and at $20 you’ll catch a lot of fish for not a lot of clams. shimano.com

6. THE REEL DEAL

6 10 | Arkansas Wild | MARCH 2022

Time for a new reel? Dumb question. It’s always a good time for a new reel and Pflueger’s Supreme XT is a beaut. Sealed carbon drag eliminates foul-ups, while 10 bearings give you that oily smoothness your old reel gave up years ago. Ain’t cheap, but boy is it purty. purefishing.com

PHOTOGRAPHY: COURTESY OF VENDORS

5. GREAT ROD, GREAT VALUE

DISCOVER MORE OF THE DIAMOND LAKES REGION THIS SPRING. EXPERIENCE. ADVENTURE. TOGETHER. Your Harbor for Healing MASSAGE THERAPIES HOLISTIC THERAPIES FACIAL THERAPIES AND SKINCARE BODY THERAPIES

Hot Springs Off-Road Park is a 1,242-acre trail system for 4-Wheel Drive Vehicles, UTVs, ATVs, and Dirt Bikes in Hot Springs, Arkansas.

Campground includes Cabins, RV Spots, Overlanding, Tent Sites, Showers, Event Pavilion, and Convenience Store.

Open year round.

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135 S. West Street Mount Ida, AR 870-867-3115 www.ouachitaartists.org

Please visit diamondlakes.org to request a free Hot Springs/ Diamond Lakes Vacation Guide.

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Nightly Rental Homes Available Now!

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ARKADELPHIA ♦ CADDO VALLEY ♦ GLENWOOD ♦ HOT SPRINGS ♦ MALVERN ♦ MOUNT IDA ♦ MURFREESBORO WANT TO ADVERTISE IN THE DIAMOND LAKES SECTION? CONTACT LESA THOMAS AT 501-258-8745 OR LESA@ARKTIMES.COM

COURTESY OF VENDORS

ARKANSAS MADE

PERFECTING THEIR CRAFT

WARD FAMILY PUTS MONTICELLO ON THE MAP WITH WAR EAGLE AND DURACRAFT BOATS.

BY APRILLE HANSON SPIVEY

12 | Arkansas Wild | MARCH 2022

W

hat Monticello lacks in population at just under 10,000 people, it makes up for in sporting boat manufacturing, thanks in large part to the Ward family. Since 1945, when brothers Bill and Chick Ward had the idea to create a lighter-weight boat to replace the wooden models used at the time, Arkansans have been traveling the waterways with the family’s DuraCraft and War Eagle boats.

“They produced a lot of boats back in the day. They were a lot smaller and you could produce a bigger quantity of them at a time,” said Tucker Ward, head of marketing for both War Eagle and DuraCraft, produced out of the same facility. “Now we build up to a 23-footer and back then, they were mainly

Bass or ducks, War Eagle performs in any season.

DISCOVER MORE OF THE DIAMOND LAKES REGION THIS SPRING.

COME FIN D YOU R SA NCTUA RY

Mountain Harbor Resort & Spa on Lake Ouachita 870-867-2191 • 800-832-2276 MountainHarborResort.com

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Iron Mountain Lodge & Marina on DeGray Lake 870-246-4310 • Iron-Mountain.com

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Self Creek Lodge & Marina on Lake Greeson • 870-398-5000 866-454-7353 • SelfCreek.com

Visit diamondlakes.org to request a free Hot Springs/Diamond Lakes Vacation Guide.

ARKADELPHIA ♦ CADDO VALLEY ♦ GLENWOOD ♦ HOT SPRINGS MALVERN ♦ MOUNT IDA ♦ MURFREESBORO This ad is paid for with a combination of state funds and private regional association funds.

ARKANSASWILD.COM | 13

COURTESY OF VENDORS

Arkansas-made DuraCraft is a pioneer in flat-bottomed aluminum boats.

“PEOPLE ARE WANTING TO BUY BOATS AND GET OUTSIDE AND GET ON THE WATER. IT’S A GREAT PLACE TO QUARANTINE, FOR SURE.” —TUCKER WARD selling 15- and 16-footers.”

The DuraCraft Fisherman Series began when the Wards purchased a government surplus of aluminum at the end of World War II, creating what the company claims is the first flat-bottom aluminum boat. Chick’s son, Kim Ward, expanded DuraCraft before selling the company in 1983. Kim and his sons, Mike and John, would soon be back to manufacturing watercraft, founding War Eagle Boats in 1992. The brothers currently own both War Eagle and DuraCraft, which returned to Monticello and the Ward family name in 2012.

“It was important to my grandpa [Kim Ward] because that was a company he helped start, so it was important for him to get that name back,” said Tucker Ward, who has been around his family’s boat business all his life, joining full time after graduating from Arkansas State University in 2018.

“I’ve always loved it. I’ve always had a passion for it. I remember at a young age, I would go out there and just watch people weld and do different things. I thought it was so cool.”

Naturally, there have been many advancements since 14 | Arkansas Wild | MARCH 2022

the family began making boats, but the original focus on quality and innovation is alive and well. One of the newer features setting today’s boat series apart is the T-Lock Cap Rail system, accommodating any accessory the company makes.

“You can take it on and off just by taking out one bolt, and you can move it wherever you want in the boat. That has been a big selling point for us,” Ward said. “Also our paint patterns; we paint all of Mossy Oak, Realtree, Nat Gear, pretty much every big camo company that’s out there.”

Ward, an avid duck hunter and angler, spends a lot of time in the company’s watercraft, particularly on Lake Chicot in Lake Village and Cut-Off Creek and Seven Devils Lake in Drew County.

“The 1754 [model] is probably my favorite because you can do pretty much everything out of it. If you have a camo pattern on it, you can duck hunt out of it in the winter months, and then you can change over and go fish good-sized lakes and not have to worry about the boat being too small and not feeling safe,” he said.

War Eagle Boats are touted as the nation’s premier waterfowling boats, trusted by hunters of all levels, and

is the official boat of Ducks Unlimited. Customers can customize their craft or choose from popular models like the Blackhawk in 19-, 21- or 23-foot lengths, and a mud boat the company recently unveiled called the Gladiator.

“The Gladiator, it’s more of a duck boat,” Ward said.

“A lot of people put mud motors on them and use them to get in shallow water … I just like the safety of them, the quality of them. There’s not a body of water that I wouldn’t take these boats in.”

War Eagle produces about 1,000 boats annually in addition to the DuraCraft line, yet it has retained its small-town company charm. There’s not even an automated phone message to get between the longtime manufacturer and its legions of loyal customers.

“People like talking to somebody real on the phone,” Ward said.

The company has about 80 employees, a number

stretched thin by the pandemic as some have sought work elsewhere with fewer applicants to replace them.

That, plus supply chain issues, have impacted production “a little bit,” Ward admits. War Eagle and DuraCraft generally release new models annually but will not for 2022, he said.

“Specifically, getting outboard engines through all this has kind of been a struggle. And then just getting oddsand-ends parts, like livewell liners and things that you don’t really think about until you need them,” Ward said.

The silver lining has been in sales. While not sharing dollar figures, Ward said the company has seen a boost in both returning and new customers as more people continue to social distance in the outdoors.

“People are wanting to buy boats and get outside and get on the water. It’s a great place to quarantine, for sure,” he said.

Photo courtesy of the Arkansas Department of Parks, Heritage and Tourism

be you. be well.

The great outdoors is even better with healthy lungs.

Quitting nicotine can be tough, but we can help you succeed with personalized counseling sessions and local resources to support you every step of the way.

833-283-WELL bewellarkansas.org

ARKANSASWILD.COM | 15

SCAN ME! Visit our website to find a stocked pond near you!

Teach Your Kids to Fish.

Share a Hobby for Life.

Get the family hooked on a new tradition. The Family and Community Fishing Program regularly stocks ponds, including many in central Arkansas. Find one near you, and let the quality time begin.

EXPLORE

ONE STOP SHOP DREW HARRIS

VERSATILE GREERS FERRY LAKE OFFERS A LITTLE OF EVERYTHING.

BY DREW HARRIS

Sugar Loaf Mountain Island looms over shimmering Greers Ferry Lake.

18 | Arkansas Wild | MARCH 2022

ARKANSASWILD.COM | 19

DREW HARRIS

A bad day’s fishing at Greers Ferry beats most any good day on land.

The lake once yielded a 22-pound, 11-ounce world record walleye. Big lake, big fish.

C

ompleted in October 1963 with the dedication of what would soon be named the John F. Kennedy Dam in Heber Springs, Greers Ferry Lake viewed on a map appears as two lakes connected by a narrow canal. It’s true, but it’s still the same body of water. Top or bottom, the 63-squaremile lake has more than 340 miles of shoreline and offers amazing opportunities for Arkansas’s anglers. Sport or supper, the potential for fishermen is astounding.

Ken “Kaz” Kaczmarek, a special education instructor for the Benton School District, lists Greers Ferry among his favorite of Arkansas lakes. He was primarily a recreational fisherman who liked to fill his freezer with crappie, but after being introduced to bass fishing by a friend, his water time now revolves around largemouth bass.

Kaz, who qualified for regionals as a co-angler for Bass Nation at Grand Lake in Oklahoma in 2022, also helps coordinate Arkansas High School Bassers. This youth bass fishing tournament offers competitions throughout the state. With the help of volunteers, Arkansas Bassers has fielded as many as 80 teams comprised of youth who have traded traditional sports, such as football or baseball, for tournament fishing. Several of the youngsters even moved on to fish on college teams over the years.

Though he usually puts in at, “The Narrows, center lake,” Kaz prefers the top end of Greers Ferry. With its many creeks and runoffs varying in depth due to the rock formations, it offers better fishing opportunities. It also typically sees less boat traffic than the lower part of the lake.

E R U T N E A D VALLING

BULL SHOALS - WHITE RIVER STATE PARK

IS C A

D EV IL’S

DEN S

TAT E P AR

K

When you’re at Arkansas’s 52 state parks, the possibilities are endless. Biking trails, scenic hikes, kayaking, championship fishing – it’s all there and ready to be explored! Plan your adventure at ArkansasStateParks.com.

Pick up your FREE PASSPORT at the nearest state park today.

20 | Arkansas Wild | MARCH 2022

ARKANSASWILD.COM | 21

“Greers Ferry offers everything. It’s one of our favorite lakes. It’s so diverse … you can go and do just about anything you want,” Kaz said.

Bass — largemouth, spotted, smallmouth, hybrid or stripers — are among the most popular sport fish here. Lures range from buzzbaits, Carolina rigs and frogs to jigs, stick baits and plastic worms. With a spinning rod or baitcaster and lofting lures with names like Whopper Plopper, Hoot-A-Nanny and Hula Popper, you can have almost as much fun at the bait shop as you can on the water.

Bream love crickets and small worms. Light tackle is best using a cane pole or jigging pole with the traditional float as a strike indicator. If you’re in the mood for some real action, try throwing a popping bug on a fly rod; every fish will feel like a monster. Whether you call them perch or sunfish, red-ears and bluegills are a tasty panfish easily landed and often in abundance from spring to early summer.

If you’re into rest and relaxation, catfishing from the bank is always popular. You can put almost anything on a hook and let it sink to the bottom. If you’ve got the patience and are willing to wait, chicken liver, hot dogs or stink bait are some of the classic favorites. Odds are you’ll land one of the whiskered devils. Bring a cooler and a chair and enjoy catfishing yearround.

Many consider crappie to be the best eating, and the best time to catch them is typically March as spring begins and the water warms. Jigs and minnows are among the guaranteed bait choices here. Crappie love cover such as brush piles and

are often found near grass beds or other vegetation where insects are hatching. Light tackle and longer rods with a gentler touch on the strike are a must.

There are 20 launch sites on the lake, and if you’re in the mood, the Little Red River below the dam holds trout, even producing a 40-pound, 4-ounce brown in 1992 that held the world record until 2009. In turn, the lake above once yielded a 22-pound, 11-ounce world record walleye. Big lake, big fish.

If you’re looking for a family getaway, a guys’ or girls’ weekend or simply seeking solitude, there are hundreds of lodging options and resorts ranging from vacation rental homes and small motels to one-room fishing shacks. There are also 13 Army Corps of Engineers campsites offering a variety of accommodations.

You’ll also find dozens of fishing guides serving the lake, many based out of the multiple marinas in the immediate vicinity. If you’re a novice or looking to branch out, guides are a great way to learn techniques and scout locations.

Due in part to Army Corps of Engineers regulations and the imposing terrain, there’s a lack of visible homes and private docks along the shoreline. This holds major appeal for anglers and recreators looking to escape civilization. What you are likely to see are bald eagles over a treetop, deer foraging along the shoreline and no telling what else.

Whether you’re using an off-the-shelf Zebco, grandad’s Abu Garcia or even an old cane pole from the bank, Greers Ferry Lake offers some of the best of Arkansas’s angling opportunities.

When in Mountain Home, please stop in our gallery.

You’ll be glad you did!

Misty Morning, Acrylic, 24” x 36”

Rivertown Gallery Bringing you The Ozarks on Canvas 3512 Hwy. 62 West • Mountain Home, AR 72653 • rivertowngallery.com • 870-425-3898 Ad paid for using a combination of private and state matching funds.

22 | Arkansas Wild | MARCH 2022

BRAND NEW cabins with lake view!

Large porches and fire pits

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Pet friendly

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Only white sand beach on the lake

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THINK TROUT...

Think Stetson’s!

• Guided Trout Fishing and Rental Boats • Beautiful Cabins • Large Pool • Corporate & Large Groups/Meals • Open Year-Round

870-453-8066 • Stetsons-Resort.com Located on the White River • Flippin, Arkansas

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ARKANSASWILD.COM | 23

5 LOCATIONS TO SERVE YOU NOW! CENTRAL ARKANSAS: 221 E German Ln., Conway | 501-358-6688 NORTHWEST ARKANSAS: 14644 E Hwy 62, Garfield | 479-451-1837 650 East U.S. 412 Hwy, Suite # 30, Siloam Springs | 479-373-1490 NORTH CENTRAL ARKANSAS: 124 Mclean Avenue, Cotter | 870-778-0070 SOUTHWEST MISSOURI: 4381 Selmore Rd., Ozark | 417-485-3219

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SEEK MORE

ADVENTURE

BUFFALO NATIONAL RIVER

If it’s excitement you’re looking for, The Natural State offers miles of rivers, tons of trails, and scenic views in every direction. Get inspired at Arkansas.com. And seek more in Arkansas. arkansas.com

24 | Arkansas Wild | MARCH 2022

OUTDOOR AUTHORITIES SPEAK ON THE CHALLENGES AND OPPORTUNITIES FOR ARKANSAS’S GLORIOUS OUTDOORS.

NOVO STUDIO

BY DWAIN HEBDA

ARKANSASWILD.COM | 25

T

he water, woods and mountains of majestic Arkansas are unchanging and timeless, but the question of how to best use and protect those resources is a constant. How we manage our natural attractions is an eternal jigsaw puzzle where every piece is cut into the same shape; the overall picture is often hard to see even as random pieces fit together.

The pandemic year has underscored the challenges and opportunities for Arkansas’s outdoors like never before as people flocked to the wild as a way to recreate safely in the era of COVID-19. The meteoric rise in work-fromhome arrangements gives people the chance to move and live where they want regardless of the location of their job, and more are choosing Arkansas for quality of life all the time. And the intense focus of the past two years on issues of diversity and equality means taking a hard look at addressing the things often prohibiting segments of the population from enjoying campgrounds, trails and outdoor activities.

Arkansas Wild visited with multiple sources — including three fresh faces in leadership roles at key outdoors-related agencies — to see how the outdoors are evolving in The Natural State. What follows are their accounts of what we have done and what we have left to do.

ROLLIN’ HOMIE

CALI TRANSPLANT TRANSFORMING LOCAL TRAILS Jeremy McGhee discovered mountain biking after suffering a motorcycling accident in 2001 that left him paralyzed from the waist down. That brought him to Bentonville in 2016 as a presenter at an international cycling conference and, so taken with the surroundings and the trails, he bought a house there where he lives about half the year.

Settling into his new home, he’s tackled trails on a specially designed bike, documenting his adventures for his social media channels the UNPavement. But he’s more than just a consumer of dirt; he’s also a leading expert in how to adapt trails for riders of all abilities.

“I have an awesome bike that allows me to get out on the trails and enjoy nature,” McGhee said. “But it is wide and it is limited. I might be going down a trail and it could be fine, which is a majority of the time, or something happens and I have to turn around. Imagine being a paraplegic and 26 | Arkansas Wild | MARCH 2022

Jeremy McGhee hangs ten in the ‘Pen (Slaughter Pen, that is).

COURTESY CAMP ALDERSGATE

A little archer practices at Camp Aldersgate.

OPEN TO ALL

COURTESY JEREMY MCGHEE

SMALL CHANGES PAY OFF BIG

A forested oasis in the city, Little Rock’s Camp Aldersgate hosts multiple camps throughout the year for children with physical challenges as well as those battling disease. And one look at the modified zip line, treehouse or climbing wall here tells you they don’t buy into the myth of the outdoors being only for the able-bodied.

“So many of our population have been put into a corner where they’re not able to experience [the outdoors], not because they’re not able to, but because they haven’t been given the resources to get out in nature,” said Ian Shuttleworth, program coordinator. “They’re all able to and they’re all wanting to and willing to. It’s more about providing them the opportunity to do it.”

Camp Aldersgate is a living showroom of adaptive outdoor activities, the kinds of things that have been slow to make their way into green spaces, camping areas and other wild spots around the state. But, as Katie Jenkins, program coordinator and certified therapeutic recreation specialist, said, things are changing.

“I’ve seen tremendous progress, just since I’ve graduated from college in 2016,” she said. “I think [Arkansas] State Parks are on the right path. Lake Catherine State Park, for example, is one of my favorite state parks in Arkansas, they have a beautiful paved trail in a wooded area that is accessible. Bath houses and whatnot have also come a long way. Nothing hurts my heart more than walking into a state park and seeing bathroom stall doors and fixtures that are not up to ADA code.”

Jenkins said there’s still a long way to go to make public outdoor spaces accessible to people with physical challenges, but that much of it can be addressed by adopting universal design concepts that makes a room accessible to all levels of ability.

“We know, realistically speaking, that not every trail can be paved and is going to be fully accessible, but I strongly believe that we should build cabins and other lodging in state parks with the concept of universal design in mind,” she said. “That way, they’re all built to the same standard instead of just one or two cabins or rooms.

“They’re on the right trajectory, but there’s still a lot of progress that needs to be made. The American Disabilities Act passed into law in 1990, so there’s really no excuse for these barriers to still be there. Hopefully, we’ll get there one day.”

ARKANSASWILD.COM | 27

turning that big bike around on a single track with a drop-off.”

That’s precisely the kind of feedback OZ Trails and NWA Trailblazers were after when they approached McGhee to ride and report back on the suitability of routes to accommodate as many riders as possible. It can be harrowing — just watch his video on Wonderland in Bella Vista — but provides an illuminating look at what adaptive riders often face.

“In my experience out on the trail, I’ve got myself into some pretty precarious situations,” he said. “When you don’t have the luxury of walking your bike out or if you’re unable to fix the bike, you’re just stuck. And a crash can happen at any moment, no matter what, even if I’m on novice terrain.

Shit happens.

“I had one crash that was pretty minor but I wound up off-trail, down the hill a little bit. My bike’s not broken, I’m not injured, I just need to get my bike 7 feet up this embankment.

And I was able to get myself back up to the trail, but I struggled for about two hours trying to get my bike up. I finally had to call for help.”

Catching McGhee’s laid-back SoCal attitude or that of his funloving comrades, you’d never know how staunch the opposition has been around here among riders over amending trails.

“The climate in Bentonville currently is folks are very concerned,” he said. “The term used in the mountain bike world is we’re going to be sanitizing trails. Completely untrue. The biggest misconception I come across in trail adaptation is there’s one type of adaptive trail.

Couldn’t be further from the truth. It is multi-experience and very complex.

When you consider the gamut of adaptive riders, it is huge.”

“The second misconception is we want to adapt every trail. I’d be lying if I said I didn’t want to ride every trail out there, but I understand that’s not feasible. So, my approach is to go after low-hanging fruit. Pinpoint those small changes to get maximum return for minimum updates. I totally get it when people within this community are really protective of their trails and the experience. Because you know what? So am I.” 28 | Arkansas Wild | MARCH 2022

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ARKANSASWILD.COM | 29

CAMPING KIDS

Arkansas 4-H camps offer kids and youth multiple outdoor activities.

30 | Arkansas Wild | MARCH 2022

Children and youth have a wide range of camping experiences at their disposal through Arkansas 4-H. Creenna Bocksnick, camping coordinator at the organization’s Vines Center, said the programs help turn kids on to camping at a young age.

“I think some of the kids are getting more into some of the outdoor activities,” she said. “I know this is really going to be counterintuitive, but some of the gaming systems that are hunting-based are having a positive impact on that.

“Even exercise programs where they’re on a treadmill watching scenery that takes them through mountains or different places around the world, I think some of that stuff is piquing kids’ interest. They get to the point where they want to experience these things other than virtually.”

Pre-COVID, The Vines Center hosted up to 500 children a year in their camping programs, some as young as 5 years old.

Scholarship applications are up, Bocksnick said, suggesting more underserved and low-income communities are discovering camping. She also noted that broadening the focus of camps has helped with both numbers and diversity.

“Our general camps, depending on the session, are 50/50 as far as boys versus girls,” she said. “A couple years ago we offered a STEM camp and it was almost exclusively boys. I offer an artisan camp, and it’s almost exclusively girls.

“We want them to learn how to canoe or fish or archery or whatever the activity is, but we are also focusing on communication, leadership, goal-setting and dealing with their fellow campers, then taking those skills and applying them to other things above and beyond those activities they’re doing at camp.”

Brocksnick said one thing that would enhance many families’ experiences in the state parks is better communication of family-friendly areas.

“One thing I’d suggest is making sure there’s signage everybody can understand, whether in words or in pictures,” she said. “Note where a trail that is suitable for this type of skill or these types of needs or abilities or even pointing out stuff you’ll find along this trail, like waterfalls or overlooks, that’s super easy and almost infographic. Something that they could look and know here’s where I’m headed.

“Also, I’d like to see more reminders about Leave No Trace that are easy to understand, easy to see and easy to remember, placed around where needed. That’s the kind of thing some of your beginners may not know or may not remember.”

COURTESY ARKANSAS 4H/ LYANA SNOW

PREPARING THE NEXT OUTDOOR GENERATION

QUEENS OF THE FOREST

BOW TEACHES OUTDOOR SKILLS

Lyana Snow grew up with a father who loved to fish, and while the experience bonded her to the outdoors, it didn’t make her an expert angler. It was an anomaly she took with her into adulthood.

“My husband wanted to go fishing with me, because he knew that I’d been fishing most of my life. He was like, ‘You must know everything,’” she said “No, I only knew how to do what my dad told me to do. That didn’t necessarily translate very well into complete confidence to be able to do things on my own.”

Snow’s husband was a hunter, but tending young kids at home meant she could only recently dabble in the sport, just enough to know she wanted to know more. Two years ago, she enrolled in a class through the Arkansas Game and Fish Commission’s Becoming an Outdoors-Woman (BOW), a program that helps women perfect their outdoor skills across a range of activities. She was immediately hooked.

“I loved the dynamic of learning things with a large group of women who are also learning,” she said. “It really removes the ‘Oh, you’re just a girl. You don’t know what you’re talking about’ stereotype.”

BOW programs have afforded Snow the chance to participate in group duck hunts, bass fishing trips and numerous individual classes, such as outdoor photography and Leave No Trace camping. More than that, she’s found a group with whom to share her adventures.

“Myself and two other ladies are now really good friends.

We actually just went shooting two days ago to get better for the next waterfowl season,” she said. “And they’re both younger, in their 20s. Two other women who went on the duck hunt with us are older, both grandmothers. So, we’ve got younger women and older women and we’re all learning how to do the same thing. I really love that.”

Snow, 41, said she’s seen a lot of progress in companies designing outdoor apparel and equipment specifically for females, something that speaks to the appetite women have to be outside. Through BOW, she and her classmates can indulge that passion with confidence.

“The BOW program has brought me a lot of really great new experiences that I never thought I would be able to do by myself,” she said. “I’ve met so many women, I’ve made so many friends, and it’s really opened a whole new area of my life.”

Snow’s time on the range yields success in the field.

ARKANSASWILD.COM | 31

“BEING FROM ARKANSAS, I HAVE A GREAT LOVE OF THE LAND AND ENVIRONMENT.” —KATHERINE ANDREWS

Nature girl Katherine Andrews on a hike at Pinnacle Mountain State Park.

32 | Arkansas Wild | MARCH 2022

LEADING THE PACK

KATHERINE ANDREWS

DIRECTOR, OFFICE OF OUTDOOR RECREATION

NOVO STUDIO

Katherine Andrews isn’t the only new face at the Office of Outdoor Recreation, she’s joined by 10 brand-new Arkansas Outdoor Recreation Advisory Board members. That’s because she and the board are the first to serve in their roles for the new office, tasked with leading the state’s efforts to grow Arkansas’s outdoor recreation economy. Taking office in November, Andrews came to the role after five years with the Arkansas Economic Development Commission.

WILD: How does this new entity fit into the range of offices and agencies already in place related to the outdoors?

KATHERINE ANDREWS: We are in no way going to be taking the place of anybody.

We are the great connector, a resource provider and collaborator. We’ll work with all of these agencies on their efforts just to make sure that the lens of outdoor recreation is represented in all of those conversations and decision-making.

WILD: As an entity, what will be the most important elements of your success in this regard?

ANDREWS: One of the things that is going to be hugely important and hugely critical to the success of this office is the networking, the collaboration and the relationshipbuilding through interagency relationships.

From there, we can look at creating those public/private partnerships for potential funding and just for basic communication. Instead of working in silos, I want this office to create a cohesiveness, that one central voice. I think getting all of our voices together is going to be the biggest impact that we will make in this first year.

WILD: What interested you in this opportunity in the first place?

ANDREWS: The biggest reason was my love of the outdoors. When I am not in the office, I am doing something outside, whether that’s running, kayaking, hiking, hunting, fishing, camping, all those things. And, being from Arkansas, I have a great love of the land and environment. Getting to incorporate that into what I do professionally is like a dream for me.

WILD: Being a younger outdoors consumer yourself, when you look at our state right now is there something you wish we had or was done differently to pull more people of your generation into the outdoors?

ANDREWS: I think the biggest area of improvement that we can work on is getting the word out about other areas of the state. You see things going on in Northwest Arkansas, you see things going on in Central Arkansas, but that’s just two small areas of the state.

Everything else is also open and people have been recreating outside there forever. That has the potential to get people into rural areas to spend their money and build those rural areas up.

Therefore, I think the promotion of those areas is going to be huge, and the way that we could do that is by working with all of these agencies on asset map building, whether that’s through a website, social media, some kind of GIS mapping tool. We can be showing people, “If you go over here, there are all these great trails. Here’s the mountain biking opportunities that you have. Here are the kayaking opportunities.”

WILD: As part of that promotion, how will your office address the issue of kids getting turned on to the outdoors, thereby creating the next generation of consumers?

ANDREWS: A lot of the other states that have created this office have done some kind of outreach toward the younger generation, whether that’s through creating programs in K-12 schools, working with workforce development centers, colleges and universities. I’m not sure what that looks like just yet for us, but I would love to see it emulated from some of these other states who have done it really well.

I think a lot of people get the notion that to be outside is a lot of work. But it’s really as easy as just walking down a trail or visiting a lake nearby. That’s one of my goals, to educate the younger generation that the outdoors is not scary, it’s fun.

ARKANSASWILD.COM | 33

“WE ARE IN AN EXPERIENCEDRIVEN ECONOMY.” —SHEA LEWIS 34 | Arkansas Wild | MARCH 2022

Shea Lewis watches the birdie.

WIDE-OPEN SPACES

SHEA LEWIS DIRECTOR, ARKANSAS STATE PARKS

NOVO STUDIO

As the new chief for Arkansas’s 52 state parks, the roughly 1,000 full-time and seasonal employees who work there, and the nearly 10 million guests who visited one last year, Shea Lewis inherits one of the state’s largest economic engines, generating about $2 billion in revenues. Lewis, who has 24 years of work experience with Arkansas State Parks, moved into the director’s role Jan. 3 from the position of deputy director.

WILD: How has the concept of a state park evolved over the years and does that present an opportunity for Arkansas moving forward?

SHEA LEWIS: The original concept of a state park system was to fill a gap between what the National Park Service was doing and what local community or city parks were doing. Another concept about state parks that was really important is that they were in closer proximity to residents. Our original concept was to have a state park within 60 miles of every citizen of Arkansas.

That said, state parks are changing. We are in an experience-driven economy. The younger folks are looking for those unique experiences and opportunities to share those experiences on Instagram or through social media. They want to share what they’re doing with others and we provide those opportunities.

The pandemic has impacted us greatly. We’ve seen a huge influx of visits and firsttime visitors. I talk to some of our park rangers who have had to help many of our guests set up a tent because they’ve never camped before. They’re new to this experience and it’s absolutely awesome that we can be an essential service during such a time in the history of the world.

WILD: How does an entity like State Parks continue to expand amenities visitors want without posing undue competition to neighboring communities?

LEWIS: State Parks is a partner with communities. I can’t even think of an example where it’s the opposite of that. There are more communities that would love to have a state park than what we can actually provide. We try to find balance with our fee structures, doing comparable rate studies, and we work with our partners. The goal of the state is to provide a service but not out-compete private business. We do view ourselves as an economic driver, but we also take seriously that we are part of a community.

WILD: What are some of your immediate goals as director?

LEWIS: One of my goals would be what we can do to retain the guests who found us during the pandemic. Building that connection to early experiences is very, very important. My goal is to honor the tradition of what a state park system is, but be innovative at the same time, looking to the future.

In doing that, we’ve done some pretty unique things. We have a new set of trails called the Monument Trails, optimized for hiking, running or mountain biking, developed in partnership with the Arkansas Parks and Recreation Foundation. We’re seeing new guests find us because of those trails at Pinnacle Mountain, Mount Nebo, Devil’s Den and Hobbs State Park Conservation Area. They’ve really brought in a new generation of park guests to us.

We’re also working towards the completion of Delta Heritage Trail State Park in eastern Arkansas. Grants from the Walton Family Foundation as well as through the Department of Transportation are going to help us see that through to completion.

That’s going to be an entirely unique experience of riding a bike or hiking or running through lands that have been seen by very few people over a very long period of time.

ARKANSASWILD.COM | 35

MISSION CRITICAL

AUSTIN BOOTH

DIRECTOR, ARKANSAS GAME AND FISH COMMISSION

WILD: Outdoors resources don’t change, but usage does. What is Game and Fish’s responsibility in meeting this new usage of heritage resources?

AUSTIN BOOTH: I’ll split hairs with you for a second: I would disagree we are not creating new opportunities. If you look at our reintroduction of the black bear, that wasn’t here 100 years ago. If you look at our reintroduction of the elk, or some of our forestry initiatives where we’re trying to make our forests healthier, our streams healthier, or manage all of these habitats to their original condition to make it healthier, that wasn’t here 100 years ago.

Is it completely new from black to white? No, but if you look at how we’re trying to approach the Arkansas habitat from a landscape basis, then yeah, this is new.

WILD: Fair point. But many outdoor consumers today are looking for much different experiences than their parents and grandparents. How do you accommodate that?

BOOTH: You can boil it down to this: The Arkansas Game and Fish Commission conserves fish, wildlife and their habitat, but what we’re truly conserving is the outdoor character of who Arkansans are. You take away duck hunting or deer hunting or trout fishing, we don’t just lose economic staples of the state, we lose our identity as Arkansans. What it means to be an Arkansan is directly connected to the outdoors and that’s what we’re here to conserve.

That doesn’t mean you only have identity as an Arkansan if you hunt or fish. We have to build a broader tent to ensure people understand conservation isn’t just about harvest, it’s about sustainability of natural resources. It’s about providing public land and water access to people who want to fish or paddle or hike or hunt. Again, we’re not taking a “put the hook-and-bullet crowd on a back burner” approach, we’re taking an “and” approach.

WILD: Regardless of how they use the outdoors, the facts are children and youth are not getting into the wilds as they once did. How can we begin to turn the tide on this?

36 | Arkansas Wild | MARCH 2022

BOOTH: I think we have to be real with ourselves about the complex and numerous cultural challenges that are very real barriers to getting people outside. There are fewer married households. As the baby boomers continue to age out, there will be fewer older Americans to teach the next generation.

People like to beat up on video games exclusively, but I made a very prominent leader in the state upset when I said, “We’re telling kids to play soccer or baseball or basketball year-around and we wonder why kids aren’t participating in the outdoors.” I’m not saying there’s anything wrong with athletics, but there is more to peel back about this problem than just video games.

When you drink in the number of causes behind that, it becomes very clear the only way for us to meaningfully combat this is through existing relationships. We have to empower and promote people already established throughout the state to highlight their passion for the outdoors in their own communities.

WILD: Several surrounding states outspend us tremendously. Do you see a necessity in the near future of revisiting the sales tax percentage or charging people to use some outdoor spaces that they can currently use for free?

BOOTH: Arkansas is richly blessed by a conservation sales tax, and I am grateful we had a governor and a legislature around in 1996 who shepherded that through. It would be a mistake to make the Arkansas Game and Fish portion of the conservation sales tax larger at the expense of other agencies. They are too important as partners.

Whether Arkansas Game and Fish is going to need additional revenue in some other way, I’m not there yet.

I made a commitment to lots of people that I was going to get to know this budget from the inside out in order to articulate a real vision for the Arkansas Game and Fish Commission. If we need more revenue to execute that vision, then that’s what we’ll do. But I have not entered this job with an assumption or a foregone conclusion that we need more money.

NOVO STUDIO

When Booth took over last summer as just the 19th director in the AGFC’s 107-year history, he was a rarity both for his age (then 34) and for having been hired into the role from outside the agency. The Little Rock native and Marine Corps vet came to the job after serving as chief of staff and chief financial officer for the Arkansas Department of Veterans Affairs. But change is good, and a director who reflects the needs and requirements of younger outdoors enthusiasts feels particularly welltimed.

“WHAT IT MEANS TO BE AN ARKANSAN IS DIRECTLY CONNECTED TO THE OUTDOORS.” —AUSTIN BOOTH

AGFC’s Austin Booth gets some fresh air.

ARKANSASWILD.COM | 37

WILD EVENTS A trophy catch at Commissioners’ Cup.

CALL OF THE WILD

Tell us about your outdoors event!

Send details to Dwain Hebda, editor, at dwain@arktimes.com.

JUNE 18

COMMISSIONERS’ CUP HIGH SCHOOL TOURNAMENT

ARKANSAS GAME AND FISH COMMISSION

Sponsored by Xpress Boats and the Arkansas Game and Fish Foundation, this tournament features the very best in youth bass fishing talent. Two-person teams will compete in junior and senior divisions for a wealth of prizes and $10,000 in scholarship money. First 50 teams get a free rod and reel from Lew’s Fishing just for entering!

The competition is free to teams that have competed in 4 sanctioned youth circuit tournaments prior to the event. Held this year on beautiful Lake Ouachita, the 2022 Commissioners’ Cup promises plenty of scenic beauty, as well as lots of big lunkers. (agff.org)

DON’T MISS THESE EVENTS! BIKING

APRIL 3 WOMEN OF OZ GROUP RIDE AND CLINIC Bentonville allyson@womenofoznwa.com APRIL 10 REDEMPTION ENDURO Eureka Springs southernendurotour.com APRIL 15, 22, 29 MTB TOWN SERIES Bentonville aimee@bikebentonville.com MAY 15 LEWIS AND CLARK URBAN ADVENTURE RIDE Springdale info@allsportsproductionsinc.com MAY 15 TRAILFEST FOR MS Fayetteville scottrampy@gmail.com paul@pirateperryevents.com JUNE 4 TOUR DE BBQ Bentonville osborn.rachel@gmail.com 38 | Arkansas Wild | MARCH 2022

FISHING

APRIL 2-3 BIG BASS CLASSIC DeGray Lake facebook.com/ArkansasBassTeamTrail/ arkansasbassteamtrail.net APRIL 22-23 BASSMASTERS STRIKE KING COLLEGE SERIES Mountain Home bassmaster.com

MAY 14 RON CLIFTON MEMORIAL BASS TOURNAMENT Fort Smith excitinget.com/tournament JUNE 21-23 ARKANSAS BIG BASS BONANZA Fort Smith aha@arhospitality.org arkansasbigbass.com

APRIL 23 BUDDY BASS TOURNAMENT Beaver Lake (Rogers) info@rogerslowell.com RogersLowell.com

RUNNING

APRIL 23 OPPORTUNITIES BIG BASS CLASSIC Texarkana developement@oppinc.org oppinc.org

FAMILY FUN

MAY 7 ANNUAL TRI-LAKES BIG BASS FESTIVAL DeQueen dqscoc@ipa.net dequeenchamberofcommerce.com

APRIL 2 HOOF IT FOR HEIFER 20K Petit Jean State Park heifertrailrun.com APRIL 29 TURPENTINE CREEK 30TH ANNIVERSARY Eureka Springs turpentinecreek.org

DISCLAIMER: With the pandemic still among us, events can change in an instant.

Before making plans to attend any of these events, please contact the organizers for latest information.

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