GENTRY -- A "Kids in the Woods Festival" is being planned at the Flint Creek Nature Area, just off Dawnhill Road East near Gentry.
The free one-day nature camp will be held on different dates for children of different age groups -- ages 7-8, July 21; 9-10, July 22; and 11-12, July 23.
The city of Gentry, Gentry Chamber of Commerce, the Arkansas Agriculture Department, the Arkansas Forestry Commission and the Arkansas Game and Fish Commission are co-sponsors for this nature festival at Gentry's newest facility, the Flint Creek Nature Area and Community Fishing Pond.
Kids in the Woods Nature Festival/Camp will emphasize education in natural history and environmental studies. It is for those youngsters who have a genuine interest in the outdoors and the natural world. Applicants should also be prepared to meet expectations for physical activity, social interaction and cooperative participation in shared duties and responsibilities typical of a summer camp environment.
Activities will include bird watching, nature hikes, tree appreciation and identification, bug kickin' (in Flint Creek) and fishing lessons in the new community pond on the property -- the pond will be stocked by Arkansas Game and Fish Commission the day before the camps begin.
"Up to 30 youngsters in each age group will be accepted to participate in this fun and educational activity," said Bev Saunders, executive director of the Gentry Chamber of Commerce. "The first 30 applications in each age group that are received in the Gentry Chamber of Commerce office will be selected to participate in this free camp-like activity. The kids will receive nature educational materials, as well as a free T-shirt. The activities will be from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m., with lunch and drinks provided, Saunders said.
The application forms need to be returned to: KITW P.O. Box 642, Gentry, AR. 72734. The forms are available on the city website at www.gentryonline.us or www.gentryarkansas.us.
Additional information is available from Bev Saunders, Gentry Chamber of Commerce, 736-2358, www.gentrychamber.com, or by emailing [email protected].
General News on 05/07/2014