Lake Charles State Park will have programs all summer for all ages!

Summer is here and people are excited to get outside and enjoy the beautiful weather.  Arkansas State Parks offers affordable and family-friendly programs for all ages. Lake Charles offers programming, hiking trails, fishing opportunities, wildlife viewing, and self-guided kayak and canoe tours, along with a Nature Center.  If your family is looking to spend a few days, we offer camp sites, a Rental RV, and a Rental Yurt which can all be reserved in advance by calling the park office at (870) 878-6595.

Lake Charles State Park Program Schedule – May 24^th –June 9^th, 2013

Friday, May 24^th

4 p.m. – White Oak Trail Hike - Take a hike with a park interpreter on the White Oak Trail. We will follow the trail through the surrounding woods and along the lake shore to see the wildlife that call Lake Charles home.

Saturday, May 25^th

9 a.m. – Kayak Tour - Join a park interpreter for a guided lake tour via kayak. We’ll tour the lake and see wildlife that lives near the water. It should last about 1.5 hours. Seating is limited so sign up at Visitor Center. $10 for adults, $5 for kids 6-12, and under 6 is free when riding with an adult.

1:30 p.m. – Skins and Skulls – Join a park interpreter in the nature center to examine some different animal skulls and skins to discover how the shape of their head helps them feed and survive, and  we’ll look and see why the animals furs are similar yet unique for each animal’s needs.

2:30 p.m. –– Crows are the Genius of the Bird World – Join a park Interpreter in the nature center to learn more about this intelligent and interesting common bird in Lake Charles State Park.

5 p.m. - Why so Tall? – Join a park interpreter at the nature center for a wading bird program. We will take a look at some large birds you’re likely to see around the lake and what they use those long legs and necks for.

Sunday, May 26^th

8 a.m. – Bird Watching Hike – Join a park interpreter for a hike along the Mockernut Trail to do some bird watching, please bring along binoculars and bird guides if you have any, but they are not needed.

12:30 p.m. - Catch & Feed – Join a park interpreter near the Nature Center to learn how to throw a cast net. We’ll try out this bait catching technique and then feed what we catch to the animals in the nature center.

4 p.m. – Aerial Assassins – Join a park interpreter at the picnic table near the nature center to discover what makes Hawks, Eagles, and Falcons such deadly aerial predators.

Monday, May 27^th

1:30 p.m. - What is that Buzzing Sound? – Join a park interpreter in the nature center for a program examining Rattlesnakes. One of Arkansas’ least seen venomous snakes and what they use to hunt and survive.

2:30 p.m. - Little Armored Tank – Join a park interpreter in the nature center for a turtle program. We’ll discuss what makes them great survivors, such as their shell and other parts of their anatomy.

Friday, May 24^th – Monday, May 27^th 1-3 p.m.  Nature Center – Come down to the Nature Center and see the wildlife we have on display for the summer. A park interpreter will be on hand to answer any questions.

Saturday, June 1^st – Sunday, June 2^nd  1-3 p.m. – Nature Center - Come down to the Nature Center and see the wildlife we have on display for the summer. A park interpreter will be on hand to answer any questions.

Friday, June 7^th

9 a.m. –Reptile Hunt – Walk with a Park Interpreter along the Cedar Trail to see how many reptiles and amphibians we can find along the water’s edge. We will look for snakes, turtles, frogs, and lizards.

1:30 p.m. – Legless, not Heartless – Join a park interpreter in the Nature Center for a closer look at snakes and why they a feared by many people.

3:30 p.m. – Kayak Tour - Join a park interpreter for a guided lake tour via kayak. We’ll tour the lake and see wildlife that lives near the water. It should last about 1.5 hours. Seating is limited so sign up at Visitor Center. $10 for adults, $5 for kids 6-12, and under 6 is free when riding with an adult.

Saturday, June 8^th 

9 - 11 a.m. – Kids Fishing Derby - On Free Fishing Day come on out to Lake Charles State Park for a Kids Fishing Derby. Kids 12 and under are invited to come out and fish, prizes will be given out for largest, smallest, and most. There will also be door prizes given out. Registration will start June 1^st through the morning of the derby. It is free for children under 12, parents are not allowed to fish or physically help their child fish, aside from untangling lines.

1:30 p.m. – Our National Bird - Join a park interpreter in the Nature Center for a closer look at the American Bald Eagle and why it was picked to represent the United States of America.

9 p.m. – Owl Prowl – Join a Park interpreter on the White oak Trail for a night time walk through the woods to hear and maybe see some owls that call Lake Charles State park home.

Sunday, June 9^th

8 a.m. – Bird Watching Hike – Join a park interpreter for a walk on the Cedar trail to see some of the birds that live in the park. Please bring along binoculars and bird guides if you have any, but they are not needed.

Friday, June 7^th to Sunday, June 9^th 1 to 3 p.m. - Nature Center – Come down to the Nature Center and see the wildlife we have on display for the summer. A park interpreter will be on hand to answer any questions.

Lake Charles State Park is one of the 52 state parks administered by the State Parks Division of the Arkansas Department of Parks and Tourism. The park offers camping, boat launch ramp, a standard pavilion, picnic sites, swim beach, nature center, playground, restrooms and 3 bathhouses on 645-acre Lake Charles. Along with the visitor center and gift shop, the park offers three nature trails and year-round interpretive programs.  For more information about park events contact the park at (870) 878-6595 or visit www.ArkansasStateParks.com.