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Arkansas Launches ‘My Natural State Story’ Outdoor Writing Contest for Students
Arkansas students ages 10 to 17 are being encouraged to share their outdoor experiences through a new statewide writing contest focused on recreation in the Natural State. Gov. Sarah Huckabee
New Arkansas Wildfire Dashboard Offers Real-Time Look at Active Fires
With wildfire activity increasing across Arkansas, a new online tool gives residents and outdoor recreationists
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Arkansas Launches ‘My Natural State Story’ Outdoor Writing Contest for Students
Arkansas students ages 10 to 17 are being encouraged to share their outdoor experiences through a new statewide writing contest focused on recreation in the Natural State. Gov. Sarah Huckabee Sanders announced the My Natural State Story contest Wednesday in partnership with the Arkansas Department of Education, Arkansas Game and Fish Commission and Arkansas Department of Parks, Heritage and Tourism. The contest asks students to write about personal experiences involving hiking, cycling, climbing, camping, hunting, fishing or paddling in Arkansas. Submissions are open now and will be accepted through Monday, Oct. 12, 2026. The program is designed to encourage young
Arkansas Launches ‘My Natural State Story’ Outdoor Writing Contest for Students
Arkansas students ages 10 to 17 are being encouraged to share their outdoor experiences through a new statewide writing contest focused on recreation in the Natural State. Gov. Sarah Huckabee Sanders announced the My Natural State Story contest Wednesday in partnership with the Arkansas Department of Education, Arkansas Game and Fish Commission and Arkansas Department of Parks, Heritage and Tourism. The contest asks students to write about personal experiences involving hiking, cycling, climbing, camping, hunting, fishing or paddling in Arkansas. Submissions are open now and will be accepted through Monday, Oct. 12, 2026. The program is designed to encourage young
Pssst… Don’t Tell Everyone About Mountain Biking in Arkansas
Editor’s note: I originally wrote this article in February 2011, about nine months before my personal blog officially became ArkansasOutside.com. We’re bringing it back for #ThrowbackThursday because it’s an interesting
Arkansas Scholastic Climbing League Gears Up for Third Season
Arkansas’ scholastic climbing community is getting ready to grow again. The American Scholastic Climbing League is preparing for its 2026-2027 season, with registration opening September 1 and competitions expected to
Pssst… Don’t Tell Everyone About Mountain Biking in Arkansas
Editor’s note: I originally wrote this article in February 2011, about nine months before my personal blog officially became ArkansasOutside.com. We’re bringing it back for #ThrowbackThursday because it’s an interesting
Arkansas Scholastic Climbing League Gears Up for Third Season
Arkansas’ scholastic climbing community is getting ready to grow again. The American Scholastic Climbing League is preparing for its 2026-2027 season, with registration opening September 1 and competitions expected to
Climbing
Arkansas Scholastic Climbing League Gears Up for Third Season
Arkansas’ scholastic climbing community is getting ready to grow again. The American Scholastic Climbing League is preparing for its 2026-2027 season, with registration opening September 1 and competitions expected to
Arkansas’s First State Park Reaches New Heights with Opening of Nation’s Only State Park Via Ferrata
MORRILTON, Ark., Arkansas outdoor adventure took another major step forward today as Petit Jean State Park officially opened the Petit Jean Via Ferrata, a guided fixed cable climbing experience that
To Hell and Back Again: A Climber’s Tale
Editor’s Note: This story is part of our #ThrowbackThursday series, revisiting memorable adventures from the Arkansas Outside archives. Originally published in 2014, this firsthand account captures Cris Slaymaker’s experience competing
Hiking & Backpacking
Get Out There: Enjoying Arkansas Summers Without the Itch
Arkansas is a paradise for outdoor lovers in the summer. From the misty peaks of the Ozark Mountains to the forests of the Ouachita National Forest, from the clear waters
How to Protect Your Dog from Summer Heat on Outdoor Adventures in Arkansas
With another scorching Arkansas summer underway, the trails, rivers, and parks of the Natural State are calling. If you are bringing your dog along, a little preparation goes a long
Bear Aware in Arkansas: How to Avoid Bear Encounters While Hiking and Camping in Bear Country
Arkansas earned the nickname The Bear State long before it became known as The Natural State, and today that nickname once again fits. After black bears were nearly wiped out
Paddling
Throwback Thursday: Paddling the Maumelle River and Lake Maumelle: A Peaceful Kayak Adventure Near Little Rock
Originally published in 2012. Updated for 2026. Just a short drive west of Little Rock, the Maumelle River offers one of Central Arkansas’ most peaceful paddling experiences. Flowing into Lake
WOKA Whitewater Park Hosts National Youth Development Camp as Region Eyes Olympic Future
WATTS, Okla. Some of North America’s most promising young paddlers will converge on the Arkansas and Oklahoma border this week as WOKA Whitewater Park, operated by the Grand River Dam
Remmel Dam Recreational Releases Resume Just in Time for the Fourth of July
After weeks of suspended flows during one of the region’s driest stretches in recent memory, paddlers and tubers finally have something to celebrate heading into the holiday weekend: recreational water
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