Jacksonport State Park – Interpretive Program Schedule – January 2015
205 Avenue Street, Newport, AR 72112; jacksonport@arkansas.com; ; 870-523-2143 GPS: 35.639638, -91.310353
Thursday, January 1 – 10 a.m. – 11:30 a.m. FIRST DAY HIKE – NEW BEGINNING FAMILY RAMBLE
Celebrate New Year’s Day, January 1, 2015, by joining with the park staff at Jacksonport State Park for a special hike along the Tunstall River Walk. What better way to kick start those New Year’s resolutions than spending an hour or two with friends, enjoying nature’s beauty, while making your body healthy all at the same time. The hiking area is very level and breaks can be taken, if needed, at any time. Items to bring on the hike are bottled water, snacks, binoculars, cameras and birding books should you wish to identify the birds. The Tunstall River Walk is a great place to see woodpeckers and Northern cardinals! This 1.2 mile walk is level and maintained year-round. This particular area runs along the White River and is beautiful. This hike is appropriate for all ages. Meeting place: Tunstall River Walk Trailhead – Admission: Free
Friday, January 9 – 2:30 p.m. – 3:30 p.m. A REMEDY FOR WHAT AILS YOU
Meet with a Park Interpreter at the Jacksonport Courthouse where you will discover how 19th Century residents took care of their own medical needs. The medicinal uses of local herbs will be discussed, especially the Civil War years when commercial remedies were scarce. Meeting place: Jacksonport Courthouse Museum – Admission: Free
Saturday, January 10 – 10 a.m. – 11 a.m. CHILDREN’S STORY HOUR
What better way for children of all ages to spend a chilly Saturday morning? Reading selections will come from various 19th century children’s books and magazines. What a great way to learn how children from earlier generations lived and played. Meeting place: Jacksonport Courthouse Museum – Admission: Free
Sunday, January 11 – 2:30 p.m. – 3:15 p.m. MAKING NATIVE AMERICAN PINCH POTS
Archeologists tell us that all Native American peoples made clay pinch pots to use as storage containers. Join a park interpreter at the courthouse museum to make and decorate your own authentic pinch pot to take home with you. This activity is enjoyable for kids from 6 to 60. A great way for kids, parents, and grandparents to spend some time together, making something to enjoy for years to come. Meeting place: Jacksonport Courthouse Museum – Admission: Free
Friday, January 16 – 2:30 p.m. – 3:15 p.m. PEARLING & SHELLING ON THE WHITE RIVER
Discover the fascinating world of White River pearling as the residents of Jacksonport experienced it at the turn of the 20th century. See the equipment used by divers and learn about the multitude of uses for the mussel shells. Most especially, learn about the most coveted prize of all – the perfect fresh water pearl. Meeting place: Jacksonport Courthouse Museum – Admission: Free
Saturday, January 17 – 10 a.m. – 3 p.m. WINTER BIRD FEEDING & SPRING BUTTERFLY GARDENING WORKSHOP
The middle of January is the perfect time to think about hardships that native birds endure during the winter. It’s also the time that gardeners are ordering spring seeds and planning spring gardens. This workshop covers both topics. Learn to help the bird population during winter conditions and make a bird seed wreath to help feed the feathery visitors to your yard. Also plan a spring butterfly garden and discuss various host plants for the home butterfly garden. Make seed starter pots to take home. All craft supplies are provided. Bring a sack lunch or visit a local restaurant.
Advance registration is required before 3 p.m. on Thursday, January 15th. Call the park for further details. Meeting place: Visitor Information Center – Admission: $15 per person
Sunday, January 18 – 2:30 p.m. – 3:15 p.m. WE ALL NEED TREES!
Have you ever wondered how much we need trees? Join a park interpreter at the Courthouse Museum for an enjoyable look into all the wonders that trees provide and it’s all completely renewable!! We think you’ll be surprised! Meeting place: Jacksonport Courthouse Museum – Admission: Free
Friday, January 23 – 2:30 p.m. – 3:15 p.m. THE FOODS OF OUR FATHERS
Explorers, pioneers, and Native Americans that settled in this area of the White River found an area rich in natural resources including wild game, native fruits and edible plants. Join a park interpreter to discover the richness that was found in the area and helped the settlers survive until their first crops came in. Meeting place: Jacksonport Courthouse Museum – Admission: Free
Saturday, January 24 – 10 a.m. – 11 a.m. CHILDREN’S STORY HOUR
What better way for children of all ages to spend a chilly Saturday morning? Selections from various 19th century children’s story books and school books. What a great way to discover how earlier generations lived and worked. What kinds of chores did kids do then? Meeting place: Jacksonport Courthouse Museum – Admission: Free
Saturday, January 24 –2:30 p.m. – 3:30 p.m. LET’S MAKE MINI CHALKBOARDS & ERASERS THE 19TH CENTURY WAY!
Many settlers and pioneers of the White River Region of Arkansas were very independent people. If they didn’t have something they needed, they would figure out a way to make it themselves. School slates were expensive and many families didn’t have money, so they figured out a way to make their own, using supplies they had on hand. Join with a park interpreter today to make your own miniature chalkboard and eraser to take home with you. Since paint will be used, wear clothes that you don’t mind getting dirty. Meeting place: Jacksonport Courthouse Museum – Admission: Free
Sunday, January 25 –2:30 p.m. – 3:15 p.m. ARE YOU AN AUTHENTIC 19TH CENTURY FARB?
Let’s face it, we all do our best to be as accurate as possible when we portray someone from an earlier time period. It’s difficult to be authentic when most of us don’t know the difference between cotton and a polyester/cotton blend, or we don’t have any idea when an item was first manufactured or invented. Join a park interpreter to test your skills in identifying items that did or did not exist during the American Civil War. We think you’ll be surprised. Meeting place: Jacksonport Courthouse Museum – Admission: Free
Friday, January 30 – 2:30 p.m. – 3:30 p.m. WALK OFF WINTER BEACH HIKE
Come on out to Jacksonport State Park today and walk off that cabin fever! This is a perfect opportunity to walk off the winter blahs and enjoy nature at the same time. We will walk along the beach, examine animal tracks, collect mussel shells, and maybe even see a bald eagle! Make sure to dress for the weather and bring something to carry your beach finds in. Meeting place: Pavilion – Admission: Free
Saturday, January 31 – 1 p.m. – 3 p.m. HEALING HERBAL TEAS WORKSHOP
When it’s cold outside, a piping hot cup of savory, healthful, herbal tea is just what the doctor ordered! In this workshop, learn several varieties of native herbal or medicinal teas. We will discuss the medicinal properties of native Arkansas herbal teas such as sassafras, rosehip, passionflower leaf, mullein, or catnip teas. Receive a booklet listing local medicinals that can be wild harvested in Arkansas, where and when to harvest them, as well as how to brew them properly. Bring your favorite teacup with you if you like. This will be a perfect opportunity to get to know others, and share your favorite stories of past tea parties. Advance reservations are required and must be made before 3 p.m. on Thursday, January 29, 2014. Meeting place: Jacksonport Courthouse – Admission: $10 per person
Saturday, January 31 – 4 p.m. – 4:45 p.m. CIVIL WAR SUBSTITUTIONS: MAKING SOMETHING FROM NOTHING
As the American Civil War progressed, White River shipments were blocked and supplies of food and medicine ran low. The focus of this program details some of the ingenious ways in which delta residents made use of unconventional products to make what they needed to survive. (Part of the continuing series: “Watersheds of War.”) Meeting place: Jacksonport Courthouse – Admission: Free
