Four school districts in North Arkansas have been named Schools of Conservation Leadership for the 2026-2029 term by the Arkansas Game and Fish Commission (AGFC). The honorees—Norfork, Melbourne, Izard County Consolidated, and Valley Springs—were recognized Thursday by the AGFC Education Division during a ceremony at the AGFC’s headquarters in Little Rock.

The designation is part of a statewide initiative to integrate conservation education into K-12 curricula. These four districts join 31 schools across Arkansas in receiving the honor, as the program expands from nine participating counties last year to 25 counties for the upcoming term. Derek Ratchford, AGFC’s Outdoor Education Initiative Manager, emphasized the universal importance of conservation education.

“It proves conservation education has a place no matter how old they are, no matter what types of learning environments, no matter what types of classes you offer. It fits, it’s impactful, and it matters,” said Ratchford.

AGFC officials noted the program has reached more than 33,700 students since its creation just two years ago. Schools of all types—including public, private, charter, and virtual—are involved, reflecting the program’s broad appeal and applicability.

Mary Beth Hatch, AGFC’s Chief of Education, highlighted the unique nature of Arkansas’s commitment to conservation education. “We continue to work with groups and organizations, colleges even out of state, that say, ‘I did a little research…and I don’t see any other states doing this.’ They’re not. It’s not just a brag, but there truly are no other states in the United States of America that are being this intentional when it comes to conservation and outdoor recreation in the K-12 education system,” Hatch said.

As part of the recognition, schools received banners and educational supplies, including "mallard investigation boxes" designed to teach students about wildlife and waterfowl. The boxes were donated by Five Oaks Lodge, an outdoor education facility near Humphrey managed by Hillary Dunklin and owned by former AGFC Commissioner George H. Dunklin Jr.

Looking ahead, the AGFC announced that the second annual Generation Conservation Summit (GenCon) will take place Nov. 4-5 at the Hot Springs Convention Center and Bank OZK Arena. The event, featuring outdoor education activities, will welcome students, educators, mentors, and AGFC staff, as well as participants from the outdoor industry. The summit is open to all Arkansas schools, including homeschooling families.