The North Central Arkansas Master Naturalists is preparing for its next class of volunteers, with a training program that kicks off on January 9, 2027. The course, designed to introduce community members to Arkansas’s natural ecosystems, runs primarily on Saturdays through May 1.
The training, open to new participants known as Naturalists-in-Training, incorporates both classroom instruction and field activities, covering topics ranging from geology to astronomy. “The course includes both classroom and field training, in everything from the rocks below our feet to the stars above our heads, and most everything in between,” said Trisha Blair of Mountain Home, one of the program coordinators.
The chapter, established in 2009, serves Baxter, Boone, Fulton, Izard, Lawrence, Marion, Searcy, and Stone counties. Members engage in a wide array of conservation projects designed to preserve and enhance the region’s natural landscape.
In 2025, volunteers contributed nearly 6,000 hours of work valued at over $200,000, according to chapter leaders. Thirteen new members completed the program earlier this year at Fred Berry Crooked Creek Nature Center near Yellville.
Much of the chapter’s efforts take place outdoors. Volunteer trail crews maintain 60 miles of hiking trails every year, clearing brush and addressing erosion issues. They’ve also contributed to the construction of the Ozarks Keystone Trail at Norfork Lake. “We clear and beautify 60 miles of local hiking trails annually and occasionally reroute, plan, and construct new trails two to three mornings a month from September to May,” said Roy Stovall of Lakeview.
Another core initiative is the chapter’s stream monitoring work. The stream team conducts chemical water tests, collects aquatic samples, and sends quarterly data to the Arkansas Game and Fish Commission. This information helps the commission track trends in stream health and assess potential pollution sources upstream. “The data we collect helps Arkansas Game and Fish Commission establish trends to determine changes in stream health and any need to investigate potential pollution sources,” said co-leader Rob Piorkowski of Oakland.
The chapter also plays a significant role in horticultural projects across the region. Volunteers manage gardens in Mountain Home, Flippin, Yellville, Calico Rock, and Mountain View, as well as at the Buffalo National River. Recent highlights include restoring the Collier Homestead gardens at Tyler Bend to reflect plants cultivated there in the 1930s. “One of our most exciting projects this year has been re-creating gardens at the site of the old Collier Homestead on the Buffalo,” said Dwan Garrison of Yellville.
Additional garden projects maintained by the group include a wildlife meadow in Flippin, pollinator gardens at Arkansas State University-Mountain Home and Calico Rock, and native plant beds at Bull Shoals-White River State Park. Near Oakland, members collaborate with local residents to convert the former Ozark Isle campground into a nature preserve, improving trails and protecting native plants.
Education is another priority for the chapter. Volunteers lead programs for children and families at libraries, public schools, and nature centers. They also offer continuing education opportunities for members, including workshops on local flora and fauna, birdwatching events, and a bi-monthly book club.
The organization's annual awards recognize notable contributions by members. Lori and Mark Shockley of Lakeview were named Master Naturalists of the Year for 2025 for their extensive work with the trail and stream teams since joining in 2016.
Those interested in joining can visit arkansasmasternaturalists.org and click “Join AMN” to apply. Questions may be directed to the chapter at ncamn.contact@gmail.com.