News Release

North Arkansas College, Buffalo National River offer camps for future scientists

Campers assist Buffalo National River Ecologist Shawn Hodges with an electrofishing survey at Steel Creek. From left: Meggie Raynor, Maya Allen, Shawn Hodges, and Liam Bright.

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News Release Date: August 2, 2019

Contact: Lauren Ray, 870-861-2570

Thirteen junior high and high school students from northern Arkansas participated in a week-long science camp hosted by North Arkansas College (NAC) and Buffalo National River last week. The camp was organized as part of a STEM (science, technology, engineering, mathematics) learning partnership between the park andNAC that promotes experiential education and scientific discovery in the outdoors.
 
Alongside science instructors from NAC and natural resource managers from Buffalo National River, students participated in hands-on field activities pertaining to stream ecology, water quality monitoring, plant taxonomy, fire ecology, geology, microbiology and GIS (global information systems) throughout the week.
 
“Experiential learning in the great outdoors can leave a lasting impression on today’s youth and tomorrow’s park stewards, scientists and managers,” said Superintendent Mark Foust. “Alongside valued partners like North Arkansas College, we will continue offering opportunities for students to see Buffalo National River as more than a playground, but as a living laboratory and outdoor classroom. We also want to introduce meaningful academic and career paths that students may never have considered before.”
 
In December 2016, North Arkansas College entered a Memorandum of Understanding with Buffalo National River for shared use and management of the Steel Creek Research Learning Center, a field station near Ponca that students, faculty and research organizations can use for park-based academic and research events. As this partnership continues to develop, further STEM learning opportunities—like this summer’s science camp—will be offered for area students.
 
Additional partners for this summer’s science camps included the Ozarks Unlimited Resource Educational Service Cooperative, AmeriCorps/Geological Society of America’s Geoscientists-in-the-Parks Program and the Buffalo National River Partners.
 

STEM Camp participants hold nets in preparation for a macroinvertebrate survey at Steel Creek. From left: Clayton Canney, Isaac Raynor, Maya Allen, Meggie Raynor, and Alicia Doyle.

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Instructor Faron Usrey (left) points out an aquatic organism to camper Jeremiah Harris (right) of Bergman.

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Campers Gavin Coker (left) and Liam Bright (right) show off a crayfish they caught near the river's edge.

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