National Park Week

Saturday, April 16 - Junior Ranger Day

12:00 p.m - "Junior Rangers and Park Rangers Unite."

Join a park ranger to learn and explore Hot Springs National Park and complete the New Centennial Junior Ranger booklet together.

2:00 pm. “Camping 101”. Join a ranger and learn the basics about camping. Meet ranger at the Fordyce Bathhouse lobby (369 Central Avenue)

4:00 pm. “Meet Saki”, K-9 Ranger for Hot Springs National Park. Meet a law enforcement ranger at Gulpha Gorge Campground (305 Gorge Road)

6:00 pm. “Gulpha Gorge Campground program”. Join volunteers as we commemorate Earth Day with a ranger read, an art project and a campfire. Bring your sense of adventure and any food you wish to cook over an open fire. Meet at Gulpha Gorge Campground Amphitheatre (305 Gorge Road)

Sunday, April 17 - Historical Connections

9:00 a.m. - Cub Scout hike - Brian to lead Cub Scout Pack 3 on a hike, talk about theme of day, Historical Connections.

9:00 a.m. “Spring bird walk”. Join a park ranger on a guided bird walk on Hot Springs Mountain. Learn the basics about bird identification and interesting bird facts. Meet at the Fordyce Bathhouse. (369 Central Avenue)

12:00 pm. “Take Me Back to the Ballgame”. Take a trip back in time and walk the footsteps of baseball greats like Babe Ruth from spring break batting practice at Whittington Park, all the way down Central Ave along bathhouse row. Meet at Whittington Spring (adjacent to Hot Springs National Park maintenance facility)

2:00 p.m. - “Spring Training” hike - Join us Sunday at 2 p.m. at the Fordyce Bathhouse (369 Central Avenue)for the fourth and final in a series of Sunday afternoon "Spring Training" hikes as part of the Iron Ranger Challenge and National Park Service Healthy Parks, Healthy People initiative. We will hike the last of the four historic Oertel Trails, a system of exercise developed for strengthening the heart muscle by walking in the mountains over prescribed courses of different steepness for a regulated period of time. No pre-registration is necessary. Well-behaved and leashed dogs are welcome.

Monday, April 18 - Go Digital

11:00 am: “Tea Time at the Park”. Experience hot tea made with the famous Hot Springs National Park thermal water. Stop by the Noble Fountain located at the south entrance of the Grand Promenade.

Tuesday, April 19. VIP Appreciation Day

12:00 p.m: “What’s Brewing?” Historical Brewery, or a Brewery in a Historical Bathhouse? Go behind the scenes at the Superior Bathhouse and learn how a historical structure turned into a micro brewery. Learn how master brewers use their craft and Hot Springs thermal waters to create beer. Space is limited. Meet at the Superior Bathhouse.

2:00 pm. “If You Drink it, They Will Come”. Join a park ranger and learn about the water and its healing powers and what caused everyone to come to Hot Springs Arkansas. See historical photos of open springs and the hillsides in the early years of Hot Springs. Meet at the Hot water cascade spring by Arlington lawn and take a walk down to the shell fountain and taste the thermal waters for yourself.

3:00 pm. ASMSA presents Research-in-the-Park - Fordyce theater You are invited to a public session featuring the research projects of students from the Arkansas School for Mathematics, Sciences and the Arts. These projects explore a variety of interesting aspects of Hot Springs National Park including its geology, thermal waters, plants, and history. Research in the Park a collaboration between ASMSA and Hot Springs National Park that facilitates the involvement of students in research relating to the natural and cultural resources of the park through the Volunteers-inParks Program.

Wednesday, April 20 - Education, Every Kid in A Park

10:00 am. “Behind the Scenes Tour of the Hot Springs National Park Archives and Collection Storage”. Discover the mysteries of our museum with the park curator and his staff. Meet in the lobby of the Lamar Bathhouse, 515 Central Avenue. Space on the tour is limited to the first 20 people to arrive.

11:00 am Geothermal water presentation -Discover the flow path of the thermal waters, how the water gets hot, and learn about how changing climate conditions could impact the hot springs.

1:00 pm. “Wellness Walk”. Join a Park Ranger and move! Get your heart rate up on a Wellness Wednesday Walk! Take a brisk walk along bathhouse row and around to the Grand Promenade. Meet at the Fordyce.

2:00 p.m. “Indian Clubs” -Join retired Park Ranger Jeff Heitzman in the Fordyce Bathhouse gymnasium (369 Central Avenue) for a demonstration with Indian clubs, a pair of bottle-shaped workout equipment swung to exercise the arms in gymnastics.

Thursday, April 21 - Everyone is Welcome

10:00 am. “Behind the scenes Tour of the Hot Springs National Park Archives and Collections Storage” Discover the mysteries of our museum with the park curator and his staff. Meet in the lobby of the Lamar Bathhouse, 515 Central Avenue. Space on the tour is limited to the first 20 people to arrive.

12:00 pm Lunchtime Hike - Meet up with us at the Fordyce visitor center this Thursday, March 31st and Friday, April 1st at noon for our Let's Move Outside lunchtime walks. As part of the Iron Ranger Challenge, volunteers will lead a 2+ mile walk each day around your national park. No pre-registration is necessary. Well-behaved and leashed dogs are welcome.

12:00 pm – 4:00 pm. “Skulls and Furs”. See, Touch, and Learn about some of the furry, scaly, and soft creatures in the park. Visit a Ranger in the Ozark Bathhouse where a touch table will be set up with furs, bones and skulls. Meet at the Ozark Bathhouse.

Friday, April 22 - Earth Day

12:00 pm Lunchtime Hike - Meet up with us at the Fordyce visitor center this Thursday, March 31st and Friday, April 1st at noon for our Let's Move Outside lunchtime walks. As part of the Iron Ranger Challenge, volunteers will lead a 2+ mile walk each day around your national park. No pre-registration is necessary. Well-behaved and leashed dogs are welcome.

1:00 pm. “Art In the Park”. Express yourself on earth day through art at the Ozark. Let the National Parks inspire your inner artist. Art supplies will be provided.

Saturday, April 23 - National Instameet

11:00 am. “Morning Tea at The Jug” Experience hot tea made with the famous Hot Springs National Park thermal water. Stop by the Noble Fountain located at the south entrance of the Grand Promenade.

12:00 pm – 4:00 pm. “Skulls and Furs”. See, Touch, and Learn about some of the furry, scaly, and soft creatures in the park. Visit a Ranger in the Ozark Bathhouse where a touch table will be set up with furs, bones and skulls. Meet at the Ozark Bathhouse.

1:00 pm – 3:00 pm. “Find Your Park Instameet” Details to be announced on Instagram - @HotSpringsNPS

Sunday, April 24 - Park Rx Day

1:00 pm “National Park Rx Day”. Join Hot Springs National Park in celebrating the first National Park Rx Day! There will be activities to promote Healthy Parks Healthy People U.S. including free games, relay races, hula hoops, Indian clubs, sack races and more. Meet at Arlington Lawn.