NWA outdoor briefs

Park sets winter hours

Pea Ridge National Military Park east of Pea Ridge will begin winter hours Thursday. The visitor center will be open 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. Thursdays through Mondays through March 23.

While winter hours of operation are in effect, the tour road, park trails and all other outdoor park amenities will remain open daily from 6 a.m. to sunset. Virtual tours of the park museum and battlefield are available on the park’s website atnps.gov/peri/planyourvisit/online-tour.htm. For more information call (479) 451-8122.

Pea Ridge National Military Park commemorates the March 7-8, 1862, Civil War battle that helped Union forces maintain physical and political control of the state of Missouri.

Hikers trek at Hobbs

Hill ’N Dale Hiking Club will hike the 4.2-mile Wolf Den Loop and the 1.5-mile Shaddox Hollow loop trail at Hobbs State ParkConservation area Friday. On Feb. 8, the club will hike 6 miles out and back on the new WOKA Trail from Siloam Springs to the WOKA Whitewater Park.

All are welcome on both hikes. Interested hikers should email hillndalehike@gmail.com for more details. Club information is available at bvhikingclub.com.

All about bugs

Austin Jones with the University of Arkansas, Fayetteville, will present a free program about insects from 2 to 4 p.m. Saturday at the J.B. And Johnelle Hunt Family Ozark Highlands Nature Center in Springdale.

Find out what it means to be an arthropod, how to tell what arthropods are insects, and what insects can be properly called bugs. Take notes on collecting insects and see some displays from the University’s Arthropod Museum. There might even be a live arthropod guest or two to interact with.

Waterfalls showcased

A free program on waterfalls falls in the Ozarks will be held at noon on Feb. 13 in the Rogers Public Library community room.

Flip Putthoff, outdoors reporter at the Northwest Arkansas Democrat-Gazette, will show photos of several waterfalls in the region. Some can be seen from a car window and most others he will show are reached via a short hike. He’ll offer tips on when and where to go hunting for waterfalls, helpful equipment, safety and driving directions to some of the waterfalls.

The program is part of the library’s “Lunch and Learn” series held at noon the second Tuesday of each month. Patrons are welcome to bring a sack lunch. The library provides cookies and drinks.

Center seeks volunteers

Ozark Natural Science Center is recruiting volunteers and will host six volunteer orientation programs. Programs will be 10 a.m. Wednesday, 1 p.m. Saturday, 5:30 p.m. Feb. 5, 9 a.m. Feb. 17 1 p.m. Feb. 29 and 11 a.m. March 2.

Volunteer opportunities include assisting with outreach, administrative projects, trail and ground maintenance, education and more. The center is located adjacent to the Madison County Wildlife Management Area north of Huntsville. Call the center at (479) 202-8340 for details.