Opportunities abound for volunteers at Hobbs State Park – Conservation Area. If you love to participate in the wonders of nature and want to help sustain this largely undeveloped natural park, we have many ways for you to get involved. Whether your talent is in writing education curriculum or grants, talking and educating people, building hiking trails, or surveying wildlife, we have an opportunity for you! Contact Volunteer Coordinator Terry Elder at 479-789-5009 or terry.elder@arkansas.gov

Special volunteers needed at this time include:

  • Grant Writers and grant researchers!! Have you written successful grants before? Or, know how to find the right grants available? If so we need your help!
  • Volunteers are also needed for simple tabletop box programs for interaction with the visitors at the center. All training will be provided all you need is a cheerful attitude and willness to learn.

Volunteer Opportunities

Volunteer round-ups are offered at various times of the year, but you don't have to wait till then. Just give Terry a call or e-mail and we will get you going in something that is challenging and rewarding!

Want to help? These are just a few of the activities that we need help with throughout the year.

  • Boat guide or boat Captain: Captain our 28' pontoon boat OR lead visitors in an informative tour on beautiful Beaver Lake. Lake discovery cruises are offered March - October and Eagle cruises are offered November - February.
  • Trail construction and maintenance: ongoing most every second weekend of each month, check the special events page for changes
  • Surveys: hiking, traffic and shooting range, animal: turkey, deer, small mammals
  • Guide: leading educational hikes for school children and other visitors
  • Oral history interviewsand research
  • Tree Studies: Ozark Chinkapin and Thong Tree
  • Landscaping and recreating the Van Winkle Historic Garden
  • Grant writing
  • Program Interpreter: Lead the visitors in special programs designed to teach them about nature and the history in this beautiful area. Training provided.

Let us know your volunteer interests.  Click on the Interest Survey Form to download a Word document, then complete and email or snail mail it to us. If you have an interest or talent that is not reflected within the survey and you would like to share with the park, please let us know.

Adopt-a-Trail Volunteer Trail Maintenance Program

"Adopt-a-Trail" was developed at Hobbs to allow individuals and organizations to be responsible for the inspection and maintenance of specific sections of the 35 miles of park trails. Park management has divided the trails into 12 segments for this new program. To volunteer individually or as a group, contact Jay Schneider , Assistant Superintenent at 479-789-5004 or email him at jay.schneider@arkansas.gov

Levels of Trail Maintenance

Volunteers for trail maintenance at Hobbs can select their own level of work according to their interests and abilities. Volunteer work at all levels provides an important contribution to the appearance and enjoyment of Hobbs State Park. Both classroom and on-the-job training and all tools will be provided by park staff. It is important to report the extent of all work and volunteer hours immediately to park staff.

  • Level One: Simply hiking the trail section for enjoyment and to assess its condition. Most large rocks and small limbs can be kicked off the trail. Pick up litter, drag off larger limbs if able and notify park staff of work requiring their attention. Tools: none required. Frequency: as often as you would like.
  • Level Two: Cutting brush and limbs and weed-whacking. Tools: loppers, hand saw, weed eater, maybe a Pulaski fire ax for roots. Frequency: early and late summer or as needed.
  • Level Three: Tread reconditioning or re-routing and removal of slough and berm, all performed with park staff supervision. Frequency: as needed, generally in cool months. Tools: Pulaski fire ax, McLeod rake, pick mattock, fire rake.
  • Level Four: Assist park staff with repair of unusual trail damage including bridges and signs. Frequency: as needed, often emergency level following storms and other types of damage.

Current Adopt-A-Trail Teams:

Most of our trails have teams, we encourage groups, families and individuals to help us maintain our expansive trail system. Join Al Knox on the Second Saturday of the month (please check the special events page for schedule changes or specific work day objectives) as we strive to make lasting improvements to our network of trails. If you would like to join an Adopt-A-Trail Team contact Jay Schneider to help make those arrangements happen. jay.schneider@arkansas.gov or 479-789-5004.

  • Historic Van Winkle Hollow Trail: 1/2 mile loop trail through Van Winkle Hollow and the Highway 12 parking lot and pedestrian tunnel. TEAM NEEDED
  • Shaddox Hollow Trail: 1 1/2 mile loop trail near Highway 303 north of Highway 12. TEAM NEEDED 
  • Pigeon Roost – Dry Creek: 4.2 mile loop north of Highway 12 near Beaver Lake. Team led by Bob and Cathy Ross.
  • Pigeon Roost – Huckleberry: 5.4 mile loop running from the Dry Creek Loop to Beaver Lake. TEAM NEEDED
  • Hidden Diversity Multi-Use Trail – Dutton Hollow: 3 mile loop. Starts at Piney Road and runs to trail intersection and then right to Blackburn Creek. TEAM NEEDED
  • Hidden Diversity Multi-Use Trail – Bashore Ridge: 3 mile loop. Starts at trail intersection then left on the 3 mile loop. A footpath only spur of 600' leads to Beaver Lake overlook and resting benches. Team led by Diane & Jim Gately. 
  • Hidden Diversity Multi-Use Trail – North Little Clifty Creek: A 3+ mile section of trail from Townsend Ridge Road crossing then west crossing the creek, to and along Piney Road to Piney Road crossing. TEAM NEEDED 
  • Hidden Diversity Multi-Use Trail – South Little Clifty Creek: A 3+ mile section. Section starts at Townsend Road parking lot access, staying left of Townsend Ridge road then west crossing Van Hollow to and along Piney road to crossing near the horse access.TEAM NEEDED
  • Vistor's Center Spur: 2.5 miles section of trail that leaves visitor's center at corral area and goes to intersection of Little Clifty Creek in both directions. TEAM NEEDED
  • Hidden Diversity Multi-Use Trail- War Eagle Loop: 6 mile section of trail. Team lead by Steve Sampers and NWA Master Naturalists.
  • Sinking Stream--1/2 mile loop. Our newest trail. Across from Van winkle Historical Trail. TEAM NEEDED
  • Ozark Plateau-- 1/2 mile loop. This 1/4 mile paved with a 1/4 mile crushed rock barrier free nature trail is accessed from the visitor center.TEAM NEEDED

   Thanks to these park Friends who worked hard in 2010 and continue to help in 2011.  

Special thanks go out to all of the persons who have made our park what it is today. Without our volunteer cadre we would not be able to achieve our trail goals, maintain our park to our intended standards, or provide several guided tour opportunities on our trails. These are some of the persons, groups and organizations who GOT UP/ GOT OUT/ AND GOT INVOLVED in the year of 2010 here at the Hobbs!!!