Students fill Commission meeting with passion and pride

FORT SMITH — Students from three Arkansas elementary and high schools attended the Arkansas Game and Fish Commission’s monthly meeting at the Janet Huckabee Arkansas River Valley Nature Center to talk about their experiences being a part of two growing educational efforts in the AGFC: the School of Conservation Leadership Program and the Generation Conservation Summit, which took place Nov. 5-6 in Hot Springs.

Third-grade Teacher Jill McMahan and students from East Pointe Elementary in Greenwood spoke about their experiences as East Pointe has worked this year to attain the AGFC’s School of Conservation Leadership designation.

“This program has really lit a fire with a bunch of our kids,” McMahan said. “It has definitely been a learning opportunity for us.”

To achieve a School of Conservation Leadership designation, schools must accomplish a variety of tasks that incorporate some of the Arkansas Game and Fish Commission’s many educational offerings focused on conservation and outdoor recreation. AGFC programs such as Archery in the Schools, Fishing in the Natural State and Schoolyard Habitat are all keystones in the program, and all have been adapted to ensure they are aligned with Arkansas educational standards.

East Pointe jumped in with both feet this year; all grades had at least one teacher involved in conservation and outdoor recreation curriculum as well as their special education instructors and leadership team.

“We even got our school resource officer involved. It really was a whole school effort,” McMahan said.

The school has already applied for grants to the National Rifle Association to acquire archery equipment and an Arkansas Environmental Education Association mini-grant to start a butterfly garden.

“We really want to develop that butterfly project into a pollinator garden, and we want to create another garden to develop a seed-to-table project to show our students where their food comes from and get them eating more vegetables,” McMahan said.

Students from East Pointe spoke about some of the activities they’ve enjoyed so far and what they were looking forward to completing. Growing plants, shooting a bow and participating in a fishing derby next spring were a few of the top items students were excited to explore — all components of the School of Conservation Leadership designation.

Much of the curriculum presented to Schools of Conservation Leadership was put to the test this year with the inaugural Generation Conservation Summit, a two-day event filled with competitions spanning all aspects of the AGFC’s conservation mission.

According to Mary Beth Hatch, chief of the AGFC’s Education Division, the initial goal for this year’s Generation Conservation Summit was to have 75 schools represented between the 22 on-site competitions and five pre-conference competitions completed at the schools.

“Our goal was 75 schools; we saw 110 join us in Hot Springs,” Hatch said at a briefing on Wednesday. “We had over 1,000 students competing during the two-day event, and had 60 vendors and partners present.”

Hailey Robinson spoke about her experience at the summit, where her students at Lincoln High School dominated the events and earned first-place overall in the high school division. Robinson, who teaches life sciences and outdoor education, said the programs offered by the AGFC and brought to her school have made a real difference in her students’ lives, both in academics and real-world applications.

“These kids won’t be the lost generation,” Robinson said. “We are outside and we are unplugged, at least a few hours every week.”

Jhett McLavey, a junior at Lincoln High, said the outdoor education program has changed the way many students look at science and how it fits into their communities and daily life.

“It makes science real and reachable, and gives students the chance to learn strengths they didn’t know they had,” McLavey said. “Some of my classmates have even been inspired to explore careers in environmental sciences, biology and conservation because of this program.”

Rainey Yeager, Mt. Judea Elementary school counselor, also brought a few of the students who participated and excelled at the summit.

“We live in one of the most beautiful places in the country, but sometimes we forget to stop and appreciate it,” Yeager said. “This is what this program has reminded us and our students; how special our home really is and that they belong in conservation and outdoor leadership…. It wasn’t just a competition for our students, it was a door opening, a big one.”

Deke Whitbeck, president of the Arkansas Game and Fish Foundation, added to the excitement surrounding the summit, announcing the creation of the Bob L. Martin endowment, thanks to a generous donation by the Fisher Family Foundation. The endowment, named after former Commissioner Bobby Martin, will enable schools to apply for and receive grants to offset expenses related to attending the summit in the future.

Martin, who was in attendance, said the summit and endowment were far beyond his expectations in its initial year and that he’s excited to see how much it grows in the future.

“Serving as a commissioner is still one of the most meaningful things I’ve done in my life,” Martin said. “I don’t know another state or foundation and its agency that’s come close to doing what you’ve launched with the Summit. This and Arkansas’s lead will be transformative, not just for Arkansas but the nation in conservation education.”

In other business, the Commission:

• Heard from Darrell Bowman, recreation and access coordinator, who gave a thorough presentation on the many ways various AGFC divisions support outdoor recreation tourism and public access to the outdoors throughout the state.

• Recognized Paul Wilkes from the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, who presented Matt Warriner, assistant chief of wildlife management for the AGFC, with the Southeast Partnership Award for his work in procuring and maintaining funding for wildlife habitat and public access throughout The Natural State.

• Recognized Chad Warner from PRADCO Outdoor Brands, who updated the commission on the current state of the fishing industry and PRADCO’s investments in Arkansas’s outdoors.

• Recognized Arkansas Game and Fish Foundation President Deke Whitbeck, who updated the Commission on the Foundation’s fundraising efforts and progress on the revitalization of exhibits at the Janet Huckabee Arkansas River Valley Nature Center.

• Authorized AGFC Director Doug Schoenrock to complete a permanent property easement over approximately 0.40 acres within Camp Robinson Special Use Area and Stone Prairie Wildlife Management Area to Mid-Arkansas Utilities to build and maintain an underground water line across the property.

• Authorized Director Schoenrock to execute all documents needed to accept a 0.39-acre easement and a 0.12-acre easement on the Little Missouri River at Gilmer Bridge in Pike County to be used as a public access area on the south side of the river off Pike County Road 153.

• Authorized Director Schoenrock to execute all documents needed to execute a permanent right-of-way easement on 2.8 acres at Bell Slough Wildlife Management Area for the construction and maintenance of overhead power lines through the area.

• Authorized the removal of a building on Harold E. Alexander Spring River Wildlife Management Area from commission inventory.

• Authorized a budget increase of $23,000 to the capital outlay budget from existing operations and maintenance funds to purchase hardware needed for satellite internet service at the Fiocchi Shooting Sports Complex in Mayflower and the Jim Hinkle Spring River State Fish Hatchery at Mammoth Spring.

• Authorized a budget increase of $227,000 to the FY2025-26 agency budget from the Stability and Enhancement Fund to pay for demolition and removal of the remains of the Jonesboro Field Office that burned earlier this year and design services for a similar replacement building.

• Authorized Director Schoenrock to enter into and amend the agency’s subgrant agreement with the University of the Ozarks to provide $202,500 of available federal funding through unobligated federal Wildlife Restoration Program and Hunter Education funds for its ongoing shooting range partnership with the university. The AGFC has already committed to helping fund up to $2 million in matching funds to construct an outdoor public shooting facility with a combination skeet, trap, pistol and rifle range on university property in Johnson County.

A video of the meeting is available on the AGFC’s YouTube Channel.

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CUTLINES:

TEACHER AND KIDS AT LECTERN
Jill McMahan and students from East Pointe Elementary talked about their quest to become one of the AGFC’s designated Schools of Conservation Leadership. AGFC photo by Mike Wintroath.

FRONT ROW FILLED
Students from Lincoln High School filled Thursday’s Commission meeting after placing first overall at the AGFC’s inaugural Generation Conservation Summit. AGFC photo by Mike Wintroath.

TEEN TALKING
Jhett McLavey from Lincoln High School spoke about how participation in the AGFC’s outdoor education curriculum has transformed his school. AGFC photo by Mike Wintroath.

AWARD
Paul Wilkes from the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service presented Matt Warriner, assistant chief of wildlife management for the AGFC, with the Southeast Partnership Award for his work in procuring and funding public access and wildlife habitat throughout Arkansas. AGFC photo by Mike Wintroath.