Lake Charles State Park
Upcoming Weekend
Friday, June 7th – Sunday, June 9nd 2019
Lake Charles State Park invites you to join us for any and all of the upcoming weekend programs. Advanced registration for some of these events is required. Please call (870-878-6595), email (frank.walker@arkansas.gov), or visit the park to sign up. We hope to see you there!
Lake Charles State Park is located just outside of Powhatan, AR in Lawrence County. The park offers camping, fishing, day use, and nature-related interpretive programming. The park is one of the 52 state parks administered by the State Parks Division of the Arkansas Department of Parks and Tourism. Information on Lake Charles State Park can be found online at: http://www.arkansasstateparks.com/lakecharles/.
For more information, contact: Frank Walker, Park Interpreter, Lake Charles State Park, 3705 Hwy. 25 Powhatan, AR 72458; phone: 870-878-6595; e-mail: frank.walker@arkansas.gov.
Friday, June 7th – Nature Center Exploration from 1 – 3 P.M.
Come explore our Nature Center and learn about some of the unique wildlife in our area. Our park interpreter will be there to help answer any questions you may have and give programs. Animals may include turtles, frogs, snakes, and more.
Friday, June 7th – Snake Discovery from 1:15 – 2 P.M.
How do you feel about snakes? Come to the nature center to meet members of one of the oldest groups of animals on the planet. We will talk about some of the snakes commonly found at Lake Charles State Park and what makes snakes unique. You’ll even get to hold some of the snakes.
Saturday, June 8th – Morning Nature Hike from 10 – 10:45 A.M.
Start your day with a hike through our forest and along the banks of Lake Charles. Join a park interpreter and enjoy the sights and sounds of nature while discussing what we find along the way. Meet a park interpreter at the White Oak Trailhead. Wear appropriate shoes and clothing and bring water.
Saturday, June 8th – Hotter than the Sun from 11:15 – 11:45
Lightning strikes Arkansas ground over 860,000 times every year. These huge bolts have had a massive impact on our state and those that have lived in it, from the native people to modern day residents. Join a park interpreter in front of the Visitor Center at the Butterflies and Blooms trailhead to learn how lightning effects Arkansas.
Saturday, June 8th – Nature Center Exploration from 1 – 3 P.M.
Come explore our Nature Center and learn about some of the unique wildlife in our area. Our park interpreter will be there to help answer any questions you may have and give programs. Animals may include turtles, frogs, snakes, and more.
Saturday, June 8th – Touch Table from 1:15 – 2 P.M.
Have you ever wondered what and a beaver fur feels like? How about what the inside of a turtle’s shell looks like? Come by the Nature Center for hands-on experience with some of the animals native to Arkansas and learn about some of the adaptions that help them survive.
Saturday, June 8th – Sunset Kayak Tour from 7:15 – 8:45 P.M.
Experience the beauty of the sunset on the water. Join a park interpreter at the swim beach for a tour of Lake Charles as the sun sets. Wear appropriate clothing and be sure to bring plenty of water. Reservations can be made in the visitor center or by calling (870) 878-6595. There is a 5-person limit for this so make your reservations early. Cost $10 per person. Subject to weather.
Sunday, June 9th – Morning Nature Hike from 10 – 10:45 A.M.
Start your day with a hike through our forest and along the banks of Lake Charles. Join a park interpreter and enjoy the sights and sounds of nature while discussing what we find along the way. Meet a park interpreter at the White Oak Trailhead. Wear appropriate shoes and clothing and bring water.
Sunday, June 9th – Tales Told by the Trees from 11:15 – 11:45
They may not be able to talk to us, but the trees have plenty to tell us. They are historians with memories going back decades and even centuries. Join a park interpreter to learn how to understand what our towering friends are saying. Meet in front of the Visitor Center at the Butterflies and Blooms trailhead.
Sunday, June 9th – Nature Center Exploration from 1 – 3 P.M.
Come explore our Nature Center and learn about some of the unique wildlife in our area. Our park interpreter will be there to help answer any questions you may have and give programs. Animals may include turtles, frogs, snakes, and more.
Sunday, June 9th – Our Outstanding Owls from 1:15 – 2 P.M.
Owls are some of the best hunters in Arkansas. But what gives them the edge they need to hold such title? Come to the Nature Center and join a park interpreter to discover some of the fascinating features of these apex predators.
Lake Charles State Park – Office: (870)878-6595
Cathy Drew is a lifelong resident of the region that she loves to promote. She was born in downtown Batesville in the late ’60s, located in one of the eight counties she now enjoys encouraging people to visit.
Drew became associated with the Ozark Gateway Region in 1990 while working at the ad agency (The Media Market Inc.). The agency handled marketing for the regional association, where she and her co-workers produced an annual tabloid publication. She began working as the Ozark Gateway Region director in June 2000.
After Drew became director, she took the region to the next level by helping the tourism organization create a new website and moved it from the old newspaper paper tabloid publication to a color magazine format. She helped open a visitor center for the Ozark Gateway, allowing visitors to pick up information from the entire state 24/7. Over the years, Drew has helped the organization meet new marketing goals, such as in- and out-of-state marketing, assuring that all 100,000 copies of their magazines are distributed each year.
In 2016, she assisted in creating the first Ozark Gateway Region Golf Classic. The tournament continues to grow each year, allowing the organization to expand its co-op program and helping each county have dedicated promotion. Drew stays busy at Ozark Gateway as the ad sales manager, magazine editor, day-to-day office operations, trade show representative, and magazine distribution representative, all while ensuring that the region is represented all over Arkansas and southern Missouri.
Drew was featured in several local and statewide publications over the years, as well as the 1997 cover of the Ozark Gateway Region tabloid, along with her then 4-year-old son, Jon. She has received several awards, such as the Batesville Rotarian of the Year in 2010 and a three-time Paul Harris Fellow.
She also has served as an Independence County election commissioner for several years. She now serves as their co-election coordinator, helping with behind-the-scenes management of voting equipment, day-to-day election deadlines, and poll worker training.
Drew serves on the Arkansas Travel Council Board of Directors, is Batesville Rotary Club Past President, and is the Rotary Clubs’ current publicity chair.
In March of 2018, Drew was honored with induction into the Arkansas Tourism Hall of Fame for her many years of dedicated service to the tourism industry.