Lake Charles State Park Memorial Day Weekend Friday, May 24th – Monday, May 27th 2019
Lake Charles State Park invites you to join us for any and all of the upcoming park Memorial Day 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, May 24th – Morning Nature Hike from 10 – 11:00 A.M.
Start your day with a leisurely hike around along the banks of Lake Charles. Enjoy the sights and sounds of nature. This is a peaceful, .75-mile hike while discussing what we find along the way. Meet a park interpreter at the Cedar Trailhead Wear in the day-use area. Wear appropriate shoes and bring sun protection and water.
Friday, May 24th – 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, May 24th – Meet a Snake from 1:30 – 2 P.M.
How do you feel about snakes? 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. There will be an opportunity to touch some of the snakes. Meet at Nature Center.
Friday, May 24th – Sunset Kayak Tour from 7 – 8:30 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.
Saturday, May 25th – Morning Nature Hike from 10 – 11:00 A.M.
Start your day with a leisurely hike around along the banks of Lake Charles. Enjoy the sights and sounds of nature. This is a peaceful, .75-mile hike while discussing what we find along the way. Meet a park interpreter at the Cedar Trailhead Wear in the day-use area. Wear appropriate shoes and bring sun protection and water.
Saturday, May 25th – Setting Fire to the Woods from 12 – 12:30 P.M.
Wildfires are among the most destructive and dangerous disasters in world. But fire isn’t always a bad thing; when used properly it can protect the environment. Meet a park interpreter at the Nature Center to learn about prescribed burns and how they protect the forest and your home.
Saturday, May 25th – 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, May 25th – Meet a Snake 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. There will be an opportunity to touch some of the snakes.
Saturday, May 25th – Healing Plants from 2:15 – 2:45 P.M.
Long before modern medicine, the native peoples of Arkansas harnessed the medicinal properties of native plants to heal ailments. Meet a park interpreter at the Nature Center to learn some of the ways they used local plants to survive.
Saturday, May 25th – Sunset Kayak Tour from 7 – 8:30 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, May 26th – Setting Fire to the Woods from 12 – 12:30 P.M.
Wildfires are among the most destructive and dangerous disasters in world. But fire isn’t always a bad thing; when used properly it protects the environment. Meet a park interpreter at the Nature Center to learn about prescribed burns and how they protect the forest and your home.
Sunday, May 26th – Dutch Oven Demonstration 1 – 2 P. M.
Have you ever wanted to learn how to cook in a Dutch Oven? We will demonstrate this unique cooking skill during our Canon Demonstration. Meet in the Day Use area. Cost: FREE
Sunday, May 26th – Memorial Day Artillery from 1– 2 P.M.
Have you ever wanted to feel the roar of a Civil War cannon? Get a taste of what soldiers in 1860’s experienced. Meet a park interpreter in the day-use area for a period-accurate live-fire demonstration.
Sunday, May 26th – 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, May 26th – Meet a Snake from 2 – 2:30 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. There will be an opportunity to touch some of the snakes.
Sunday, May 26th – Sunset Kayak Tour from 7 – 8:30 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.
Monday, May 27th – Morning Nature Hike from 10 – 11:00 A.M.
Start your day with a leisurely hike around along the banks of Lake Charles. Enjoy the sights and sounds of nature. This is a peaceful, .75-mile hike while discussing what we find along the way. Meet a park interpreter at the Cedar Trailhead Wear in the day-use area. Wear appropriate shoes and bring sun protection and water.
Monday, May 27th – Morning Nature Hike from 10 – 11:00 A.M.
Start your day with a leisurely hike around along the banks of Lake Charles. Enjoy the sights and sounds of nature. This is a peaceful, .75-mile hike while discussing what we find along the way. Meet a park interpreter at the Cedar Trailhead Wear in the day-use area. Wear appropriate shoes and bring sun protection and water.
Monday, May 27th – 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.
Monday, May 27th – Sunset Kayak Tour from 7 – 8:30 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.
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 is Batesville Rotary Club Past President, and is the Rotary Clubs’ current membership 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.