Animals Tell All

Who better to educate us about the ecosystem in Hobbs State Park than the inhabitants of the forest themselves? At the “Living Forest” — the park’s family friendly educational event — that’s exactly what happens.

“The Master Naturalists work with us, and they dress up in animal costumes — a bear, a turtle, a deer, for example — and they place themselves at different locations all around the Ozark Plateau trail,” says Steve Chyrchel, a park interpreter. After a short conversation with Mother Nature — another employee of the park — the group sets off. “It’s a short trail, about a third of a mile. About every 20 or 30 minutes we take people in groups and lead them to each stop, and the animals talk about themselves a little bit.”

The entire trail takes around 40 minutes to traverse, and each session with a woodland creature is relatively short.

“We know little kids don’t have long attention spans,” says Chyrchel. “But it’s a great way for the kids to learn about the animals.”

Chyrchel says the path itself is a paved, six-foot wide trail, stroller- and wagonfriendly.

“And people won’t be walking in grass — so no need to worry about ticks,” he adds.

The event’s date — Oct. 27 — was selected for its potential to be a prime autumn leaves extravaganza.

“If Mother Nature plays along, it’s the week that most often has the best color,” says Chyrchel.

And if it rains — as it has once in the past — no worries: The 17,000-squarefoot visitors’ center and its educational taxidermy makes an ideal Plan B option.

“It’s a family event and is especially for little kids, but the adults really get a kick out of it as well,” says Chyrchel.