If you’re looking to get out of the house for an event that’s both entertaining and educational, the Arkansas Game and Fish Commission is hosting a drive-through nature event today at the South Arkansas Arboretum from 11 a.m. to 2 p.m.
“We’re providing a little bit of a taste of what we normally do,” said Laura Rogers, the southeast regional coordinator for the Arkansas Game & Fish Commission. “It’s going to be something to showcase some of our programs. Usually we would take them to schools, events or things such as that, but since we can’t do that right now, we’re just having a drive-through event so folks can check it out.”
Attendees are asked to enter the parking lot heading north on Timberlane Road, making a right turn into the area. Directions for entering and exiting will be provided.
Attendees are also asked to remain in their vehicles. There will be no physical contact.
Lastly, attendees are asked to keep moving, not spend an extended period at any exhibit and stagger arrival times in order not to create a traffic jam.
The event is free to the public.
There will be a mobile aquarium, K-9 Lucy, as well as AGFC officers operating a drone.
“It’s good for everybody, especially the fish tank. Everybody loves the fish tank and everybody loves the K-9. The drone will be really cool to see,” Rogers said. “It exposes them to some of the work of the Game and Fish and some of the programs we have to offer.”
Rogers said she is expecting a big turnout.
“I am expecting a good crowd,” Rogers said. “On my Facebook post when I announced it Thursday, I had over 500 shares, so if we have one car for every share, that’s probably 1,500 to 1,800 people.”
Rogers said the event in El Dorado is the third the AGFC has had, following events in Lonoke and Conway, the latter of which drew a huge turnout.
“I think this is the third one that’s been done,” Rogers said. “They had one with just the fish tank in Lonoke because that’s where our hatchery is. They also did a huge nature drive-through event in Conway that encompassed a lot of different agencies, state parks, museums and discovery, lots of places. They had probably had 3,500, 4,000 people.”