North Arkansas Schools Named Conservation Leaders

Four school districts in North Arkansas have been named "Schools of Conservation Leadership" for the 2026-29 term. The designation was announced Thursday by the Arkansas Game and Fish Commission (AGFC) Education Division during a ceremony held at the commission's headquarters in Little Rock.

The local districts receiving this honor include:

• Norfork
• Melbourne
• Izard County Consolidated
• Valley Springs

These schools are part of a larger group of 31 institutions statewide that were recognized for their commitment to environmental stewardship.

Derek Ratchford, the AGFC's Outdoor Education Initiative Manager, noted that the program's success demonstrates that conservation education is impactful regardless of the student's age or the type of learning environment. The initiative has seen rapid growth, expanding from nine represented counties to 25 within a single year. The program now reaches 33,709 students across a diverse range of settings, including public, private, charter, and virtual schools.

Mary Beth Hatch, the AGFC's chief of education, emphasized that Arkansas is currently a national leader in this field. According to Hatch, no other state has been as intentional about integrating outdoor recreation and conservation into the K-12 education system.

To support these efforts, the schools received commemorative banners and "mallard investigation boxes' - educational tools used to teach students about waterfowl. These materials were generously provided by Hillary and George H. Dunklin Jr. of Five Oaks Lodge.

The AGFC also announced the upcoming second Generation Conservation Summit, known as GenCon. The event will take place November 4-5 at the Hot Springs Convention Center and Bank OZK Arena. GenCon aims to connect students, teachers, and mentors with outdoor professionals and is open to all Arkansas students, including those who are homeschooled.

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