Tip:
Highlight text to annotate it
X
♪♪
♪♪
♪♪
>> THE CONCEPT WAS PRETTY
SIMPLE BACK IN 1986.
BUILD A BOAT OUT OF CARDBOARD
AND MAKE IT FLOAT.
WELL, AS YOU MIGHT HAVE
GUESSED, A LOT OF THEM TURNED
OUT TO BE A BIG SOGGY
CORRUGATED MESS.
BUT INTEREST CAUGHT ON YEAR
AFTER YEAR, AND EVENTUALLY IT
BECAME INTERNATIONALLY KNOWN.
AND THUS WE HAVE THE WORLD
CHAMPIONSHIP CARDBOARD BOAT
RACES HERE IN HEBER SPRINGS.
♪♪
♪♪
>> 25 YEARS AGO WE HAD A COUPLE
OF LADIES IN TOWN, PAT AND
PEGGY, WHO DEVELOPED A SPECIAL
EVENTS COMMITTEE.
THEY HAD HEARD ABOUT -- I
BELIEVE IT'S IN ILLINOIS -- OF
A CARDBOARD BOAT RIGATTA.
THEY WERE TRYING TO BRING
TOURISM TO OUR AREA THAT WAS
FUN, AND HERE WE STILL ARE
TODAY.
>> MOST OF THE BOATS USUALLY
HAVE A CERTAIN THEME OR AN
APPROPRIATE NAME, SUCH AS THE
HAPPY VIKING.
>> IT'S JUST A CONCEPT I COME
UP WITH AND PUT IT ON PAPER AND
START A COATING, MADE SEVERAL
-- MADE A MINI MODEL FIRST AND
THEN JUST DEVELOPED A BOAT FROM
THERE.
BUILT THE HEAD FIRST, THE HEAD
GOES ALL THE WAY TO THE BOTTOM.
SO DOES THE TAIL.
IT'S NOT GLUED ON THERE.
IT IS ALL THE WAY.
IT'S PART OF THE STRUCTURE.
AND THEN I BUILT THE BOAT
AROUND IT, AROUND THE TOOL.
>> HOW LONG DID IT TAKE YOU?
>> ABOUT THREE MONTHS TOTAL.
A LOT OF HELP, LOT OF SUPPORT
FOR MY WORK, WHICH I LIKE.
>> SO, WHAT IS EXACTLY THE
RULES, REGULATIONS AS FAR AS
WATERPROOFING THE CARDBOARD?
>> WATERPROOFING IT, BASICALLY
IT'S GOT TO BE BIODEGRADABLE
PAINT LIKE YOUR WATER-BASE
PAINT, USUALLY SPRAY PAINT.
DUCT TAPE.
IN THIS CASE, WHITE GLUE OR
REGULAR BOX GLUE.
IT WILL DISSOLVE.
YOU PUT SEVERAL COATS OF PAINT
ON IT AND HOPE FOR THE BEST.
THAT'S THE FUN PART ABOUT THESE
RACES.
YOU NEVER KNOW THE BOAT UNTIL
IT GOES IN THE WATER.
>> WE WILL ASSIGN A PROJECT
FROM OUR MENTORS FOR
SOUTHWESTERN ENERGY.
WE'RE INTERNS DOWN HERE WORKING
FOR THE SUMMER PATROLLING
ENGINEERING.
WE WERE ASSIGNED A PROJECT FROM
MR. MASON, ADAM AND SEAN OUR
MENTORS.
THEY GAVE US GOOD ADVICE HOW TO
BUILD, WHAT WE OUGHT TO DO TO
CONSTRUCT THIS THING.
SO, WE TOOK THEIR IDEAS AND OUR
IDEAS AND PUT THEM ALL TOGETHER
AND GOT THEM TO GO AND GET US
SOME MATERIALS DONATED.
WE WENT OUT SEARCHING THE
CARDBOARD FACTORIES.
THE FIRST ONE DIDN'T WORK, IT
WAS TIPSY.
WE HAD TO GO BACK TO THE
DRAWING BOARD AND MAKE IT A
FLAT BOTTOM BOAT LIKE WE WERE
GOING IN THE SWAMPS OR
SOMETHING DOWN SOUTH.
THAT'S WHERE I'M FROM, SOUTH
LOUISIANA.
>> ALL RIGHT.
>> AND I GO TO LOUISIANA STATE
UNIVERSITY.
THIS IS JONATHAN.
HE'S AN INTERN WITH US ALSO.
HE'S FROM NEW BRUNSWICK, CANADA.
>> I WAS GOING TO SAY, YOU GUYS
ARE THE HERO BOATS.
YOU SHOULD BE GOOD AT THIS.
>> OH, YEAH, YEAH, WE HAD A
GOOD TIME.
NINE OF US INTERNS WORKED ON IT
THROUGHOUT THE DAY, YOU KNOW,
AFTER WORK AND STUFF LIKE THAT.
AND IT WAS PRETTY EXCITING.
WE USED SOME CARDBOARD TUBES
FOR THE STRUCTURE OF THE BOAT.
WE CAPPED THOSE OFF WITH
CARDBOARD -- FLAT CARDBOARD
BOXES.
THEN WE USED THE TUBES ALSO TO
COME OFF OF THE STRUCTURE FOR
THE SUPPORT FOR THE SIDE WALLS.
WRAPPED THAT WITH SOME CROSS
BOARD AND POLYURETHANE TO
WATERPROOF, YOU KNOW, SO WE
WOULDN'T GET WATERLOGGED AND
SINK TO THE BOTTOM.
THEN WE GOT OUR SPONSOR
STICKERS AND PUT THEM ON THERE,
POLYURETHANE OVER THEM AND WE
HAVE SOMETHING THAT FLOATS.
>> FOR THE MOST PART,
CONTESTANTS USUALLY HAVE TO
REBUILD BOATS FROM ONE YEAR TO
THE NEXT, BUT SOME ARE BUILT SO
STURDY THEY CAN BE REUSED YEAR
AFTER YEAR.
>> YEAH, 13 YEARS.
I GUESS FOR THE ENGINEERING
DEPARTMENT AT JONESBORO DID A
REALLY GOOD JOB.
IT'S GONE THROUGH SOME WEATHER,
BOY.
IT'S COMPRESSED CARDBOARD.
>> YES.
AND THEN WE KIND OF WATERPROOF
IT.
SEE OVER THERE?
>> I THINK ON THE OUTSIDE A
COMBINATION OF EPOXY AND A
COAT OF PAINT OR GLUE AND
SOMETHING OF THAT NATURE.
>> I UNDERSTAND IT'S QUITE
HEAVY.
>> OH, IT IS VERY HEAVY.
>> A WONDER IT FLOATS.
>> YEAH.
[LAUGHTER]
♪♪
♪♪
>> AND THEN THERE'S CAPTAIN
LADY BUG.
TELL US ABOUT YOUR BOAT, DESIGN
OF IT.
>> WELL, IT'S JUST TRIAL AND
ERROR.
YOU KNOW, WE HAVE A LITTLE
BOOKLET.
AND AFTER THAT YOU HAVE TO GO
AND DO IT AND LEARN FROM YOUR
MISTAKES.
BUT THIS BOAT HELD UP PRETTY
WELL.
THIS IS THE FOURTH RACE IT'S
BEEN IN, AND IT'S STILL GOING.
OF COURSE, IT NEEDS A LITTLE
BIT OF REPAIR ONCE IN A WHILE,
BUT, YOU KNOW, AFTER WE GET IT
HOME, WE'LL DO SOME -- OH, YEAH.
ALL THE PROFITS GO TO THE
ANIMAL SHELTER.
>> THAT'S GOOD.
>> SO, IT'S A NONPROFIT, OF
COURSE.
EVERYBODY IS A VOLUNTEER.
AND ALL THE MONEY GOES TO THE
ANIMAL SHELTER.
AND LAST YEAR WE MADE $11,000.
THAT WAS A NICE BOOST FOR OUR
ANIMALS.
SO, WE'RE TRYING TO GET AS MANY
EVERY YEAR.
LAST YEAR WE HAD 30 BOATS SO
WE'RE DOING ALL RIGHT.
AND THIS HELMET WAS A VERY
LAST-MINUTE ADDITION.
>> I LOVE IT.
>> I DID THAT LAST NIGHT.
>> THAT IS A PERFECT TOUCH.
>> IT IS.
IT JUST GOES WITH THE REST, YOU
KNOW.
CAPTAIN LADY BUG.
>> YEAH, SOME MAY TAKE A LITTLE
BIT TOO SERIOUSLY.
>> THE LOWER MISSISSIPPI RIVER
CREATES ONE OF AMERICA'S
GREATEST WILDERNESSES AND IT'S
THE CANOE THAT WAS THE MODE OF
TRANSPORTATION ON THIS RIVER
FOR SOME 2000 YEARS.
NATIVE AMERICANS CAME DOWN THE
OHIO RIVER TO THE MISSISSIPPI
IN CANOES.
TODAY YOU CAN EXPERIENCE A
SIMILAR JOURNEY WITH THE CANOE
COMPANY IN HELENA.
YOUR GUIDES ARE THE MIGHTY
INDIANS WITH JON RUSKY AT THE
HELM.
>> I'VE ALWAYS BEEN FASCINATED
BY THE -- JUST BY THE SHAPE OF
THE MISSISSIPPI RIVER AND THE
BEAUTIFUL LOOPY MEANDERING BLUE
LINE.
WE ALWAYS SEE ON THE MAPS, WHEN
YOU'RE LOOKING ON THE MAPS OF
THE UNITED STATES OR THE SOUTH.
AND MY SENIOR YEAR OF HIGH
SCHOOL, MY BEST FRIEND AND I
DECIDED THAT WE'RE NOT GOING TO
GO TO COLLEGE.
WE'VE HAD ENOUGH OF SCHOOL.
12 YEARS IS ENOUGH.
AND SO INSTEAD, MUCH TO THE
CONSTERNATION OF OUR GUIDANCE
COUNSELORS, WE MET AFTER
WORKING ALL SUMMER, WE MET ON
THE MINNESOTA/WISCONSIN BORDER
ABOVE LACROSSE WISCONSIN AND
BUILT A 20 BY 25 FOOT RAFT.
WE EMBARKED ON A FIVE-MONTH
JOURNEY.
FIVE MONTHS LATER WE -- WE
STARTED IN 1982, WE ENDED IN
1983.
I SPENT MY FIRST NIGHT IN THE
STATE OF MISSISSIPPI ON THE
MUDDY ISLAND AS A REFUGEE.
THE RAFT ACTUALLY BROKE UP, AND
I DIDN'T STAY IN MISSISSIPPI
AFTER THAT -- NOT LONG AFTER
THAT.
BUT, SO, I'M THINKING ABOUT
THAT FIVE-MONTH RAFT JOURNEY,
DROVE SOMETHING IN DEEP.
I HAVEN'T BEEN ABLE TO SHAKE IT
SINCE.
I DON'T KNOW WHAT IT IS
EXACTLY, BUT I LOVE WATER.
I'VE ALWAYS LOVED WATER, BUT I
LOVE THE MISSISSIPPI MORE THAN
ANY OTHER WATER I'VE EVER BEEN
IN.
>> AND I GUESS YOU HAVE TO
LEARN TO -- I MEAN APPRECIATE
IT AND RESPECT IT.
>> YES, THAT'S RIGHT.
YEAH, THE MISSISSIPPI IS A
STRANGE LANDSCAPE.
YOU KNOW, MOST PEOPLE'S
EXPERIENCE OF THE MISSISSIPPI
AND A LOT OF PEOPLE EXPERIENCE
IT, BECAUSE WE HAVE A LOT OF
BUSY HIGHWAYS THAT CROSS IT AND
IT TRAVELS -- DRAINS 66 MILLION
PEOPLE LIVE IN THE GREATER
MISSISSIPPI DRAINAGE.
WE HAVE VERY FEW PEOPLE
UNDERSTAND WHAT IT'S LIKE,
ACTUALLY, ON THE RIVER ITSELF.
AND IF YOUR OWN -- YOUR ONLY
EXPERIENCE IS WHAT YOU SEE
CROSSING THE BRIDGE, YOU'LL
NEVER EXPERIENCE SOMETHING LIKE
THIS.
>> I THINK IT'S A PRETTY NEAT
EXPERIENCE TO GO OUT IN A CANOE
THAT CAN HOLD 10 TO 12 PEOPLE
AND IT'S DEFINITELY YOUR ONE
SIDE GETS WORN DOWN.
IT'S A PRETTY COOL EXPERIENCE.
I LOVE IT.
>> JUST DOING THIS ON THE
MISSISSIPPI AND --
>> OH, I WAS A LITTLE BIT
NERVOUS, ESPECIALLY WITH ALL
THE RAIN AND STUFF.
AND I WAS LIKE, UM, MOM AND
DAD, WE'RE GOING TO GO CANOING
ON THE MISSISSIPPI RIVER.
THEY KIND OF FLIPPED OUT A
LITTLE BIT, BUT IT'S OKAY, I'M
WITH EXPERIENCED CANOISTS, SO,
I'M NOT NERVOUS ABOUT IT.
>> YOU ALSO DON'T HAVE TO BE
NERVOUS ABOUT THESE MEGA-SIZED
CANOES CAP SIZING.
>> THE DESIGN IS BASED ON THE
FRENCH VOYAGER CANADIAN
DESIGNER, THE FRENCH VOYAGER
USED ON THE GREAT LAKES.
THE FUR TRAPPERS.
THEY TOOK THEIR DESIGN FROM THE
BEAUTIFUL BIRCH BARK CANOES
THAT THE NATIVE PEOPLE OF THE
NORTH WOODS BUILT.
IT'S A THOUSANDS OF YEARS OLD
DESIGN.
IT WAS THOUSANDS OF YEARS OF
TRIAL AND ERROR, AND PASSING
FROM ONE CANOE BUILDER TO
ANOTHER, TRADITION, YOU KNOW,
THAT WENT INTO WHAT WE HAVE
TODAY.
THE SHAPE IS VERY SIMILAR --
IT'S UNDERNEATH THE PART THAT
ACTUALLY TOUCHES THE WATER.
THAT'S THE PART BECAUSE THAT'S
WHAT'S CUTTING THE WATER AND
WHAT ALLOWS YOU SAFE PASSAGE.
THAT PART IS UNCHANGED, YOU
KNOW, FROM WHAT THE FRENCH
VOYAGERS USED IN THE GREAT
LAKES.
WHAT YOU SEE ON THE TOP IS
SLIGHTLY DIFFERENT, BUT -- AND
MATERIALS ARE OBVIOUSLY
DIFFERENT.
WE'RE USING LUVIANA, CYPRESS,
THE JUNE BUG, SHE'S KIND OF AN
ANOMALY.
WE HAVE A STASH OF REDWOOD.
BUILD A CANOE OUT OF REDWOOD.
USUALLY WE USE CYPRESS.
>> 3, 2, 1.
WOO-HOO.
>> OUR ADVENTURE ON THE MIGHTY
MISSISSIPPI BEGAN AT THE MOUTH
OF THE ST. FRANCES RIVER THEN
FLOATING THE MAIN CHANNEL OF
THE MISSISSIPPI ALL THE WAY
DOWN TO HELENA, A DISTANCE OF
ABOUT NINE MILES.
>> IT'S GREAT TO GET AWAY FROM
LIFE.
IT'S GREAT TO GET AWAY FROM
TECHNOLOGY AND CAMERAS AND
STUFF AND E-MAIL AND JUST COME
OUT HERE AND SEE GOD'S GRACE.
>> NOT TOO MANY PEOPLE THAT
THINK ABOUT, YOU KNOW, FLOATING
THE MISSISSIPPI RIVER.
>> NO.
A LOT OF PEOPLE THINK YOU'RE
CRAZY TO DO IT.
YOU KNOW, THEY THINK IT'S SCARY
ORDAIN DANGEROUS.
I MEAN, YOU HAVE TO RESPECT THE
RIVER NO DOUBT.
SOMETHING WRONG WITH JON RUSKY
WHO KNOWS THE RIVER SO WELL.
I HAVE GREAT TRUST WITH HIM AND
ALL HIS MIGHTY... IT'S A GREAT
EXPERIENCE.
IT'S SUCH A WONDERFUL FEELING
TO FLOAT.
I MEAN, TO SWIM.
I WAS JUST SWIMMING IN THE
RIVER.
IT WAS INCREDIBLE.
THE TEMPERATURE IS WONDERFUL.
ALL THESE BIRDS AND WILDLIFE.
IT'S A GREAT THING TO DO, AND
IT'S RIGHT HERE.
IT'S JUST RIGHT HERE.
NOT A LOT OF PEOPLE ENCOUNTER
NATURE MUCH ANY MORE.
IT'S A GOOD THING.
>> WAKING UP AT 3:30, I WASN'T
VERY EXCITED.
BUT BEING OUT HERE IT'S GREAT.
IT'S PERFECT WEATHER.
IT'S COOL -- THE WATER IS WARM.
IT FEELS GREAT.
IT'S JUST BEAUTIFUL OUTSIDE.
IT'S REALLY GREAT.
>> WHAT DO YOU THINK ABOUT
THESE KA NEWS HERE?
PRETTY COOL.
>> YEAH.
I'VE SEEN SOME OF JON RUSKY'S
BEFORE.
I FEEL SAFE IN THEM, SO, THAT'S
GOOD.
AND THEY'RE SO PRETTY, YEAH.
>> DO YOU THINK YOU'D WANT TO
COME BACK FOR ANOTHER
EXCURSION?
>> YES, DEFINITELY.
THIS IS JUST A COUPLE HOURS
LONG.
MY MOTHER HAS DONE THE
OVERNIGHT ONE BEFOREs AND THAT
WAY YOU GET THE WHOLE
EXPERIENCE.
I'D LOVE TO DO, YOU KNOW, A
COUPLE DAYS.
>> I REALLY ENJOY.
IT'S A DIFFERENT EXPERIENCE,
YOU KNOW.
WE'VE CANOED AND FLOATED ALL
KINDS OF RIVERS IN NORTH
AMERICA, BUT NOTHING LIKE THIS.
THIS IS HUGE MAGNITUDE OF
RIVER, YOU KNOW.
AND SWIFTNESS, THE POWER OF THE
RIVER, ESPECIALLY WHEN WE
FLOATED BY THOSE BOWIES EAU --
BUOYS OUT THERE.
YOU DON'T SEE THE CURRENT UNTIL
YOU SEE THE CURRENT FLOATING BY
SOMETHING STILL LIKE THAT.
IT'S AWESOME.
OF COURSE, THE SAND BARGE, WHAT
CAN YOU SAY?
IT'S JUST INCREDIBLE BEAUTY.
>> AND I TOLD MY FAMILY THAT I
WAS GOING TO FLOAT IN A CANOE
ON THE MISSISSIPPI.
THEY SAID, TRISHA, YOU DON'T
NEED TO DO THAT.
SO, REALLY, I WAS APPREHENSIVE
ABOUT COMING.
BUT IT WASN'T SCARY AT ALL.
I MEAN, WE FLOATED THE CATTLE
AND BUFFALO, IT'S A LOT MORE
INTIMIDATING THAN THIS IS.
IT'S SMOOTH.
IT'S FAST, BUT STILL IT'S
SMOOTH.
IT'S NOT THE LEAST BIT SCARY.
I'VE HAD A REALLY GOOD TIME.
ENJOYED THE COOKOUT ON THE SAND
BAR HERE, ALWAYS -- I LIKE
THINGS LIKE THAT.
THE PEOPLE WE WENT WITH ON THE
CANOE, THEY'RE VERY CORDIAL.
IT'S ALWAYS GOOD TO MEET NEW
PEOPLE, FRIENDS.
BUT YEAH, THIS IS A REAL GOOD
EXPERIENCE.
I REALLY ENJOYED IT.
>> WE GUARANTEE YOU'LL ENJOY IT
AS WELL.
THE EXPERIENCE MAY EVEN MOVE
YOU TO DO THE MIGHTY HEAD STAND
ON THE MIGHTY MISSISSIPPI.
(APPLAUSE)
>> JON RUSKY'S MIGHTY QUA PA
ARE MIGHTY YOUTH IN HELENA.
>> I ALWAYS PAY ATTENTION TO
YOUTH IN MY COMMUNITY.
IT WAS PASSED ON TO ME BY MY
MENTOR.
IF YOU DON'T SHARE THESE THINGS
, WHAT YOU KNOW, SKILLS YOU
HAVE, THEY'RE GOING TO DIE WHEN
YOU DIE.
IT'S ONE OF OUR MISSIONS TO
HELP YOUNG MEN AND WOMEN
EXPERIENCE THE BEAUTY OF THE
MISSISSIPPI AND TO LEARN
IMPORTANT LIFE-LONG SKILLS
THROUGH THAT PROCESS.
♪♪
♪♪
>> NOW, IF TAKING A FLOAT TRIP
ON THE MISSISSIPPI RIVER ISN'T
QUITE YOUR CUP OF TEA, I URGE
YOU TO CHECK OUT HELENA'S RIVER
FRONT PARK WHERE A BOARDWALK
WILL LEAD YOU TO FRONT AND
CENTER OF THE MIGHTY
MISSISSIPPI.
YOU CAN WATCH ALL THE RIVER
TRAFFIC, THE WILDLIFE, OR JUST
SIT BACK, KICKBACK, AND ENJOY
THE RIVER.
INTERPRETIVE SIGNS PROVIDED BY
THE NATIONAL AUDUBON SOCIETY
INFORM VISITORS ABOUT THE ECO
SYSTEM MAKING THIS WILDLIFE
HABITAT AREA A VITAL
EDUCATIONAL TOOL.
>> WE WORKED WITH A
COMMUNITY-DRIVEN PROCESS WHERE
WE ASK THE COMMUNITY WHAT WOULD
BE SOME OF THE SIGNS THAT THEY
WOULD LIKE AT THIS PARK.
AS NATIONAL AUDUBON SOCIETY,
CERTAINLY WE WERE INTERESTED IN
TALKING ABOUT THE BIRD LIFE,
BUT WE ALSO TALKED ABOUT
CULTURAL HISTORY OF THIS AREA.
WE DID SIGNS ON THE CIVIL WAR
HISTORY, AND IT WAS A REALLY
NEAT PROCESS TO BE INVOLVED
WITH WITH THIS COMMUNITY.
WHERE, FROM THE BOTTOM UP, THEY
HELPED DESIGN, BUILD, AND
INSTALL THE SIGNAGE AT THIS
PARK.
>> OTHER THAN MEMPHIS, HELENA
IS THE ONLY OTHER MAIN CITY ON
THE MISSISSIPPI ALONG A
300-MILE PLUS STRETCH DOWN
RIVER, WHICH IS WHY TOURISTS
ARE ATTRACTED TO THIS RIVER
PARK AREA, SUCH AS LINDA AND
CITO FROM THE NETHERLANDS.
SO, YOU CAME ACROSS THE RIVER,
THE MISSISSIPPI, AND YOU
STOPPED HERE IN HELENA.
>> YEAH.
>> WHAT BRINGS YOU HERE?
WHAT DO YOU THINK OF THE AREA?
>> WELL, THE NATURE, THE REST,
AND ALSO THE BEAUTIFUL PEOPLE
LIVING OVER HERE IN THE UNITED
STATES.
BUT FOR SURE MOST IMPORTANT FOR
US IS FOLLOWING THE MISSISSIPPI
BECAUSE WE'VE READ A LOT ABOUT
THE MISSISSIPPI, BUT WE WANTED
TO SEE IT WITH OUR OWN EYES.
>> AND WHAT DO YOU THINK OF THE
MIGHTY MISSIP HERE AT THIS
PARK?
>> IT IS BEAUTIFUL.
IT IS REALLY BEAUTIFUL.
DON'T YOU THINK?
>> YEAH, CALM NOW, NICE.
>> IT'S A WIDE RIVER.
WE HAVE A LOT OF WATER IN OUR
COUNTRY.
WE HAVE A LOT OF RIVERS, BUT
NOT WIDE AS THIS.
THIS IS REALLY FANTASTIC.
>> A HALF MILE NORTH OF
HELENA'S RIVER PARK IS BUCK
ISLAND WHICH OFFERS THE KIND OF
OUTDOOR ADVENTURE IMMORTALIZED
BY MARK TWAIN IN TOM SAWYER AND
HUCK FIN.
HARDWOOD FORESTS, PLUS BIRD
WATCHING AND CAMPING.
>> WHEN AUDUBON CAME TO
ARKANSAS IN THE LATE 1700s AND
CAME UP THE MISSISSIPPI AND
THEN WENT UP TO POINT CHICO
HERE IN ARKANSAS AND SAW THE
IVORY-BILL WOODPECKER, IT'S
EXCITING TO ME A HUNDRED YEARS
LATER THIS IS ON THE BANKS OF
THE MISSISSIPPI RIVER TRYING TO
DO THE SAME WORK THAT HE WAS
ABOUT IN PROTECTING THE
NATION'S FLY WAY AND CONNECT
PEOPLE TO THIS RESOURCE.
SO, WHEN I CANOED THE RIVER
THIS MORNING AT 5 O'CLOCK AND
WE FLOATED DOWN THE
MISSISSIPPI, I THINK HOW
FABULOUS IT WOULD BE IF EVERY
KID IN THIS COMMUNITY GOT TO
HAVE THAT EXPERIENCE, IF THEY
GOT TO SEE THE EGRIT AND THE
GREAT BLUE HERRON.
THEY WOULD THINK, I LIVE IN A
SPECIAL PLACE.
WHEN YOU CAN LOOK AT THE
NATURAL WORLD WHERE YOU LIVE
AND THINK, I LIVE IN A SPECIAL,
BEAUTIFUL PLACE, IT MAKES ALL
KINDS OF CONNECTIONS.
OF COURSE IT CONNECTS TO ART
AND IT OF COURSE IT CONNECTS TO
RECREATION, BUT IT MAKES A
STRONG CONNECTION TO CIVIC
PRIDE AND RESPONSIBILITY AND TO
MY MIND ONE OF THE THINGS I'M
REALLY CONCERNED ABOUT IS, YOU
KNOW, ARE WE CONNECTING KIDS TO
SCIENCE IN A WAY THAT MAKES
THEM EVEN WANT TO LEARN IT.
SO, TO ME THIS IS AN EXCITING
PLACE TO DO EDUCATION.
AND, SO, WHEN I WAS ASKED TO
COME HERE AND HELP AND WORK ON
THE TEAM TO HELP DESIGN THE
KIOSK AND KENNELS, I LOVED THAT
THE COMMUNITY SAID, OKAY, WE'VE
GOT THIS HISTORY, LA SOTO WAS
HERE, WE HAVE NATIVE AMERICANS
HERE, THE CIVIL WAR HOOER.
CROWLEY'S RIDGE IS DOWN HERE.
IT'S POURED ON THE MISSISSIPPI
AND EVERYTHING COMES TOGETHER
HERE.
IT'S JUST A MARVELOUS
OPPORTUNITY TO MIX CULTURAL,
HISTORICAL, AND NATURAL HISTORY
AND TEACH PEOPLE THAT WHAT A
FUTURE WE CAN HAVE IF WE VALUE
PLACES LIKE THIS AND CELEBRATE
THEM AND USE THEM IN OUR
SCHOOLS AND IN OUR TOURISM AND
GET OUT AND SEE THEM.
♪♪
♪♪
>> SO, CHECK OUT FOR YOURSELF
HELENA'S RIVER PARK OR BETTER
YET TAKE A FLOAT ON THE MIGHTY
MISSISSIP.
FOR MORE ON THESE DESTINATIONS
OR OTHERS OR ORDER A COPY OF
OUR EPISODE, GO TO THE WEBSITE
AETN.ORG/EXPLORING ARKANSAS.
WE'LL SEE YOU NEXT TIME FOR
ANOTHER EXCITING ADVENTURE OF
"EXPLORING ARKANSAS".
♪♪
♪♪
♪♪
♪♪