Architect to teach design camp
The American Institute of Architects Arkansas Chapter President Chris East will teach architecture during the Alex Foundation’s annual architecture and design summer camp at the University of Arkansas at Monticello’s Taylor House and Hollywood/Valley Plantation in Tillar.
This free camp will convene from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. July 20-24 and July 27-31 for rising seventh and eighth graders. The program is in partnership with the Alex Foundation, AIA and UAM’s Archeology Research Station, according to a news release.
East, a graduate of the University of Arkansas Fay Jones School of Architecture and Design, is an architect at Cromwell Architects Engineers in Little Rock. East will be joined by architect Randy Palculict of Jackson Brown Palculict Architects of Little Rock, according to the release.
The summer camp is funded in part by a grant from the Arkansas Department of Education. Students will be taught skills and strategies by licensed and accredited professionals in architecture, archeology, drone aviation, engineering, design and fabrication.
Independent reporting for Pine Bluff & Jefferson County since 1879.
Students will learn about architecture, including what architects do, architecture as the art and science of the built environment, how an architectural drawing becomes a building or structure, the different parts that make up a building and how architecture is an important part of history and culture.
They will learn flight, aerodynamics, airspace awareness, safe drone operations and how drones are used in architecture. They will experience engineering during a field trip to learn about civil, mechanical, structural and electrical engineering and gain skills in design thinking.
The deadline to register for the summer camp is June 5 at www.alexfoundation.org. Details: Angela Courtney, Alex Foundation’s executive director, at angela@alex-founadation.org.
Arsenal plans controlled burns
The local community should not be alarmed if they see large plumes of smoke coming from the Pine Bluff Arsenal from next week through the end of March or first of April, depending on the weather.
Several controlled burns will be conducted during this time. These burns serve as an environmental benefit, not only to reduce wildfire risk by removing fuel levels and loading from the forest floor but also improve the wildlife habitats, according to a news release.
All controlled burns will be conducted by specially trained and equipped crews skilled at fire management operations. Weather conditions are taken into consideration when conducting these burns to prevent smoke in sensitive areas.
Free Tree Fridays set
The Arkansas Department of Agriculture is celebrating Arbor Day by launching its sixth annual Free Tree Fridays campaign, a statewide effort to encourage tree planting. Free bare root seedlings will be available to Arkansans every Friday from March 20 through April 24 at locations across the state. Two events will serve as Arkansas ReLeaf distributions, offering tree seedlings to support replanting efforts in communities affected by tornadoes and other natural disasters. These events are scheduled for March 20 in Hot Springs Village and April 3 in Paragould.
While selections vary by location, attendees can expect two to four species such as Shumard oak, overcup oak, sycamore or pecan. Up to five free seedlings will be available per person on a first‑come, first‑served basis.
A full schedule of giveaway locations and dates is available on the department’s website. Additional locations may be added. Funding for this project is provided by the U.S. Forest Service Urban and Community Forestry Program in partnership with the Arkansas Department of Agriculture, with additional support from the Arkansas Urban Forestry Council.
Organic Field Crop event set
The Organic Field Crop Production and Marketing Meeting will be hosted at the Vegetable Research Station near Kibler on April 7 to connect grain farmers with organic market opportunities and to showcase ongoing organic research in the state. The event, which begins at 9 a.m., is free and open to the public. Registration is available online.
“The event is focused on growers interested in exploring organic production with buyers from the region to discuss market opportunities for organic grain crops,” said Luke Freeman, program manager for the Arkansas Organic Agriculture project, which is part of the U.S. Department of Agriculture’s Transition to Organic Partnership Program. Similar to the event last fall, the organic field day also involves partners from the USDA’s Organic Agriculture Research and Extension Initiative project, as well as the Natural Soybean and Grain Alliance, the Center for Arkansas Farms and Food, Winrock International, the Rodale Institute and University of Arkansas System Division of Agriculture researchers, according to a news release. The Arkansas Organic Agriculture project is led by the Division of Agriculture’s Center for Arkansas Farms and Food.