Arkansas Game & Fish Commission Hosts Second Annual GenCon Summit

Children played with stream tables to learn about land formation at the second annual GenCon summit hosted by the Arkansas Game & Fish Commission.

The event grew during its second year and aimed to replicate the agency's full scope through hands-on environmental and wildlife education. Participants engaged with massive anatomical models, including a 20-foot-tall turkey and a 30-foot-long largemouth bass, while others explored inflatable caves or practiced casting fishing lures at targets.

“You know, when we talked through this idea before it all started in Year One, this is what I’ve said, and it still stands right now, is that this entire event is meant to replicate the Arkansas Game and Fish Commission,” Hatch told the Arkansas Game & Fish Commission.

The summit functioned as a microcosm of the agency, utilizing staff and judges from every internal division. While the Education division led the organizational efforts, the involvement of various departments ensured that the programming reflected the agency’s diverse mission, from habitat restoration to wildlife management.

Increased corporate sponsorship played a visible role in the expanded scale of the summit. Buc-ee’s, the Houston-based retailer that recently opened its first Arkansas location near Benton, sponsored the culinary competition. In that contest, Norfork High School took first place with a dish featuring specklebelly goose.

The Arkansas Game & Fish Foundation assisted in securing these additional sponsors, a move that allowed for more complex, interactive experiences. These resources supported activities ranging from rock climbing and air rifle shooting to design competitions where youth created spreads for Arkansas Wildlife Magazine or nature center exhibits.

The scale of the event presents a logistical challenge as it continues to grow. As the program expands, the requirements for funding and organizational support increase proportionally.

“This is not going to happen without the right kind of sponsorship and support, and the bigger it gets, the more is going to be required,” Martin told the Arkansas Game & Fish Commission.

Despite the rising costs of scaling such an operation, organizers view the investment as a necessity for long-term conservation efforts in the state. The program focuses on the direct impact of early engagement with natural resources.

“But, we’re seeing the result with the kids and what we know that means to the future of Arkansas,” Martin said. “It’s about as exciting as anything I think could be going on for young people in this state.”

The educational components, such as the stream tables used to demonstrate how the agency’s Stream Team and Stream Habitat programs restore erosion-damaged areas, serve to connect local youth with the practical realities of Arkansas ecology.

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