More than 1,000 students dive into conservation at first-ever GenCon Summit

More than 1,000 Arkansas students, from elementary grades through high school, got a hands-on look at conservation work during the first Generation Conservation Summit on Nov. 5-6 at the Bank OZK Arena and Hot Springs Convention Center.
Presented by Entergy, the two-day event turned the convention center into an outdoor-themed expo with 20 competitions and dozens of stations highlighting the Arkansas Game and Fish Commission’s work in conservation, education and recreation. Students tried trout fishing, air rifles, rock climbing and cast bass lures into a 40-by-60-foot indoor lake built for the summit.

Four teams also competed in a venison cooking challenge, while Arkansas colleges lined the expo floor with recruiting booths, including programs from UAPB, UCA, Arkansas Tech and SAU Tech.

AGFC educators led activities in hunter and boater education, enforcement and fisheries. A demo stage featured fly-fishing lessons from Arkansas Fly Fishers volunteers, and students explored 3D archery, bowfishing, a mobile cave and the agency’s traveling aquarium. Nearby classrooms hosted duck-decoy painting and fly-tying workshops.

The summit stems from an initiative launched by AGFC Education Division Chief Mary Beth Hatch, who created the “School of Conservation Leadership” designation nearly two years ago.

“We wanted something similar to conferences like FFA or FBLA,” Hatch said. “A summit made sense, something that reflects our entire agency.”

Competitions ranged from IT and GIS mapping challenges to a communications contest where students designed two-page conservation magazine spreads.

Assistant Education Division Chief J.J. Gladden said the turnout and energy exceeded expectations.

The next Generation Conservation Summit is set for Nov. 4-5, 2026, again in Hot Springs. Hatch said planning is already underway.

A full list of winners and event details is available at AGFC.com/education/generation-conservation.

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