About Us

Arkansas 4-H Center Programs

Arkansas 4-H Center Programs deliver fun, educational programs for all ages and backgrounds. The 4-H Center’s natural beauty is the perfect place to learn environmental education, team building, leadership, camping, outdoor recreation and more from our University of Arkansas System facilitators. Keep scrolling to find the program that best fits your needs! The Arkansas 4-H Center, also known as the Vines Center, is located in central Arkansas in the foothills of the Ouachita Mountains.

Staff

Shannon Caldwell - 4-H Center Program Director

Shannon Caldwell- 4-H Center Program Director

Shannon joined the 4-H Center Program team in 1998. Her bachelor's degree is in Elementary Education and her master's degree is in Rhetoric, Writing, & Communication. Shannon loves all things camp and nature related. She enjoys nature photography, international travel, being a Master Gardener, and walking at least 1 mile a day. Shannon brings two decades of Extension experience, logic, and an eye for detail to the program team.

Creenna Bocksnick - Arkansas 4-H Camping Coordinator

Creenna Bocksnick headshot

Creenna began her work with our programs in 2014 after several years of teaching Agriculture Education. Creenna has her bachelor's and master's in Agriculture and Extension Education from the University of Arkansas. Fun Fact: Creenna grew up in 4-H and met her husband Jesse Bocksnick (4-H Outdoors Skills Coordinator) during this time. Creenna serves as a national resource for 4-H Camping and Environmental Education. Creenna adds camping expertise, creativity, logic, and a passion for 4-H to the team.

Eric De Vries headshot

Eric De Vries - Arkansas Outdoor School Coordinator

Eric spent 5 years facilitating ExCEL programs, the next 10 years with the Arkansas Game and Fish Education Division, then returned to our programs as the AOS coordinator in 2014. Eric holds a Political Science bachelor's, from Hendrix, and a master's in Public Administration from UA Little Rock. Eric grew up in Tanzania camping in the Serengeti. Eric has been married to his wife, Kristi, for over 20 years and has three great kids. Eric provides programs with a lifetime of outdoor knowledge, a great sense of humor, and calm leadership in times of stress.

Taylor Knox - ExCEL Leadership Program Coordinator

Taylor Knox headshot

Taylor began his career with programs in 2015. Taylor received his bachelor's in Science Education, from UCA, and his master's in Curriculum and Instruction, from UA Little Rock. Taylor grew up ten minutes from the 4-H Center and drove by it every day going to school. Taylor and his wife Darby have a fun energetic golden retriever named Chipper. Taylor adds a positive attitude, can-do spirit, and the ability to "see the big picture" to the program staff.

Lane Fritch - 4-H Center Programs Facilitator

Lane Fritch joined the team in February 2022. Though she is the newest member of the team she is not new to 4-H and 4-H Camps. She a former 4-H'er, State 4-H Officer, Camp Counselor, and Intern. Lane earned her BA in Psychology from Henderson State University.

Justin Kirkes

Justin Kirkes - 4-H Center Programs Facilitator

Justin joined the 4-H Center program staff in February 2021. Justin has a variety of education experience including wilderness therapy instructor, High School English Teacher, Residence Life Administrator, and most recently, High School Assistant Principal. Justin holds a Bachelor's degree in literature from Louisiana State University - Shreveport, and a Master's degree in teaching from Centenary College of Louisiana. Justin and his wife Anna have been married for 9 years and are on the wild adventure of raising two curly-headed boys and a Great Pyrenees named "Tinkerbelle"

Marshall Dickey - 4-H Center Programs Facilitator

Marshall comes to us from a background in Recreational Therapy primarily working with youth and adults with developmental disabilities. A graduate of Henderson State with a degree in Recreation Management in Natural Resources, later attending Arkansas Tech where he earned his Certification as a Therapeutic Recreation Specialist. He is a former 4-H Arkansas Outdoor School Summer Day Camper as well as an ExCEL intern. Marshall loves fly fishing and spending time outside with his wife Lauren and their two young kids

Roanna Wilson

Roanna Wilson - 4-H Center Programs Facilitator

Roanna’s journey with Arkansas 4-H Center Programs began in 2003 as a seasonal employee and transitioned to a full-time position in 2022. She has a bachelor’s degree in Education and has over 30 years of formal and informal educational experience. Roanna and her husband, Steve, have been married for 31 years. They have 6 children and 5 grandchildren. They are currently pursuing a small family farm lifestyle, as Roanna describes herself as a "wanna-be" homesteader. We as the staff of Arkansas 4-H Center Programs can tell you that she's the closest thing to a real-life Little House on the Prairie character that we've got!

Phyllis Scurlock - Administrative Specialist

Phyllis joined Extension in 2015 and began working with programs in 2017. Her experiences range from commercial insurance agent to claims management to surety bond manager. Phyllis has an eye for efficiency, a spirit-lifting positivity, and a compassion for her team and the clients she works with.

Jennifer Pruitt

Jennifer Pruitt - Administrative Specialist

Jennifer joined Extension as the Administrative Specialist III for Saline County Office in 2016, but left to assist with the expansion of their family business. In October 2022, Jennifer returned to work part-time in the 4-H Programs Office, and then transitioned to full-time work in November 2022. Jennifer cherishes the camaraderie that working with the 4-H Center program staff brings!