ArkansasKids.com Has a Whole New Look

By Jill M. Rohrbach, Ark. Dept. of Parks and Tourism

12-15-2009

ArkansasKids.com, the Arkansas Department of Parks and Tourism’s Web site for kids and families, has undergone a complete redesign. The original 2001 site was initially geared towards parents to help plan family trips, find activities for their children and to assist with Arkansas history classes.

“The new Web page is very colorful and interactive. The emphasis is now focused more on children themselves since most are now very computer savvy,” said Dena Woerner, communications manager for the Arkansas Department of Parks and Tourism. “We added several new games, including the new Arkansas Arcade which debuts in late February,” Woerner continued.

The Parents and Teachers resources section has been expanded to include Arkansas-oriented lesson plans and links to other educational Web sites. The section also includes suggestions for field trips. Three additional new items are Play Outside, Travel Blogs, and Stuff to Do where information on outdoor activities and festivals taking place in The Natural State are highlighted. Previous sections from the original site which have been updated are Famous Arkansans, Fun Facts and Made in Arkansas.

The Arkansas Department of Parks and Tourism utilized social networking to announce a soft launch of the new and improved Web site. Starting with a countdown on Twitter and Facebook, the soft launch was planned as a sneak preview for Fans of Arkansas State Tourism. This soft launch provided the department with feedback before the solid unveiling of the site took place.