Inspiration and fun at Little Heroes Park

When you’re looking for a fun family outing, a special event location, or a place for your life group or school group to gather for fellowship, or a fun family outing, you’ll find some great options at Little Heroes Park! 

Little Heroes is located at 108 Little Heroes Circle, Walnut Shade, just off the outer road and visible from U.S. 65 north of Branson. The park’s core attraction is a series of nine sports stations sponsored by Life’s Journey, a 501(c)(3) nonprofit that, since its founding in 2008, has provided faith-based sports camps and scholarships as well as building soccer and basketball courts and equipment for youth in the U.S. and other countries. 

Families or groups proceed through the stations to try their hand at selected skills, with a scorecard where the lowest score wins, but everyone gets recognized for effort! It’s a great way to introduce kids to a variety of sports (and parents to find out how much they remember about some they haven’t done in a while!). 

Several locally and nationally-known sports personalities, including Springfield’s Jackie Stiles of MSU and professional basketball, have partnered with Little Heroes by sponsoring the following stations, as well as special events: 

●      Fishing

●      Soccer

●      Basketball 

●      Rodeo/roping 

●      Football 

●      Hunting/archery 

●      Martial arts/boxing

●      Baseball  

●      Golf 

In addition to the nine basic stations, the park has an expanded nine-station disc golf area and expanded 3D archery area. What makes all the stations special, though, is the spiritual application for each station, with a Bible verse and an encouraging life lesson reminder for each skill, including the nine “Fruits of the Spirit” on the disc golf stations.  

The same concept is applied on the hiking trails through the park’s wooded terrain, one of which is the “Roman Road,” with key verses from the New Testament book of Romans about finding relationship with Jesus Christ. The three trails include terrain sections of varying difficulty, but all have beautiful Ozarks views. Little Heroes Park trails are currently part of Upward Sports’ “Upward Running,” through September. 

Why not challenge yourself with some trail running/walking while contributing to the mission of Life’s Journey, by registering for the Mountain Run/Walk on Saturday, September 20. Choose the 2K Fun Run or the 4K Challenge, both starting at 9 a.m. Email info@littleheroespark.org or call 417-860-4482 for registration information. 

Regular hours at Little Heroes Park are currently 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. on Fridays and Saturdays, with special group appointments available. Also, Friday worship nights, popular with families and youth groups, will resume starting August 29, from 5 to 8 p.m. Follow the Facebook page or check the website for updates and details.  

With hopefully some cooler fall weather approaching, what better way to get your school or homeschool group, FCA club, or church youth group or life group off to a great start this year with some fun competition and fellowship! A regular admission day pass is $10 per person, with season passes and group rates available; children under age five participate for free; and there are discounts for families of veterans, active duty military and first responders—some of the Little Heroes for whom the park is named. 

Hope to see you there!