ONSC Summer Update

We've had a short blogging hiatus during a hectic ONSC summer, but there is much good news to share!  In case you've been out of the loop a bit as well, here's a quick rundown of some of the latest happenings at the Ozark Natural Science Center for easy reference:

MAY 2010 

- We held our first Women's Yoga Retreat at ONSC.  Favorite quote: "Every woman in northwest Arkansas should have this experience!"  (We agree.)  To read more: http://bit.ly/aTuukM.  And, go ahead and mark your calendar, as we plan to make this a standing event on the weekend following Mother's Day every year (May 13 - 15, 2011).

JUNE 2010

- Cargill, Inc. presented a canoe fleet gift to ONSC at a special press conference at the Botanical Garden of the Ozarks.  We're thrilled beyond belief and have enjoyed the special attention their sharp "mango" color gets on the river (and on the road when we haul them on the trailer that accompanied the gift)!  Read more: http://bit.ly/cuHS2E

- With school (finally) out, the fun began with ONSC Summer Camps!  Relive some of the adventures and see comments from campers and parents on the ONSC Facebook page, and "like" us while you're there if you're so inclined!  http://bit.ly/cH01d8


- Father's Day weekend marked our very first Dads in the Woods program at ONSC.  Read more and see a great underwater picture from our July e-newsletter: http://bit.ly/cXpuMs

- In June, we announced the date for Call of the Wild 2011, our signature event at the John Q. Hammons Convention Center.  Go ahead and mark your calendar for April 16, 2011 - you won't want to miss the fun!

JULY 2010

- Our fantastic new volunteer organization, the ONSC Corps, stayed busy all summer representing the Ozark Natural Science Center at events throughout the region from the Fayetteville Farmers' Market to Springdale Schools Teacher Fair, Beaver Water District's Secchi Day.  Monthly meetings are a great way to get involved, whether you would like to volunteer to read The Lorax by Dr. Seuss to children at a local library or roll up your sleeves with maintenance and trail work at ONSC.  Check out the ONSC Corps page on Facebook (http://bit.ly/djMSxr) or email corps@onsc.us to get involved!

- We opened a new ONSC satellite office at the Center for Nonprofits at St. Mary's in Rogers in July, which will allow us to be accessible to the general public, hold meetings for board members and volunteers and take advantage of the wonderful synergy offered by the facility, offering opportunities for partnerships with other nonprofit agencies and visibility to donors and community leaders.  Read more here: http://bit.ly/bQA8Ez and learn more about the CFN at: http://bit.ly/cJKecY.

- Our new fiscal year kicked off on July 1, and we were elated to welcome dynamic new board members including Louise Mann of Waste Reduction Resources (http://linkd.in/94Kb4Y), Greg Spragg of Lewis & Clark Outfitters (www.gooutandplay.com), David Stitt of Stitt Energy Systems (www.stittenergy.com) and Latriece Watkins of Sam's Club (www.samsclub.com).  It's going to be a good year!

AUGUST 2010

- ONSC was featured in a national trade publication called Small Market Meetings, which ran an interesting article suggesting corporations consider science centers as meeting destinations.  Read the article here: http://bit.ly/digAag

- Team members attended the ANCA Summit (the annual gathering of the Association of Nature Center Administrators - www.natctr.org) held at Treehaven Environmental Learning Center (http://www.uwsp.edu/cnr/treehaven/) in Tomahawk, WI.  Highlights included an excursion to The Conserve School (www.conserveschool.org), sessions on strategic planning, capital campaigns and making special events "greener" as well as a presentation from former Backpacker magazine (www.backpacker.com) contributor and photographer Jeff Rennicke (http://www.uwsp.edu/cnr/treehaven/), now a teacher at the Conserve School.  We returned full of ideas and inspiration to continue to make ONSC even more fantastic!

If you've been hither and yon over the summer, we hope this brings you up to speed on all the exciting things that have been happening at the Ozark Natural Science Center.

Be sure to stay connected - you can subscribe to our monthly e-newsletter (http://bit.ly/ddkMa7), use Facebook to connect with ONSC (http://bit.ly/cH01d8) or the ONSC Corps (http://bit.ly/dbIM0G) and keep up with us on Twitter (www.twitter.com/ozarknatsci).  And of course, subscribe to our blog on this page and check out www.onsc.us for updates.

Hope you've enjoyed a great summer - stay tuned for just as much excitement from the Ozark Natural Science Center as we all enjoy the cooler temperatures and stunning fall foliage in the Ozarks.