Guest Blogger: Candice Haines

We've asked a few of our nearest and dearest to contribute a few thoughts to the ONSC blog.  This week, we hope you'll enjoy a post from Candice Haines of CCF Brands, one of our most active and ardent supporters, who experienced the Ozark Natural Science Center as a fifth grade student:

My memories are vivid:  hiking on the trails with crisp leaves underfoot, eating spaghetti and garlic bread (all of it) prepared by Chef Conrad, and learning about bats from instructors Liz and Pat before hitting the bunks for the ultimate sleepover.  No single event during my school years stands out more than my trip to the Ozark Natural Science Center as a fifth grader.  

Fast forward 15 years when I had the privilege of meeting Beth Stephens, Executive Director at ONSC, at a Northwest Arkansas Emerging Leaders event.  While I hadn’t thought about ONSC for years, the enthusiasm I had felt as a camper came rushing back to me as Beth talked about all the great things that were going on at the Center— I simply had to reconnect with ONSC!  Beth recognized my passion and immediately presented me with opportunities to serve.  

From working on the planning committee for Call of the Wild, the annual fundraising event, to starting up a volunteer group, ONSC Corps, with field instructor Naïma Montacer, I was hooked.  I continue to be inspired by the members of our community who are eager to serve and support such a wonderful organization.  If you share a passion for the ONSC mission: Enhancing the understanding, appreciation and stewardship of the Ozark natural environment, I would encourage you to get involved in some way.  Please email me at corps@onsc.us for ways to further the ONSC mission so that children in our area can continue making memories.  

It's impossible to put into words how much volunteers, donors, supporters and teachers mean to ONSC.  In fact, watching them grow up, thrive in life and look back fondly on their memories with the Ozark Natural Science Center is one of the things that makes us tick.  We're infinitely grateful for people like Candice and the companies they work for which support them in supporting ONSC.  Many people in our business community today first embraced their love of the Ozarks and the outdoors or made decisions to pursue careers in science, recreation, conservation or related fields thanks to their time at ONSC.  It's a delight to see so many of them returning to support us today.  Thanks to all of our fantastic supporters!


p.s. Got an idea for connecting with other ONSC alumni who attended when you were a student?  Let us know - we've got some ideas brewing as well to reach out to former students via our Facebook page (where we're thrilled to have 1,400+ fans) as well as Twitter, LinkedIn and our 2,500+ e-newsletter subscribers!