ONSC Member Weekend 2010

On November 12 - 14, we held our first ONSC Member Weekend at the Ozark Natural Science Center.  Suffice it to say we have learned much about what we would like to do (and not do!) in the future, but all in all, a good time was had by all.  Around 50 people joined us
throughout the weekend alongside our staff.

On Friday evening, a number of our board members and a handful of new friends joined us for our Fall Fundraiser dinner.  We held a reception in the outdoor classroom with some great wines, appetizers prepared by the kitchen staff and a variety of beers from our friends at Heineken (thank you, friends!).  Staff member Naïma Montacer (read her guest blog post from earlier this month) shared with attendees the ONSC philosophy of "take what you need, eat what you take" as well as other highlights of the teachable moments that students experience every day at ONSC.  Executive director Beth Stephens and associate director Jason Kindall (who will not approve of that photo) shared an overview of ONSC and the powerful work of the center.

On Saturday, friends joined us for a day of crafts, hikes and birding walks with our expert staff as well as a primitive skills session with ONSC Teacher Naturalist Rob Seal.  Staff led tie-dye and paper-making sessions:

Tommy learns how to tie dye...

The Harris boys perfect their t-shirts...

Brave souls making paper with five boys ages 4 - 8...

Detail of a handmade piece of paper

Sophie's vision of an ONSC owl in the starry night sky

The day ended with a group hike to the Kings River overlook with plenty of binoculars for spotting eagles.  The best memory of the weekend may be that crisp, sunny afternoon with families sharing a special time in a special place (and admittedly, with all the moms feeling a little frantic about the number of kids near the edge of the precipice...)

The day ended around the campfire, and the kids finally crashed in the lodges.  The next day they woke up ready for more fun after a night in the bunk beds...

Volunteer extraordinaire and ONSC Corps co-chair Candice Haines (also a previous guest blogger) and other attendees joined volunteers from the Heritage High School Women in Science Club as well as additional board members for an ONSC volunteer work day.  Our supporters helped us split wood, build a compost teaching station, clear trails and paint sections of the Ewing Centre.

All in all, however, the very best of our first ONSC Member Weekend is captured in this photo of a happy kid learning, looking far and wide, and taking in the Ozarks and the great big world beyond:

At the end of the day, that's what ONSC is all about.  Hope you'll join us next year!

*Thanks to ONSC staff member and Call of the Wild event maven Rachel Swearingen Harris for sharing many of these fantastic photos!  Mark your calendar for Call of the Wild on April 16, 2011 and stay tuned for a sneak peek of next year's fun, fabulous and greener than ever event!

Guest Blogger: Naïma Montacer

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 ONSC's very own Teacher Naturalist and Outreach Assistant Naïma Montacer, who is often the face of ONSC at community events, fairs and festivals.

In August of 2008 I moved from the high plains of Amarillo, Texas where I was finishing my masters' degree in Biology, nine hours east to the Ozarks of Arkansas.   As I drove away that day with my car packed with all the belongings I could fit in my small vehicle I had no idea what to expect.  I moved into one of four apartments at the Ozark Natural Science Center (ONSC) and quickly realized I would be in the woods far away from what seemed like everything.

My co-workers at ONSC embraced me and two years later I am still an Arkansas resident.   As a Teacher Naturalist I learned right along with the students the plants and animals of the Ozarks and adapted to my new home.   Being around liked minded people with passions of their own pushed me to figure out where I fit in.  In April of 2010 I was asked to help ONSC try some new ideas, such as a monthly E-Newsletter and co-chair (with Candice Haines, former 5^th grade ONSC attendee) the ONSC Corps, a volunteer group supporting ONSC, as well as keep my duties as Teacher Naturalist.   In these past couple months I have enjoyed growing myself and ONSC through community events and marketing opportunities. 

ONSC has many exciting opportunities on the rise.  About 4000 students visit ONSC every year hiking the trails, identifying insects, star gazing at night and much more. Program participants leave with an appreciation for the environment that we Teacher Naturalists hope they carry throughout their lives.  Visiting with past students at events and recounting their ONSC experience and their current conservation practices and sharing these experiences with co-workers is proof of the impact a one night school trip can have on the world. 

ONSC is a great place to inspire kids to turn their video games and tv’s off and go outside and play.  With the community work I have been challenged with I hope to extend the reach of the ONSC mission (to enhance the understanding, appreciation, and stewardship of the Ozark natural environment) to outside our amazing facilities at Bear Hollow.  Therefore, if you have not yet signed up to receive the ONSC E-newsletter please visit our website (www.onsc.us)! Also, friend us on Facebook, Twitter, LinkedIn and follow our blog! To learn more about the ONSC Corps email corps@onsc.us. 

ONSC Supporter Angie Albright (L) and Naïma Montacer at the 2010 NWA Green Expo