Ozark Natural Science Center

ONSC Facility Assessment Day

2011-03-23T08:00:00.001-05:00

We have an exciting day coming up at the Ozark Natural Science Center that has been a long time coming!

On March 28, a fantastic team of professionals will join us at our campus in the Bear Hollow Natural Area to do a complete audit of our facilities. We'll walk through the Ewing Centre, three lodges, our indoor and outdoor classrooms, parking lot, campfire pavilion and trails to put together an idealistic wish list of all the improvements we'd like to make to our facilities.

Joining us will be folks from the Arkansas Natural Heritage Commission, team members from GE Lighting (be sure to check out GE's awesome ecomagination site), friends from Perkowitz + Ruth architects, board member David Stitt from Stitt Energy and representatives of the NWA chapter of the U.S. Green Building Council.

As a field science and environmental education facility, you can imagine how much we hate to not be on the cutting edge of sustainable operations. Since we spend all day every day teaching kids about our mission of enhancing the understanding, appreciation and stewardship of the Ozark natural environment, we want to ensure we are excellent stewards as well. While our campus was built nearly twenty years ago in a low-impact, intelligent way to take advantage of natural light and minimize impact and we certainly watch our waste, compost and make smart choices, it's time for some upgrades.

Our hope is that this wish list will be something we can work from in the coming years gradually as resources, donated materials, corporate support and other opportunities allow. It will certainly be a slow but steady plan of attack.

We would like to identify some ways to capture energy (wind, solar, water) and also find ways to conserve energy and decrease our impact. Most importantly, we want to incorporate educational tools into everything we do so that our teacher naturalists can actively show visiting students what we're doing every day to reduce our impact, and help inspire them to make changes of their own.

And in the interim, watch for some exciting updates: we'll be working to add rain barrels on-site, unveil a bee-friendly pollinator garden and working bee hives, and implementing phase one of a rain garden thanks to funding support from Cargill, Inc.

It's an exciting time at the Ozark Natural Science Center. Please let us know if there are ways you, your business or your team could support our efforts to walk the walk, honor our founders and reflect our mission in all that we do!

New ONSC Website + Our Blog Has Moved!

2011-03-18T14:30:00.000-05:00

We are delighted to announce that www.onsc.us relaunched this week!

You'll find our blog housed permanently on the site, and can reach it here: ONSC Blog.

Our site is now much more functional, so you can easily find information on our renowned school programs, exciting summer camps and unique adult and family programs, or learn about how to support ONSC by getting involved as an individual, making a donation, using our facilities for your organization, attending an event and much more. Come on over and visit us, and thanks for reading!

Guest Blogger: Paul Wilson

2011-03-14T08:00:00.032-05:00

ONSC has been fortunate to have a local ally, Paul Wilson of Intrust Bank, establish a Terracycle brigade that allows ONSC to earn cash through trash. Learn more about Terracycle and ONSC in the Get Involved section of www.onsc.us and join the ONSC Corps and our brigade to support ONSC through Terracycle. Here's some background on this intriguing program written by Paul:

So, what exactly is Terracyle and how can it be beneficial to our community? Terracycle is a company that takes name brand specific products that would otherwise go in your ordinary waste and recycles them into new products that are sold through retail channels. Terracycle pays a nonprofit or school of your choice for each piece of trash mailed in. Different criteria, such as type of packaging and how much you must ship apply to each product.

The list of items Terracycle accepts is vast including: Trident, Bubblelicious, Dentyne and Stride bubble gum wrappers; cell phones; inkjet cartridges; Ziploc bags; all Mars brand candy wrappers; Capri Sun pouches; Frito-Lay Brand chip bags; Scotch tape dispensers and cores; Elmer’s glue containers; Stoneyfield yogurt containers; any Kraft brand cheese packaging; Mission tortilla & tostada bags; Colgate toothpaste packaging; Cliff Bar wrappers; Pentel highlighters and pens; Malt-O-Meal cereal bags; all laptops, digital cameras & mp3 players; among many other products. To view a list of items collected by the ONSC Terracycle brigade click here.

Do you see a product you recognize and use regularly? More than likely you do. You also probably throw these items away, because they are not easily recyclable. Consider the opportunity to not only keep these items from the landfill since they are turned in to other usable products but also to give back to your community. At $0.02 per item, the money returned to your chosen nonprofit can really add up fast. Think about what could happen when a large group of people unite and mobilize for the benefit of one nonprofit.

One such group that has mobilized an effort is the Northwest Arkansas Emerging Leaders (NWAEL). During 2010, NWAEL collected more than 2,500 Frito-Lay chip bags, 200 Stride and Trident gum wrappers and 71 cell phones while earning over $70 for the benefit of the Ozark Natural Science Center. Other materials have also been collected with ship dates scheduled for early 2011. The organization collaborated with several businesses (thank you to Gusano’s Pizza in Bella Vista and Fix-It Wireless in Bentonville), events, and individuals to collect these materials. Now the ONSC Corps has joined to help collect items and earn money for ONSC.

So what can you do? I would advocate that you find a nonprofit who is managing the process and support them by providing the material. Obtaining enough volume to mail in a particular material may prove to be challenging otherwise, changes are frequently made to the program and the website can be a bit of a challenge to navigate.

Best wishes collecting “trash” and most importantly, have fun while asking for it.

* To help collect “trash” for ONSC contact corps@onsc.us for more information. There are several drop off sites around town to bring your trash or contact us and we will pick it up for you! Learn about items to collect here.

ONSC to host first Arkansas Women Bloggers Unplugged mini-conference!

2011-03-10T13:19:00.001-06:00

We are beyond excited to announce that the Ozark Natural Science Center will be hosting the first ever Arkansas Women Bloggers Unplugged mini-conference on June 10 - 12, 2011!

Read a bit more, and then learn more at Arkansas Women Bloggers, grab a registration form and plan now to join us! You can also learn more on the site about submitting a presentation proposal and attendee scholarships. See you in June!

Arkansas Women Bloggers Unplugged

Mini-Conference ● June 10 – 12, 2011
Ozark Natural Science Center ● Up In The Hills

You work, you play, you cook, you clean, you blog. Time to shake it up.

An extended gathering of Arkansas Women Bloggers is past due. We all dream of Blissdom, BlogHer, Blog Sugar and the like... but funds, family, time, location and reality get in the way. Here's your chance to unplug for the weekend, network with other Arkansas women bloggers, pick up tips, gain inspiration and grow.

The Arkansas Women Bloggers Unplugged mini-conference is a networking retreat and informal blogging conference all rolled into one. Here's the catch... we'll literally unplug for the weekend. Feel free to bring those laptops, chi chi tablets and smartphones if you have separation anxiety, but don't plan to spend any time with them. You won't want to with the speakers, activities and old fashioned chatting you'll cram into every spare minute.

So... plan now to just do it. Step away from the screen. You can do this. We'll have an idyllic setting and real, live, face to face connections with other bloggers and inspiring speakers to fuel and refresh you to return home ready to face it all. You know, the work – the play – the cooking – the cleaning – the amazingly improved and refocused blogging.

Who: Women bloggers (and would-be bloggers) in Arkansas and beyond

When: Friday, June 10 (arrive between 5 & 7ish) – Sunday, June 12 (after brunch)

Where: The Ozark Natural Science Center in northwest Arkansas (read: rustic lodges, bunk beds, and feeling like you're back at summer camp with your girlfriends)

Cost: $199/person (seriously, that's cheap: a weekend getaway including two nights of lodging, meals, speakers, networking, relaxing and *ahem* beverages).

Limited scholarships are available via Arkansas Women Bloggers.

The more registered attendees we have, the more scholarships will be available!

Registration deadline is May 31, 2011 – space is limited!

Questions?

Stephanie (The Park Wife), Fawn (Instead of the Dishes) or Beth (Ozark Natural Science Center).

Why a Corporate Giant Cares Deeply about ONSC

2011-03-08T18:50:00.001-06:00

You may recall that Cargill, Inc. gave a gift to ONSC in June 2010 mentioned in this blog post: The Launch of the Mango Fleet. Cargill has continued to be a strong partner since that time and has recently agreed to support us significantly again in 2011. Read more about their commitment in this guest post by Stephanie Burroughs:

Let me give you a little background about Cargill. I think after knowing a bit more about the company, you’ll understand why we are so passionate about Ozark Natural Science Center!

Founded in 1865, our privately held company employs 131,000 people in 66 countries. Our corporate responsibility extends beyond our own operations to the wider communities in the 66 countries in which we live and work. At Cargill, we recognize the complex challenges facing our world. We also know that we can achieve progress on difficult issues by working together with our stakeholders. We collaborate with organizations around the world to improve the nutrition and health of those in our communities, provide access to education and encourage responsible stewardship of natural resources.

Resource stewardship is critical for Cargill. Fulfilling our purpose of nourishing people requires clean water, soil and air. As a global food and agriculture company, we are focused on a sustainable future that reduces demands on the environment as populations continue to grow. Our innovative approaches to conserve resources, use renewable raw materials and reduce impacts are helping to preserve and protect the environment, and delivering results for our customers, our employees, our communities and our planet.

We’ve set some lofty goals, such as our commitment to reduce absolute GHG emissions from our U.S. operations by joining the Chicago Climate Exchange. To fulfill these goals and to continue to strive for a more sustainable business, Cargill needs employees who think globally.

The education the kids of our area receive at ONSC is invaluable in developing the future generation of business leaders that balance economic prosperity with sustainability and care for the environment. We believe that ONSC plants the seed of that thinking with our area school children.

Additionally, another tenet of Cargill’s culture is community engagement. We know that our continued success depends on the growth and health of the communities in which we live and work. That is why we work with a diverse group of global, national, and local organizations to bring positive, measurable improvements to our communities. The impact of our fiscal giving is extended by the volunteer efforts of our employees worldwide. Our Ambassador program encourages employees to give of their time to volunteer organizations in their communities, and provides two hours of paid time per month to volunteer. We target our charitable giving to programs that provide long-term solutions, engage our employees and leverage their expertise.

Two of our three focus areas align perfectly with ONSC’s mission - the environment and education. We believe in ONSC’s commitment to the education of our children. Many employees have been chaperones on fifth grade trips, and have reported that they probably learned as much and had as much fun as the kids they supervised. These employees are wildly passionate about ONSC.

We truly believe that ONSC is shaping our future generation of leaders at a pivotal point in their lives, and look forward to continuing to find ways that we can work together to provide this access to education in stewardship of natural resources.

It’s been my personal pleasure to work with Beth and Jason to find innovative projects to help the cause, whether it be purchasing a fleet of canoes or helping establish the center’s first rain garden. All of us here at Cargill are passionate about ONSC! I would encourage other companies who have a similar passion and commitment to find ways to support this invaluable resource to our community!

Celebrating 20 Years at ONSC

2011-01-08T08:49:00.001-06:00

ONSC has an intriguing group of supporters who are responsible for many of our successes over the past two decades. And yes - 2011 is our 20th anniversary, which may come as a shock to some of these loyal friends.

This morning, longtime ONSC friends Clayton Eversole and Blanchard Reel asked with genuine interest and enthusiasm about our progress at the Center. They reminisced about the rafters they helped hang in our main building and the reliability of the roof due to their influence. I can assure you, it remains strong these many years later just like their support.

It's an exceptional opportunity for each of us employed at the Ozark Natural Science Center to carry the weight of the vision that these special people had for our organization so many years ago. To think of the small but passionate group that gathered in coffee shops, conference rooms, around campfires and on hikes through the Ozarks plotting what would become ONSC is an amazing inspiration.

Our teacher naturalists guide students through the Bear Hollow Natural Area, ask probing questions in the pavilion and fill our visitors' heads with more questions than answers during their visit. In doing so, they embody the vision that Ken and RuAnn Ewing, the Eversoles, the Reels and so many others had those years ago. Our staff brings their dream to fruition as they live our mission daily.

Thinking of those dreams - that vision, that passion, that commitment to inspiring children and tirelessly teaching others - focuses us every day. Our team is a special breed, and they live and breathe our mission statement. It's exciting that our longtime supporters stay engaged with us. Each of them without fail shares that their hope is for subsequent generations to catch that fever for ONSC. They tell us that they are thrilled to see new faces mingled with the old each year at Call of the Wild. We will most certainly stay true to our mission and the work we set out to do, and we remain appreciative of and committed to those who brought us this far as we look forward with enthusiasm to identify those who will continue to advance our mission in the years to come.

The next twenty years are going to be even more exciting than our first two decades. Join us!

Slowing Down with a Cranberry Garland

2011-01-04T12:49:00.004-06:00

The Ozark Natural Science Center is first and foremost about education - it is the heart of our mission to enhance the understanding, appreciation and stewardship of the Ozark natural environment.

Over the recent holiday season, we had a unique opportunity to exhibit this commitment to education in a very public setting, and we wanted to share a little bit more about what we did and why we did it to ensure that it wasn't lost in the bustle of the holiday season.

In looking for an opportunity for a few of our staff members to spend some social time together during the season while also doing some good, we reached out to the Pinnacle Hills Promenade. These folks enthusiastically agreed to allow us to decorate a natural Christmas tree in a prominent location at the mall on Friday, December 17. Our friends at Bradford Nursery loaned us a lovely tree for the duration of the project. At first glance, this probably doesn't seem like a very big deal - and perhaps it isn't. Here's why this opportunity mattered to us:

We were out in a visible location full of families and children on the busiest shopping weekend of the holiday season. While many people did not stop and talk with us, those who did were predominantly former students who visited ONSC as fifth graders, and they had fond memories of their experience with us.

We were able to quietly do what we do and lead by example - decorating a tree for the birds with all natural (yet beautiful) items such as grapevine wreaths, cranberry and popcorn garlands and orange slices. Are intriguing and beautiful birds prolific at the mall? Of course not, with the exception of some pigeons and starlings. But we did what we do best - planting an idea, inspiring the possibility at one's own home and sharing the seed of knowledge.

Perhaps we're attributing too much meaning to a small and motley group of our team members decorating a small and rather unimpressive (although beautiful) white pine tree in the middle of the mall. However, we like to believe that it accomplished something greater than just a fun time on a cold evening: we like to believe that it made a quiet difference, that it inspired a few and that it changed the thinking of a handful who passed by, saw our work and looked at their own holiday traditions.

Most certainly, a small handful of harried holiday shoppers carrying plastic bags full of purchases and hurrying home to their trees of baubles and lights had a brief pause. We hope that just like us, they realized that they can make simple changes, that they can do better every day and that slowing down and appreciating the outdoors, nature, our relationships with one another, our environment and our special part of the world is a pleasant antidote to frazzled bits of the season.

Just as in everything else we do, we believe these little things matter. The small examples our staff set every day make a world of difference, and they inspire children to consider their choices, appreciate the world and be good stewards of it. That's why the work matters, and that's why a small group tying sticky orange wedges on tree branches and struggling to string popcorn mattered. It's about the examples we set every day for one another and, most importantly, generations to come.

Happy 2011!

P.S. We love to take care of our friends! If you have not visited Bradford Nursery on Highway 12 just outside downtown Rogers, please stop in and say hello. Russell and the rest of the gang are some of the friendliest, most knowledgeable and down to earth people you'll find, and they are genuinely good people as well as gardening experts. They take extra time to answer questions and offer guidance, they support the community to the best of their ability and they have a fantastic shop full of unique gift items, bird feeders, planters and special gardening goodies. Tell them we sent you, and that you love ONSC too!

ONSC Member Weekend 2010

2010-11-18T10:22:00.003-06:00

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 Heinek en (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

2010-11-03T09:52:00.001-05:00

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

Guest Blogger: Candice Haines

2010-10-09T08:00:00.002-05:00

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!

You: Search the Web. ONSC: Earns Money. Perfect!

2010-10-01T08:00:00.001-05:00

Not to beat a dead horse... but have you checked out GoodSearch to benefit ONSC? If you like the Ozark Natural Science Center at all (and we're guessing you do if you're reading this), it's one of the simplest things you can do to support us without spending a dime (or more than two minutes).

GoodSearch is a search engine powered by Yahoo! It's compatible with both Internet Explorer and Mozilla Firefox, although not Google Chrome (tragically). You simply visit www.ONSC.us and click on the GoodSearch icon on the left of our homepage, and you'll be set in no time. You'll see a GoodSearch toolbar at the top of your webpage, and if you'll type your searches there, ONSC will receive about a penny every time you search the web. That's it!

So, say that you hop online 250 days out of the year and search for two items a day. Do the math - you'll be making a small donation to us annually without writing a check, maybe $5 - $10. Now... what if all of our 1,411 Facebook fans, 85 followers on Twitter and 49 LinkedIn group members did this, with a little room for overlap? Wow - that would be more than $7,000 in revenue for the Ozark Natural Science Center annually on a conservative basis.

Let me tell you - it would be time and money well spent. As you're probably aware, we'll impact the lives of more than 4,000 kids this year - many of whom will be experiencing the greatness that is the Ozarks outdoors for the very first time. We lose money on every single child who visits us - in the ballpark of $100,000+ every year - which we make up through our fundraisers, corporate partnerships and other efforts.

Here's the neat thing about the two minutes you spend downloading GoodSearch to benefit ONSC: it comes with a nifty tool called GoodShop. We'll be the first to say we were skeptical at first, but this is a very cool addition. Right next to the GoodSearch toolbar, you'll see logos for some popular online shopping sites, including Amazon and eBay. Basically, every time you shop online, a little yellow note (tiny, promise) will pop up and tell you that ONSC can receive 1% - 5% in cash back directly from the retailer for your purchase. Awesome! And, it will notify you of special GoodShop discounts and coupons such as free shipping. We pinky swear - it's not annoying, and there are some pretty cool deals. More than 1,400 retailers participate, and it is the cool places - like Amazon, The North Face, REI and others.

One more thing about that inconspicuous GoodSearch toolbar you're getting - it will be customized for ONSC - you can click our logo anytime to see how much money we've raised year to date!

Here's the best part: GoodSearch is running a giveaway throughout the month of October which allows participating nonprofits to earn even more. Here are the details: http://www.goodsearch.com/goodsearchgiveaway/. Would you tell a friend or two by forwarding this post with all the details?

We certainly hope if you love ONSC that you consider supporting us a number of ways - perhaps becoming a member ($25 or so a year), being active with the ONSC Corps or planning to attend events such as our Member Weekend (Nov. 13 - 14) and Call of the Wild (Apr. 16, 2011) or just connecting with us to show your love via social media. But seriously - if you do nothing else, please grab the GoodSearch toolbar and let it be working on our behalf when you're tending to your life. If you really love us, send the link to a friend or two as well!

It's a pretty cool deal - you keep on sipping your coffee and searching the web daily, and just about every click will help us in our work to enhance the understanding, appreciation and stewardship of the Ozark natural environment. How cool is that?

Why Your Membership Matters - You're a Special Breed!

2010-09-28T08:00:00.000-05:00

Have you renewed your annual membership with the Ozark Natural Science Center?

Even our closest friends and most ardent supporters occasionally forget. As previously mentioned, memberships help us deliver life-altering experiences in the Ozarks to around 4,000 kids annually, not to mention adults who are deeply affected by our work! It's about field science, environmental education and lifetime learning, but themes of conservation, stewardship, sustainability and an abiding love for the outdoors in general and the Ozarks in particular are also woven into everything that we do.

It's pretty simple - please visit our website and click "Join ONSC." You'll get a nifty pop-up form to process your membership - you can mail a check, or we'll be glad to invoice you. Membership rates are:

Student/Senior - $15
Individual - $25
Gapper - $40 (covers the revenue gap for thousands of school children visiting ONSC annually)
ONSC Corps - $50 (includes a t-shirt and membership with the ONSC Corps, a group of supporters holding quarterly meetings and volunteering their time)
Family - $75
Benefactor - $350
Lifetime - $1,000

You might also consider a gift membership, or a membership or donation in honor or in memory of someone who loved ONSC, the Ozarks and Arkansas outdoors. Thanks for letting us plug our memberships for a moment - they allow us to continue our work to enhance the understanding, appreciation and stewardship of the Ozark natural environment.

We're infinitely appreciative of our members, and they represent a special breed of people who understand and care about things that really matter. Thank you for your support!

Hitting the Trails

2010-09-20T08:00:00.002-05:00

As mentioned in our Sep. 12 blog post, we were fortunate at the Ozark Natural Science Center to have some outstanding articles written about our organization earlier this year by Robert Korpella with www.freshare.net.

As we dive into a new school year where we are likely to be on par with last year's record-breaking numbers of 4,000+ children positively affected by an ONSC experience, it seemed timely to repost both articles.

We're immensely grateful to Robert for the coverage, and strongly recommend that rather than simply read the article here on the ONSC blog, you also visit www.freshare.net and consider subscribing via email. It is one of the most exceptionally well-executed websites we've seen, in addition to being a standout for those interested in the outdoors and exploring the Ozarks - and that's just about all of us, isn't it?

Enjoy...

Hitting the Trails: Ozark Natural Science Center

By Robert J. Korpella
First posted on 04-09-2010

This is the second of three articles about the Center. If you'd like to read the first article, it can be found here: Immersing Children in Nature: Ozark Natural Science Center.

More photos of Ozark Natural Science Center are in the gallery.

I was privileged to experience part of an educational hike at Ozark Natural Science Center during my visit there a couple of weeks ago. I joined a group of 5th grade students who had come in from West Fork, Arkansas for a two day program. We headed out in overcast skies and, just before we left the main building, the rain began.

Undaunted, rain gear was passed out quickly and off we went. Jason Kindall, assistant director of the Center, had told me that hikes took place in all weather conditions, and he meant it. Hikes are a central part of the Center’s nature education programs. The experience is not to simply learn in a classroom, but to explore the outdoors.

Our field guide on the hike was Naima Montacer, a graduate of the University of Connecticut with a Bachelor of Science in animal sciences. She has also earned her Master of Science in biology from West Texas A&M University.

Naima’s major emphasis throughout the hike was to encourage these students to observe and record their findings. She fielded frequent questions and posed several of her own. The children (and I) were armed with a nicely detailed field journal with facts, information and plenty of space for taking notes.

One of our first stops was a cross-section of a felled oak tree that had been mounted for teaching purposes. Naima explained the growth rings, how trees transport water and nutrients and discussed the area’s history of logging years ago.

Tree identification was an important topic during the trek and we learned to identify several species by bark, leaves, even the scent of twigs in the case of spice wood and sassafras. Each child had an opportunity to participate, ask questions and discover.

From the moment we assembled back at the main building, through each portion of the hike, the enthusiasm of these kids was readily apparent. Clearly they had looked forward to this opportunity for quite some time and it was more than evident that they were not disappointed.

The hike was not a march through the woods, nor was it by any means a canned lesson in nature. We took the trail slowly with Naima pointing out what she observed and always encouraging the others in the group to use their senses as well. She often found something, like antler moss or the call of a nuthatch, and used it as an opportunity to teach and to discuss, using what the outdoor classroom handed her as teaching devices.

We talked about what to do if lost in the woods, where we might find sources of water, animal habitats and identification, rocks we found.

A keen emphasis was placed on reducing our group footprint on the trail, and ecological considerations were a top priority. So were our jobs as conservationists and stewards of the outdoors, important lessons for children to understand.

Unfortunately for me, I had to head back before I could experience the entire hike. I enjoy being outdoors and I can do pretty well but I have to admit, I learned a great deal with my group. They proved to be a fine assembly of eager minds and we were lucky to have an excellent instructor. Earlier in the day, I met with most of the other field instructors or had the chance to observe them interacting with the children. I was struck by two observations: they were all passionate about what they were doing, and they were all very knowledgeable about what they were teaching.

No wonder these 5th graders were so anxious to have their ONSC experience.

Immersing Children in Nature

2010-09-12T15:50:00.002-05:00

We were fortunate at the Ozark Natural Science Center to have some outstanding articles written about our organization earlier this year by Robert Korpella with www.freshare.net.

As we dive into a new school year where we are likely to be on par with last year's record-breaking numbers of 4,000+ children positively affected by an ONSC experience, it seemed timely to repost both articles.

We're immensely grateful to Robert for the coverage, and strongly recommend that rather than simply read the article here on the ONSC blog, you also visit www.freshare.net and consider subscribing via email. It is one of the most exceptionally well-executed websites we've seen, in addition to being a standout for those interested in the outdoors and exploring the Ozarks - and that's just about all of us, isn't it?

Enjoy...

Immersing Children in Nature: Ozark Natural Science Center

By Robert J. Korpella
First posted on 03-31-2010

This is the first of three articles about the Center.

More photos of Ozark Natural Science Center are in the gallery.

Imagine a classroom without walls, held almost entirely outdoors in some of the most serene and beautiful country in Madison County, Arkansas. An intense, participative learning environment where trail hikes, campfire talks and opportunities to become citizen scientists are the daily norm. Every day brings the chance to observe, ask questions, listen and find wonder.

Now imagine yourself as a 5th grader and actually having a chance to experience just such a learning adventure. For thousands of students each year in northwest Arkansas and parts of Oklahoma, this isn’t a dream.

The Ozark Natural Science Center (ONSC) deep in the Bear Hollow Natural Area near Forum, Arkansas offers exactly this kind of atmosphere for learning. ONSC offers children a chance to truly explore nature during a two or three day immersion into the outdoors. Students spend the bulk of their daylight hours along the eight miles of trails on ONSC property and their evenings in classrooms where they can choose from several topics offered.

And there is time each evening to gather around the campfire, sharing what was learned that day, telling a few stories about experiences and enjoying some camaraderie. According to the Center’s assistant director, Jason Kindall, “Ninety percent of the students who come here have never participated in or even seen a campfire.” In a sense, ONSC is trying to restore some of those traditions that are in danger of becoming lost.

Instructors even use lunch breaks as a learning experience. “Take what you’ll eat and eat what you take” is the motto. Scraps are collected, measured and composted. And it is impressive to see how quickly the field instructors grab the attention of a cafeteria filled with 5th grade students. A hand held high was enough to instantly silence the group of noisy students, and this on their first day in camp.

Kindall described the teaching method as Socratic. “Students learn by observing, discussing, questioning,” he said. “We dwell on positives and talk about conservation, how the students can be a part of that.”
Ozark Natural Science Center is situated on nearly 500 acres in the middle of the 15,000 acre McIlroy Madison County Wildlife Management Area owned by the Arkansas Game and Fish Commission. The Center began operations in 1991 and has been offering school programs since 1994.

One of only a few dozen such residential programs in the nation aimed at introducing school-aged children to the wonders of the outdoors, ONSC is well supervised. All the field instructors are college degreed and most have several years experience at ONSC. One instructor has been teaching at the Center for over eight years.
For safety and security, instructors remain on-site night and day when student groups are present. So do the teachers and adult supervisors from each participating school. Students bunk in one of the Center’s three lodges, each of which is well maintained. The lodges, like all the buildings on the property, blend in well with the natural surroundings.

The entire experience is designed to propel young minds into thinking about how nature works, and their own roles in observing and respecting the world outside. Opportunities to track turtles, study frogs and become more deeply involved in ecological activities are among the programs that can be selected. Students are constantly encouraged to listen and observe as an integral part of the entire process.

While most of the programs are built around a two day, one night stay at ONSC, schools often customize programs. By far, most of the school events are aimed at 5th grade students, but groups of junior high school children also attend annually. Kindall said that some schools have 4th grade students conduct fund raisers to help pay the cost of attendance when they attend ONSC as 5th graders. He said it helps build the level of enthusiasm.

Not that these students need much encouragement. Armed with detailed field manuals to help identify flora and fauna, the group was eager to hit the trails. Hikes are not merely a point and explain type activity. Students participate by stopping to listen and look, identifying birds by their calls, trees by their bark and leaves, and answering questions posed by field instructors.

School programs are offered throughout the year and make up the bulk of ONSCs schedule. Beyond these, classes like naturalist programs, art in nature, field expeditions, caving and canoeing are presented for students from age 8 through 17. A “Dads in the Woods” program is also available in June for family activity. (Note: we will offer the Dads in the Woods experience again in 2011 - stay tuned for details!)

Unique outdoor adventures, a complete program taught by well informed instructors, a tranquil setting and enthusiastic children. Leaves little wonder why school systems in northwest Arkansas have chosen to make the Ozark Natural Science Center experience available for the students year after year.

Explore Ozark Natural Science Center for yourself with their web page at http://onsc.us .

ONSC Summer Update

2010-08-23T16:18:00.000-05:00

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.

New ONSC Office at the Center for Nonprofits

2010-06-15T18:08:00.001-05:00

We recently held our ONSC Board of Directors retreat, and the energy among the group for making good things happen was palpable.

Most exciting is the board's decision for us to have a space at the Center for Nonprofits at St. Mary's (1200 West Walnut in Rogers), http://www.centerfornonprofitsnwa.org/. The former hospital is now a thriving hub for nonprofits thanks to the Jones Trust, reminiscent of the similar success of the Jones Center in Springdale and the legacy of Harvey and Bernice Jones of Jones Truck Lines.

Our new space will be on the second floor, and will make us part of the (albeit an overused term, but appropriate in this case) synergy among nonprofits and agencies working for the greater good in northwest Arkansas.
Particularly for an organization like ours that the general public doesn't see, drive past or necessarily think of on a daily basis, having such accessibility and visibility will be an outstanding asset. Supporters will be able to purchase merchandise, parents and grandparents can enroll kids in summer camps and family programs, and we'll have a top notch place to hold board meetings, ONSC Corps gatherings and event committee planning meetings. Most importantly, we'll have a tangible hub in the business community in a building that attracts donors, volunteers and public interest.

We'll keep you posted on our move-in date (most likely the first week in July), and can't wait to visit with you in our new space, which is all about helping us to a better job in delivering our real work at a special, magical place called Bear Hollow.

The Launch of the Mango Fleet

2010-06-11T15:12:00.002-05:00

Friday was an exciting day for the Ozark Natural Science Center!

We gathered at the Botanical Garden of the Ozarks in Fayetteville (http://www.bgozarks.org/) for a brief press announcement regarding a major gift from Cargill, Inc. (http://bit.ly/ckSclg).

Our friend Stephanie Burroughs and the rest of the local Cargill Cares council joined us along with local print and television media, and the mango fleet rolled in behind ONSC Associate Director Jason Kindall's new truck (picked up in the nick of time!)

Our eight new canoes were manufactured at Buffalo Canoes in Jasper, Arkansas (http://www.buffalocanoes.com/). Wanting our fleet to be easy to distinguish from outfitter canoes (typically red or green), we agreed to a special "mango" color - and they are certainly bright! The Cargill gift also allowed us to purchase a custom trailer and several essential accessories.

Renting canoes for our various programs has been a significant annual expense for our private, nonprofit organization. Owning our own fleet will not only save us money, but allows us to have more water-based program offerings, which are very popular for both our regular programs and summer camps! Better yet, the canoes were made regionally, meaning the purchase has the ability to allow the dollars spent to "turn" several times in the northwest Arkansas economy by keeping the purchase local.

Be sure to register for summer camps and family programs (http://www.onsc.us/) to come see the mango fleet at home at the Ozark Natural Science Center!

Women's Yoga Retreat a Smashing Success!

2010-05-17T20:05:00.002-05:00

Alright, everyone with any form of online access has heard ad nauseum about our first-ever Women's Yoga Retreat last weekend at the Ozark Natural Science Center. However, just in case you were stranded on a distant planet and missed the details, here's a recap:

A total of 17 women participated in one form or another in our inaugural event. We kicked things off on Friday evening and allowed everyone a leisurely arrival by 7 p.m. After checking into two of the ONSC lodges, our attendees convened in Lewis Pavilion to enjoy an immensely popular spread of cheese, crackers, fruit, summer sausage and wine. We provided a tour and orientation of our facilities and then kept the campfire going and the food flowing while our guests chatted and got to know one another.

On Saturday morning, yoga instructor Chris Kessler kicked things off bright and early with an optional early bird yoga session in our outdoor classroom. It was a perfect setting to start the day.

We provided a light, fairly nutritious breakfast and a fresh fruit salad, and then our ONSC Teacher Naturalist Maggie Bailey took the group on a short hike. The group kept a sunny disposition despite the torrential downpour and returned for our next yoga session in the Ewing Centre followed by a baked potato and salad bar lunch.

The afternoon kicked off with rotating sessions based on attendee interests, including guided meditation, active yoga, an aggressive hike for the mountain goats in our group and a decadent massage for every attendee.

We offered plenty of free time as well, and a number of participants spent chunks of their afternoon in rocking chairs on our deck enjoying the sounds of nature and an idyllic view.

We convened again that evening for sweat lodge sessions followed by homemade pizzas baked in our wood-fired stove near the campfire. Options included feta/black olive/spinach/roasted red pepper, mushroom/smoked turkey/red onion/bell pepper and tomato, yellow squash, asparagus and artichoke pizzas made by the Center's fabulous kitchen staff. We filled in the gaps with amazing homemade cookies also baked in the wood-fired stove. After a full day of yoga and activities, the group was ready to hit the lodges early.

On Sunday morning, we wrapped up with one last lengthy yoga session followed by pancakes, scrambled eggs, more fresh fruit and strawberries in powdered sugar. Our weekend photographer prepared a slideshow of photos for the group to enjoy before packing up to head home.

Most of our attendees felt like they were back at "grown-up" summer camp. Our favorite comment: "Every woman in northwest Arkansas should have this experience - it's amazing!" We agree - hope to see you next year! A possible women's and/or coed yoga retreat is planned for the fall, and the Women's Yoga Retreat will be an annual occurence on the weekend after Mother's Day. Join us in 2011!

Call of the Wild: An Amazing Evening!

2010-04-25T19:23:00.000-05:00

All we can say is "wow!"

Last night's Call of the Wild to benefit the Ozark Natural Science Center was a smashing success. It's hard not to love a gathering of our closest friends, most ardent supporters and enthusiastic volunteers, staff, board members, educators and parents.

We were delighted to have a full house including our founder Ken Ewing, Rogers Mayor Steve Womack, each and every one of our ONSC Board members and longtime supporters including the Swearingen family, Larry & Michelle Wright, Paul & Martha Bergant and so many others who constantly challenge us to do more and be better - which we love. Even better, we had a room full of new, fresh-faced ONSC supporters - many of whom attended the Ozark Natural Science Center as students and campers, and others who simply love who we are and what we do.

While we're still tallying the results, the evening produced fantastic outcomes for ONSC. The Dickey Ray Club operated for the first time without Dick Trammel, but stand-in David Thrasher brought in a highly-respectable $11,000+ in less than ten minutes. Good thing he has a day job! Our silent auction offered more than 125 items valued in excess of $26,000, and just about all the unique, hand-crafted and interesting items performed well. Our live auction offered eight unique items, and all were bid on competitively. The winners will enjoy a chuckwagon ride along the Spavinaw Creek, getaways to Cedar Crest Lodge and Big Cedar, float and fly-fishing trips on the Kings River and at Gaston's White River Resort, a ladies' spa night at Esthetiques, a private party with entertainment provided by 3 Penny Acre and catering by Greenhouse Grille and a much-anticipated clear canoe.

The ONSC Awards were slightly revamped this year. We presented our first ONSC Educator of the Year award to special education teacher Ryan Finley from Grace Hill Elementary in Rogers, who deputizes his students as the school's dedicated environmental crusaders. Our first ONSC Advocate of the Year award went to Cargill, Inc. The team at Cargill has maximized both local and national corporate dollars aimed toward waterway preservation and education to present $8,000 to ONSC for the purchase of a fleet of canoes, trailer, life jackets and paddles. Our top Journey award was presented to a very-surprised and deserving Kelli Roberts Brya, who has served on our board of directors for six years and raised thousands of dollars and so many supporters thanks to her passion for our organization.

Dr. Harry Harmon's passing a week ago weighed heavily on the hearts and minds of the vast majority of our attendees. While it is impossible to quantify all that Harry and Jenny have done for and mean to the Center over the years, a moment of silence at the beginning of the evening and the award of the first ONSC Lifetime Achievement Award honoring Harry and Jenny kept them close in our thoughts. Associate Director Jason Kindall accepted the award on Jenny's behalf with well-spoken thoughts that epitomized the feelings of many.

We were honored to have Mark Clippinger, superintendent of Hobbs State Park - Conservation Area and a lifetime member, original brainstormer and phenomenal partner to ONSC as our featured speaker. Vivacious new ONSC Corps chairman Candice Haines of CCF Brands shared comments about the group's formation and recruited attendees for upcoming events such as the NWA Green Expo and Downtown Bentonville's upcoming environmental-themed First Friday.

Lessons learned: fewer stage comments, more streamlined auction checkout, a few A/V tweaks and an eagle eye for some of our popular auction items (a gorgeous hand-carved pepper mill walked out of the room, much to our disappointment).

Little successes: the first concerted recycling effort during a gala or nonprofit event at the Embassy Suites/John Q. Hammons Center (thanks to our friends with the NWA Emerging Leaders Sustainability Workgroup (http://www.nwalead.com/), dedicated staff and the Rogers Recycling Center)! The entertainment from 3 Penny Acre (http://3pennyacre.com/) was truly exceptional - we love those three! Also, fantastic decor thanks to an innovative partnership with Stribling Packaging and Juiced Creative (http://juicedcreative.com/) as well as Holly Mang of Brick Street Botanical (http://www.brickstreetbotanical.com/) made the room a virtual wonderland. Our fabulous staff showcased their enthusiasm from dressing as the Queen of Hearts (in line with our "Owls in Wonderland" theme), giving high fives to every attendee, assembling corrugated log cabins, dealing with minor auction crises and burning the midnight oil with cleanup.

There are so many other things to celebrate, but overwhelmingly, we offer a heartfelt thank you to each and every sponsor, live and silent auction donor, attendee, partner, board member, committee member and our staff for a fantastic event that allows us to continue to enhance the understanding, appreciation and stewardship of the Ozark natural environment. Thank you!

All the reasons you can't miss ONSC's Call of the Wild on April 24!

2010-04-16T07:02:00.001-05:00

Do you have your Call of the Wild tickets yet? You definitely won't want to miss this year's event. There are a number of fantastic events taking place in the northwest Arkansas business community on Saturday, April 24, but we know you'll want to attend Call of the Wild (tickets/details here: bit.ly/9KcBD1).

Here's a run down of the festivities:

This year’s “Owls in Wonderland” theme includes a number of special touches to help Call of the Wild attendees get a sense of the magic that more than 4,000 children will experience this year alone during excursions to the Ozark Natural Science Center.

Thanks to our friends at Stribling Packaging/Juiced Creative, the evening will feature some very unique décor. And as always at our signature event, you’ll find many exceptional live and silent auction items ranging from getaway weekends to unique handmade jewelry. We’ll share some exciting news regarding a new partnership with Cargill, Inc. and the launch of a new program in collaboration with Shell Lubricants.

Attire for Call of the Wild ranges from casual jeans to cocktail dresses, so rest assured that you’ll feel comfortable no matter what you choose – it’s just that sort of crowd. Come ready to enjoy live music from 3 Penny Acre and refreshments provided by Boulevard Brewing Company.

The festivities begin at 6:00 p.m. on Saturday, April 24 at the John Q. Hammons Center (I-540 Exit 83) in Rogers. Guests will enjoy a casual dinner, journey awards and cash bar in addition to the live and silent auctions and entertainment.

Our premiere event sponsors include Celebrate Magazine, Cargill Inc., Shell Lubricants, Donald & Jo Ann Soderquist, Tyson Foods, Dr Pepper/Snapple Group, 3W Magazine, NWA Media, Mitchell Williams Law Firm, FM Corporation, Thrasher & Company and the Swearingen Family.

Here's a sneak peak at our Live Auction Items:

• Ladies Spa Night at Esthetiques for 10 with hors d'ouevres and wine served as you and your guests enjoy an array of spa treatments including focused massage, facial, foot and scalp treatments.

• In Home/Office Party with catering provided by Greenhouse Grille and live entertainment by 3 Penny Acre.

• Dr Pepper/Snapple Big Cedar Lodge Getaway

• Everclear Outdoors: Crystal Clear Canoe - be the first in the world to own the 16' crystal clear canoe (serial #0001), made right here in Northwest Arkansas. This virtually indestructible three person boat turns any body of water into your own personal aquarium.

• Cedar Crest Lodge Weekend including canoe rentals.

• Horse-drawn Chuckwagon Ride along Spavinaw Creek including a cookout with authentic food & cocktails for thirsty cowboys and girls!

We look forward to seeing you at Call of the Wild! Online tickets/details: bit.ly/9KcBD1

Register now for Women's Yoga Weekend!

2010-04-14T10:03:00.001-05:00

Well! We are infinitely excited at the Ozark Natural Science Center to announce our upcoming Women's Yoga Weekend on May 14 - 16, 2010 (the weekend following Mother's Day). You'll definitely want to join us or give this package as the perfect Mother's Day gift! Here are the details:

Take your spring cleaning to the next level with a relaxing women's getaway at the Ozark Natural Science Center! Join us in the idyllic Bear Hollow Natural Area for a stress-free weekend featuring yoga, meditation, massages, sweat lodges, hiking and nightly campfires. Your all-inclusive weekend includes homemade fare such as wood-fired pizzas and cookies, regional wines and a custom batch of Bear Hollow Chocolate Stout brewed just for attendees. Bunk beds in three lodges will take you back to days of giggling with girlfriends at slumber parties and summer camps. Invite a friend for a relaxing weekend of rejuvenation, or give this package as a perfect Mother's Day gift!

Registration is $219 per person including two nights of lodging, all meals and beverages, yoga and meditation instruction appropriate for all levels of expertise (beginner – advanced), optional hikes with our expert female field staff, a 30 minute table massage and a special gift and yoga DVD. Our picturesque setting in scenic, rural Madison County will bring you a sense of peace before summer kicks into high gear. Space is limited, register soon!

Friday, May 14

6 – 7 p.m. Arrive by 7pm to check in prior to evening program (group campfire featuring cheese, crackers, summer sausage, wine & s’mores)

Saturday, May 15
7 :00 a.m. Optional Early Bird Outdoor Yoga Session 1
8:00 a.m. Breakfast at the Ewing Centre
9:00 a.m. Morning hike
10:30 a.m. Ewing Centre Yoga Session 2
11:30 a.m. Lunch & free time
1:00 p.m. Meditation briefing prior to afternoon sessions at 1:30, 2:30 & 3:30 pm
Attendees select 3 of 4 options: guided hike, massage, yoga or meditation
4:30 p.m. Free time/relax or shower
6 p.m. - ?? Campfire, sweat lodge sessions, wood-fired pizzas, cookies & chocolate stout

Sunday, May 16
8:30 a.m. Morning Yoga Session 4
10:00 a.m. Breakfast, then pack up & head home!

To register, call the Ozark Natural Science Center at 479-789-2754 or watch for registration materials at http://www.onsc.us/. You may also contact executive director Beth Stephens directly for questions or to reserve your spot: 479-633-7619 or beth@onsc.us. See you there!

Help ONSC earn up to $5,000!

2010-04-05T15:19:00.003-05:00

Please take 30 seconds to help the Ozark Natural Science Center earn up to $5,000!

GoodSearch has provided ONSC a custom toolbar, which earns us about a penny every time you use it to search the web in addition to a rebate of 1% - 5% on purchases from numerous websites. Between April 6 - 9, ONSC can earn an additional $1 every time the toolbar is downloaded - it takes less than 30 seconds to download, is powered by Yahoo! and works with Internet Explorer and Firefox.

Simply visit http://www.onsc.us/ between April 6 - 9 and download the GoodSearch toolbar.

If you'd like more details, however, here you go:

For three days, GoodSearch will donate a $1 for every toolbar that is downloaded between April 6th at 9am EST and April 9th at 9am EST up to $5,000! Just use GoodSearch as your search toolbar (it's powered by Yahoo), and ONSC will benefit. We could earn $1 for the download, and even after this promotion we'll earn about a penny every single time you search the web - it really adds up. If 1,000 people use the GoodSearch toolbar over a year, we could earn more than $7,000! Plus, you'll have access to coupons via GoodShop when you shop online at sites such as Amazon, eBay, REI, American Airlines and more than 1,300 other sites, and ONSC can earn 1% to 5% of your purchase in cash rebates.

Please download the custom ONSC toolbar right now - all you have to do is visit www.ONSC.us and click on the GoodSearch icon on the homepage. It's free, painless and takes less than 30 seconds - it's usable with Internet Explorer or Firefox.

The ONSC toolbar from GoodSearch allows you to raise money for ONSC every time you search or shop online! And, please pass this along to all of your friends. The two minutes you spend downloading the toolbar for your browser and spreading the word can have an enormous impact for the Ozark Natural Science Center!! Thank you!!

Win an ONSC organic cotton hoodie!

2010-03-31T08:15:00.003-05:00

We have been exceedingly pleased that awareness of the Ozark Natural Science Center is growing in the Benton and Washington county business community and beyond. Much of this is thanks to our continued efforts to be more visible at community events, through social media and through our outreach efforts. On that subject, be sure to connect with us if you have not already! A few ways: http://bit.ly/cWSHF5.

We're exceptionally excited to announce one more stride in keeping our supporters informed and engaged: the launch of the ONSC e-newsletter. Our first issue goes out to more than 1,500 fans this Thursday, April 1. Look for future issues on the first of every month, chock full of updates and links for you to connect with ONSC or tell others about our work.

Sign up by April 15 to follow our blog (http://www.ozarknaturalsciencecenter.blogspot.com/) or to receive our e-newsletter (http://bit.ly/b9ju4x) - or both - and win one of our ONSC organic cotton hoodies! We have plenty of sizes, and they are a popular item valued at $25 each. We will randomly select one new blog follower and one new e-newsletter subscriber and award a hoodie to each.

While you're at it, connect with us on Facebook, Twitter or LinkedIn (details: http://bit.ly/cWSHF5). The more folks who know about this fantastic place, the more great work we can do to enhance the understanding, appreciation and stewardship of the Ozark natural environment!

The Magic of Bear Hollow

2010-03-29T13:35:00.001-05:00

Once you've set foot in the Bear Hollow Natural Area where the Ozark Natural Science Center delivers life-altering experiences each and every day, you understand clearly that this is a special place.

Obviously, however, one of the things that makes this place magical is our remote location, so many people never have the opportunity to set foot out here and experience that magic. We've launched a new program called ONSC Corps (see previous blog post: http://bit.ly/ceRTIq) for people who care passionately about ONSC but can't necessarily drop by to support us with their volunteer efforts. Otherwise, however, our reputation rests solely on good word of mouth and raving reviews from the kids who visit ONSC and come home raving to their families.

Hopefully, of course, our newly-relaunched website (www.onsc.us) as well as our social media presence (http://bit.ly/cWSHF5) and plenty of increased public awareness (http://bit.ly/asGAlu) all help people who care about sustainability, environmental education and outreach, conservation, the Ozarks and so many other special places on earth stay connected with our mission. This blog is intended to be one more tool in that toolkit - a way for people who have experienced ONSC as campers or students, parents, chaperones, teachers, donors, stakeholders or ardent supporters - to keep up with what we're doing even when you can't be here with us.

So, please take a moment to follow this blog and read a few past posts, and while you're at it, subscribe to our e-newsletter: http://bit.ly/b9ju4x. Then, sit back and humor us as we tell you a few stories about why this place is special. Even better, share your own!

Take What You Need

One of the stories that stands out as most significant when we're visiting with others about ONSC's work is our mantra of "Take what you need and eat what you take." If there is one thing that sinks in with kids when they visit ONSC, it's this striking lesson about reducing waste.

Our Teacher Naturalists talk with the kids about taking portions they can eat, finishing them and then returning for seconds, and they encourage them to eliminate or at least limit their waste scraped into the compost bucket. It becomes a virtual competition as the kids work to scrape their plates clean.

One morning, we had a high-energy group of kids here who had just completed their first night stay, meaning they had already eaten a couple of meals on site and learned the drill. At breakfast that morning, there was an enormous heap of really good-looking bananas out on the buffet line, and the kids eyed them but passed them up. Finally, one of our instructors observed this and the pieces visibly fell into place as she realized what was happening.

When she announced that banana peels wouldn't count against them in the compost bucket/food waste tally, there was a mad rush for the bananas. It was a fantastic illustration of how malleable students are in an environment like ONSC - they truly take away life lessons related not just to conservation and the environment, but also to ethics, finding their place in the world, the right way to treat one another and making a positive mark. That's what we're all about.

Earth Hour - Saturday, March 27

2010-03-26T09:43:00.001-05:00

On Saturday, March 27 at 8:30 p.m. CST we will turn off every light and device we can find. Will you join us?

Whatever your stance on climate change, it's a great symbolic effort toward solidarity and the idea that each of us can make a positive impact and protect our future and that of future generations. Learn more about Earth Hour at http://www.earthhour.org/.

It's an event that's particularly significant because each and every day, we share a similar message at the Ozark Natural Science Center. A record-breaing 4,000+ school children will visit ONSC during the 2009 - 2010 school year, and they all leave with simple messages about ways that they can lessen their carbon footprint, live more sustainably and positively affect others.

When the kids come in for meals in the Ewing Centre cafeteria, they all recite "Take what you need and eat what you take" before filling their plates. Like Earth Hour, it's a simple message of solidarity, and the doing (or in this case, saying) of it reiterates the message and sends it home.

By taking just an hour to turn out the lights, the devices, the screens and the appliances, we're being conscious of the things we use and the impact we have each and every day. As parents, teachers, educators, friends and colleagues, it's a message worth sharing no matter where you stand in the political spectrum. Play some board games by candlelight, or (gasp!) sit around and visit as a family. There are some great resources for kids via Earth Hour as well: http://www.earthhourkids.org/. Go ahead and go now, since you'll have the lights and computer off during Earth Hour. :)

Announcing ONSC Corps

2010-03-24T09:00:00.001-05:00

The Ozark Natural Science Center is fortunate to have an extremely strong group of long-standing supporters and donors. However, it is challenging for many individuals who are passionate about ONSC to provide volunteer service due to the distance to our remote facilities - we get it! Additionally, many ONSC supporters and donors who feel particularly strongly about our work and our mission may not feel comfortable providing volunteer support through activities such as trail-clearing or work at the facility.

The launch this April of ONSC Corps is intended to provide an outlet for service, opportunities to align specific skills with specific needs and a deeper connection between members and the Center. The Corps will be volunteer-driven and will hold quarterly meetings in the Northwest Arkansas business community to recruit members, identify service areas and assign duties. Quarterly meetings will also provide networking with a purpose for members who support the mission of the Ozark Natural Science Center.

Examples of service areas or subcommittees might include:

- A public speakers’ bureau
- Volunteer support for area fairs, festivals and farmers’ markets
- On-site labor at ONSC for deferred maintenance and other needs
- Weekend hosts for facility rentals
- Back-up support for program and camp chaperones

In fact, our first few opportunities for service are coming up: April 17 (9a to 2p) is the Downtown Rogers Environmental Day, and ONSC Corps will have a booth - we'd love volunteers to join us: http://www.mainstreetrogers.com/. Similarly, we'll participate in the Downtown Bentonville First Friday event on May 7 (5p - 8p): http://www.downtownbentonville.org/Events/. We'll also be at the NWA Green Expo on April 30 - May 1 at the John Q. Hammons Center: http://bit.ly/cOnCSb.

ONSC Corps is envisioned as a volunteer army of individuals who support the Ozark Natural Science Center with their deeds as well as their dues. Annual membership is $50, reflecting the “above and beyond” commitment of Corps members to the ONSC mission. Members will receive newsletters, e-updates and an item (t-shirt, hat or license plate) of their choice as well as the ONSC Annual Report and an invitation to the ONSC Member Weekend on June 5 - 6. ONSC Corps members will have their names listed on the website and may connect and plan activities with other members via a dedicated online portal.

For more information, contact ONSC Corps Chair Candice Haines of CCF Brands (chaines@ccfbrands.com) or staff liaison Naima Montacer (naima@onsc.us). You may also join ONSC Corps by visiting http://www.onsc.us/.

Our first meeting will be on Thursday, April 15 from 11:30 a.m. to 1:00 p.m. at Carino's Restaurant in Rogers (535 North 46th Street in Scottsdale Center/Restaurant Row - I-540 Exit 85). Please RSVP to Candice or Naima and join us to learn more about ONSC Corps!

ONSC, NWA Emerging Leaders & NWA Green Drinks

2010-03-22T08:46:00.001-05:00

The Ozark Natural Science Center has a few new strategic partnerships that we're pretty excited about, and they are paying off for us in a number of ways.

NWA Green Drinks is a casual, monthly gathering of individuals from throughout Northwest Arkansas employed in environmental fields, or who are simply sustainability, conservation and outdoor enthusiasts. You can count on being in a laid-back environment with like-minded folks. Bring a friend and come grab some eats and drinks. We love watching partnerships form and ideas transpire. Join us!

The group convenes in Fayetteville at Greenhouse Grille (http://www.greenhousegrille.com/) from 5:30 - 7pm on the second Thursday of each month (April 8, May 13, June 10, July 8, August 12, September 9 & October 14 if you'd like to mark your calendar). We meet in Rogers/Bentonville on the fourth Tuesday of each month from 5 - 7pm (why, that's tomorrow night!) at Ruth's Chris Steak House in Rogers. Upcoming dates include April 27, May 25, June 22, July 27, August 24, September 28 & October 26).

You can also find NWA Green Drinks on Twitter (@NWAGreenDrinks), Facebook (http://bit.ly/cbozOg) and LinkedIn (http://bit.ly/cHXgZd), or check out http://nwagreendrinks.ning.com/. There's more information on the history of the Green Drinks movement and its start in the UK in 1989 at http://www.greendrinks.org/.

NWA Emerging Leaders
The nifty thing about this group of emerging rockstars from throughout Northwest Arkansas (http://www.nwalead.com/) is that they are action and outcome oriented. You can check out the site for details on the group, but it's basically 200+ young emerging leaders and professionals ready to take the NWA community into the future. The work is accomplished through a number of active workgroups.

One of these is the Sustainability Workgroup. In 2009, this group diverted more than 80% of recyclables from dumpsters heading to area landfills during the P&G Beauty LPGA Golf Championship, which attracted thousands of individuals to the region. It certainly made an impact to see bank presidents and young professionals dumpster diving to keep recyclable items from the trash. The group has tackled a number of other significant projects in the past year, most recently agreeing to work with a group implementing classroom recycling in Springdale Public Schools.

Their commitment to ONSC includes assisting us with recycling efforts at Call of the Wild on April 24, and establishing a Terracycle brigade to upcycle specific items for the benefit of ONSC. Terracycle (http://www.terracycle.net/) is shaking up the business world on a national scale by taking items that were previously less than simple to recycle and instead upcycling them into new products. In Northwest Arkansas, the brigade established by the NWA Emerging Leaders Sustainability Workgroup is collecting Frito Lay chip bags (any size), Scotch tape cores (the plastic parts left after the tape is gone) and any part of gum wrappers from Cadbury Adams brand gum (Trident, Dentyne, Bubblicious and Stride). ONSC receives 2 cents per item, and we promise it really adds up. For details and drop locations, contact Paul Wilson at Intrust Bank (paul.wilson@intrustbank.com) or DM him on Twitter (PaulWilson00).

While these two groups may seem like random plugs for things we're simply passionate about, look deeper - these are our community's future leaders, movers and shakers - we'll take the fact that they care about the mission of the Ozark Natural Science Center as a very, very positive sign. :)

Public Awareness of ONSC Growing

2010-03-20T12:00:00.000-05:00

It's been an exciting spring at the Ozark Natural Science Center, with plenty more in store!

Media Coverage

ONSC will be featured in Celebrate Magazine's Sustainability issue in April 2010, with an editorial spread on the Center as well as advertising to promote Call of the Wild on April 24. The magazine perfectly targets an ideal demographic for ONSC: professionals living and working in Northwest Arkansas with a heart for local causes and high engagement in the community. We're also thrilled to have a new year-long partnership with Celebrate which will help us as we promote summer camps, family and weekend programming. More on Celebrate at: http://www.celebratearkansas.com/.
Be sure to mark your calendar to tune in to KNWA on Monday, April 12 at 10:00 p.m. ONSC will be featured in the "Doing Good" segment, with a follow-up appearance on the next day's morning show along with a repeat of the segment. We'll post a link to the spot after it airs, as well. For more on KNWA, visit http://nwahomepage.com/.
It's easy to assume a website is just another website, but we are thoroughly impressed with http://www.freshare.net/. Run by Bob Korpella, it's a truly impressive journalistic effort with top-notch writing and photographs. ONSC will be featured on Freshare in the coming weeks - please visit the site, and perhaps connect with Freshare on Twitter and Facebook if you're so inclined. Freshare is a fantastic site for outdoor enthusiasts and those who enjoy exploring the Ozarks.

Connecting to ONSC
Thanks to our increased presence on social media and other tools, it's become increasingly easy to connect with and keep up on goings-on at ONSC:

Our website, http://www.onsc.us/, was mentioned in a previous blog post on March 16 (http://bit.ly/cWSHF5). Take a minute to Join ONSC, check out the upgrades and watch for more coming soon.
We're moving to just two print newsletters annually - one in the spring (watch for it in your mailbox now) and one in the fall. In the interim, we'll publish a monthly e-newsletter - be sure to opt in! (http://bit.ly/b9ju4x)
No matter how you landed on this post, subscribe to our blog for future updates! http://ozarknaturalsciencecenter.blogspot.com/
Connect to ONSC and join our 1,000+ other fans on Facebook - perhaps you'll recognize former school classmates, students and friends! http://bit.ly/aMlYhX
Follow us on Twitter if that's your bag: http://twitter.com/ozarknatsci

Thanks for caring about the Ozark Natural Science Center. We're all ears for other ways to plug in to the community and connect with our friends!

Owls in Wonderland

2010-03-18T07:33:00.000-05:00

Now in its 16th year, ONSC’s annual Call of the Wild will take place on April 24, 2010 at the John Q Hammons Convention Center in Rogers, AR. The 2010 theme, Owls in Wonderland, will feature surprises during the evening’s festivities that include dinner, a live and silent auction and entertainment from 3 Penny Acre! Tickets ($100) as well as table sponsorships are available and range from $1,000 - $25,000.

The “Owls and Wonderland” event theme was inspired by the children’s literary classic Alice in Wonderland and embodies the experience of the school children that visit ONSC. There is nothing more magical for our students than hearing owls call or coyotes howl in the dark of night on a first hike under the stars, squeezing though the cracks of a huge 15 foot boulder on the hiking trail or examining an Ozark mud puppy on the floor of a cave. We’ve all experienced magical moments in nature on our own journeys through childhood. Children require these outdoor experiences to find their way and compete in the world.

ONSC was green before green was cool, and the focus of the business community on sustainability and responsible business practices makes our work more relevant than ever. ONSC offers school programs, summer camps and family programming in addition to serving as an ideal facility for corporate retreats, family reunions and special group getaways.

Since 1992, the Ozark Natural Science Center has enriched the lives of over 40,000 young people who have attended school-based residential field science programs and summer science camps. Call of the Wild helps fund the tradition of connecting students to their Ozarks environment and making education come to life. The event celebrates the organization’s ongoing successes while enabling ONSC to fulfill its ongoing educational mission and deliver life-altering outdoor experiences for more than 4,000 students scheduled to visit ONSC this year.

For more information on Call of the Wild, contact Rachel Harris at 479-619-5450 or rachel@onsc.us. To secure tickets or sponsorships, call the Ozark Natural Science Center at 479-789-2754.

ONSC tackles the 21st century

2010-03-16T16:37:00.000-05:00

As the Ozark Natural Science Center continues to make strides in increasing awareness of our amazing organization through marketing, outreach and promotion, our first entry on the ONSC blog seems like an appropriate place to celebrate a number of recent website upgrades!

Visit http://www.onsc.us/ to check out the updates. Here's a sampling of things you can now accomplish there, as well as direct links to the pages themselves:

- Join ONSC or ONSC Corps (http://www.onsc.us/#)

- Subscribe to the new ONSC e-newsletter launching in April (http://bit.ly/b9ju4x)

- Register for our amazing summer camps this June - July (http://www.onsc.us/summer/)

- Sign up for family programs such as Dads in the Woods (http://www.onsc.us/adultfamilyprograms/)

- Learn more about Call of the Wild on April 24 to benefit ONSC (http://www.onsc.us/events/)

- Connect with ONSC via Facebook, Twitter and LinkedIn

- Grab the GoodSearch/GoodShop toolbar to benefit ONSC with your searches & purchases (http://bit.ly/5q0hFb)

Of course, that's just the beginning! You'll soon be able to purchase ONSC merchandise, register for plenty more upcoming family programs, check out the ONSC wish list of facility and other resources and plug in with the ONSC Corps, an elite volunteer organization supporting the Ozark Natural Science Center.

For now, sign up for our e-newsletters and stay tuned for more details. See you at Call of the Wild on April 24!