25 02, 2024

Spring 2024 Meeting in Springfield MO, May 18th-19th

By |2024-03-05T11:14:16-06:00February 25th, 2024|Categories: News & Updates|

A Meeting to Remember: the Ozark Society Spring Member Gathering May 18-19, 2024, Featuring Author Doug Tallamy Our annual spring meeting will be like one you’ve ever attended before May 18-19. There’s the host: the 100-member Schoolcraft Chapter centered around Springfield, MO. The chapter is named after Henry Schoolcraft who traveled the winter of 1818/1819 with Levi Pettibone from Potosi to Springfield through the Ozark Mountains and down the White River into Arkansas. There’s the keynote speaker: nationally known sustainability and conservation author Doug Tallamy, who will present “A Conversation with Doug Tallamy” Saturday. His best-selling conservation and ecology-related books, including Nature’s Best Hope, Bringing Nature Home and the Nature of Oaks. Books will be available for sale. There’s the meeting location: the Darr Agriculture Center, a feature of Missouri State University. There’s the extras for the meeting: a catered lunch, a native plant sale, and, in addition, Springfield Environmental Services will present its yard ethic program. And post-meeting, there’s more: two campsites highlighting spectacular member properties, landscapes and conservation best practices; a potluck in a barn with musical entertainment and maybe even some dancing; a possible reappearance of Henry Schoolcraft himself; and the option of a tour Sunday afternoon of [...]

19 01, 2022

Arkansas State Library lists “Trees” book as a best book of the year

By |2022-01-19T15:08:28-06:00January 19th, 2022|Categories: News & Updates|

The Arkansas State Library has distributed its 2021 GEMS poster of its selection of the best book of the year. The OSF trees book is included. This poster is distributed to more than 1,000 schools and libraries in Arkansas, and the poster and the books represent the state at the National Book Fair at the Smithsonian Institute.

17 09, 2021

Buffalo National River 50th Anniversary River Trip

By |2022-03-18T16:57:09-05:00September 17th, 2021|Categories: News & Updates|

In celebration of the 50th anniversary of the Buffalo National River and 60th anniversary of the Ozark Society, the Ozark Society plans to conduct a float trip from Highway 65 to the White River, from June 13 – June 18, 2022.  There will be several groups of about 15 persons per group.  Each group will have a common kitchen and food.  Participants will need to provide their personal gear and boat.  The boat must be capable of carrying some group gear.  The cost for this trip is $150 per person, not including vehicle shuttle cost, boat, or personal gear.  Shuttles will cost $100 per vehicle and boat fee is $6. As an alternative, Alan Nye will lead a group wherein each participant will provide his/her own food.  The cost for this trip is $60 per person, not including vehicle shuttle cost, boat, or personal gear. Trip participants can shuttle their own vehicles or call Wild Bill Outfitters at 870-449-6235, to arrange a car shuttle from Highway 65 (Grinder’s Ferry) to Riley’s Station on the White River.  The cost of the shuttle is $180 per vehicle, and remember to identify yourself as a participant in the Ozark Society float when you book [...]

30 06, 2021

Remembering Bob McKinney

By |2021-06-30T15:27:39-05:00June 30th, 2021|Categories: News & Updates|

It is with deep sadness we want to let the Ozark Society members know that Bob McKinney passed away this afternoon after months of complicated health issues.  He was one of those human beings that was full of mischief, a trickster, a gourmet cook, and above all, a planner of great trips, especially France and Italy. Bob was a leader in the OS for many years, back in the 70s and 80s.  He was President of the Pulaski Chapter, 2nd Vice President of the Ozark Society, lead many adventurous outings - a Grand Canyon float trip back in 1973 (53 people on 3 huge rafts) for a week;  Bob organized and lead two canoe trips for the OS, to the  Nantahala and Chattooga Rivers in the late 70s.  Everyone survived!  He was also a dedicated runner and led many "Hash House Harriers" distance runs in the U.S. and Europe. Bob was an electrical engineer working for Southwestern Bell and AT&T until retirement. He also worked in Iran,  China and was an ardent traveler throughout Europe and the U.S.  

8 01, 2021

Buffalo River Trail Construction News

By |2021-01-08T18:02:31-06:00January 8th, 2021|Categories: News & Updates|

The reroute at Little Rocky Creek was approved right before Thanksgiving so that construction will be the primary focus for the spring work session which is scheduled for March 26-April 2.  We'll be camping at Tyler Bend, as usual, but will be following a pandemic protocol like we did for the Fall '20 work session. Whether you join us for a day, the weekend, or the whole week, there is a wide variety of work to be done so there's something for everyone.  Contact me at mereed@runbox.com for additional information. Michael Reed, Buffalo River Trail Coordinator

7 12, 2020

Ozark Society Foundation Student Grant Opportunity

By |2020-12-07T12:38:49-06:00December 7th, 2020|Categories: News & Updates, Pack & Paddle, Winter 2020|Tags: |

The Ozark Society Foundation has selected the recipients of the 2020 OSF Youth Environmental Grants Program. The grants are awarded to organizations and schools that engage students in environmentalism and conservation projects. Priority was given to nonprofits who experienced an interruption to their revenue stream due to the pandemic. In 2020, the Youth Grants Programs awarded $10,000 in seven grants to regional programs in amounts ranging from $600-$2,000. The recipients include organizations and schools from urban and rural areas in Missouri and Arkansas: Learning with Iris, Acorn Elementary School, Mena, AR Students will build an iris garden at the 15-acre outdoor classroom. The iris garden will be used to teach life cycles, soil testing, reproduction, monarch migration, identify pollinators, graphing, art, and technology. Green Leadership Academy for Diverse Ecosystems (GLADE) Greater Ozarks Audubon Society, Springfield, MO. Students will attend a one-week environmental academy paired with year-round community improvement projects. Pineville Primary School Gardens, Pineville Primary School, Anderson, MO. Students will establish garden beds, bird feeders, a butterfly garden and plant trees to enhance environmental awareness among early childhood, special education, and primary classes. Butterfly Garden, Logan County “Old Jail” Museum, Paris, AR. Students will design, build, and maintain a butterfly [...]

7 10, 2020

2021 Idaho Salmon River Trip – Make Reservations Now!

By |2020-10-07T16:15:30-05:00October 7th, 2020|Categories: News & Updates|Tags: |

Middle Fork of the Salmon River - July 29-August 3. 2021 OS Members can participate in a 100-mile trip down the Middle Fork of the Salmon River in Idaho from July 29-August 3rd, 2021 with Aggipah River Trips.  We have until January 1, 2021 to fill this 24-person trip, after which Aggipah will open the trip to others.  For those riding with Aggipah the on-river cost is $2399 per person.  For those riding in a private boat the on-river cost is $1686.50 per person.  A 25% deposit ($600 or $422) is required before January 1st to hold the reservation. More information on the trip and the address to send your deposit is: Aggipah River Trips PO Box 425 Salmon, Idaho 83467 Bill Bernt www.aggipah.com 208-756-4167 bill@aggipah.com Feel free to contact Stewart Noland at 501-831-8809 or stewartnoland51@aol.com with questions as well since he plans to participate in the trip and will help coordinate off-river logistics such as pre-trip lodging and vehicle shuttles.

16 03, 2020

Our Message About COVID-19

By |2020-03-16T16:01:09-05:00March 16th, 2020|Categories: News & Updates|

From President David Peterson: The Ozark Society wants everyone to stay strong and healthy and we recommend people follow all State and Federal guidelines for limiting contact at this time.  Most of our group activities are being postponed for now but it is still okay for each of us to walk outdoors. In fact it is a great way to get exercise and boost your mood and maybe your immune system!

20 01, 2020

The Schoolcraft Chapter is Reviving!

By |2020-10-23T16:23:05-05:00January 20th, 2020|Categories: News & Updates|

We are pleased to announce that the Schoolcraft Chapter in the Springfield Missouri area is renewing its mission and will be meeting soon.  Here is an article by Andy Ostmeyer from the Joplin Globe on the details: Andy Ostmeyer: Battles with CAFOs spark new interest in Ozark Society Battles with CAFOs spark new interest in Ozark Society A fight over a large hog farm on a tributary of the Buffalo River in Arkansas has become a catalyst for a new round of conservation action, including in the Ozark Society.  Sixty years ago, efforts to protect the Buffalo River in Arkansas launched the Ozark Society, which led the fight to save the river. A more recent fight to protect the river has sparked new interest in the Ozark Society. A dormant chapter of the Ozark Society in southern Missouri is being revived.  It’s a good sign for Ozark rivers and our public lands.  This timing is no coincidence, either, but the latest proof of a pattern that repeats throughout the Ozarks as surely as our rhythm of hill and hollow. I’ve seen it happen time and again: Residents, busy with their lives and trusting politicians and regulators to protect their water, air, [...]

12 12, 2019

Tom McClure Promotes Wilderness Ethics at the Fall Meeting

By |2020-01-21T18:03:56-06:00December 12th, 2019|Categories: News & Updates, Winter 2019|

Tom McClure gave a rousing keynote address on the value of wilderness at the fall meeting of the Ozark Society at Queen Wilhelmina State Park. Tom, a native of Gurdon who now lives in Rogers, has been involved in preservation issues around the country for most of his life. He traced the wilderness ethic through Thoreau, Aldo Leopold, and others with pithy statements and observations and then brought the issue back to Arkansas. Most of the current wilderness areas in Arkansas (about 1% of the area) were established in the early 1980’s with one recent 640-acre addition last year at Flatside. But there may be as many possible wilderness areas that might have qualified for inclusion but were deleted for various reasons in the ultimate legislative actions. A good example is the Blue Hole, a special interest area on Hurricane Creek. Hurricane Creek is in the watershed just south of East Fork Wilderness, some 15 miles north of I-40 near Hector. It is protected by the steep sides of White Oak Mountain and a narrow canyon where it joins the East Fork of Illinois Bayou. Blue Hole is a swimmable pool just below two wonderful 10-foot waterfalls. It has a [...]

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