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 [...]

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.

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 [...]

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