Arbuckle-Simpson Nature Festival

May 1-3, 2009

The Arbuckle-Simpson area boasts a wealth of plant and animal wildlife and an abundance of pristine natural resources.  The Tishomingo Refuge Ecology and Education Society (TREES), Murray State College, and the Johnston County Chamber of Commerce—working with the Tishomingo National Wildlife Refuge, the Tishomingo National Fish Hatchery, the Chickasaw Nation, and community leaders from the region—have worked together now for three years to expand on our award-winning 2007 inaugural event.  Our overall goal is to showcase the natural heritage and bounty and to increase public appreciation and enjoyment of our region’s treasures.  While participation is necessarily limited—to protect local ecosystems—the several tours and events we are planning will provide a unique opportunity to join us in this celebration of Oklahoma’s oasis.

Participants in the 2009 festival will have the opportunity to be guided by regional naturalists, historians, and wildlife experts on tours of such local gems as:

•     the Blue River

•     Pennington Creek

•     the Nature Conservancy’s Pontotoc Ridge Preserve

•     the Tishomingo National Wildlife Refuge

•     the Tishomingo National Fish Hatchery

•     the Chickasaw Nation’s historic Capitol, Council House Museum, and Emet White House

•     the Chickasaw National Recreation Area, and

•     Arbuckle-Simpson ranches that private owners have generously opened for our tours

On each outing, participants will learn about this historically and culturally rich area and have the opportunity to observe a broad cross-section of the hundreds of bird species recorded locally as well as the variety of butterfly, amphibian, fish, and plant life, and unique geologic formations that we can boast of, here.  Guides will introduce participants to the rare and extremely local seaside alder of the Blue River and offer techniques for improving your own backyard habitat.  During the evening meals, participants will have the chance to be entertained and enlightened by our evening speakers.

To get a sense of last year’s event, please explore this--our new site--and feel free to visit our former site.  Get ready with us to enjoy our 2009 Festival, and please check back regularly with this evolving site!

We hope you join us in Tishomingo in May!

And don't forget to invite a friend!