Make plans to spend March 27th at Turkey Mountain with the TUWC, River Parks Authority and Progressive Trail Design. 

Weather permitting we plan to work on trail building under the supervision of the pros from Progressive Trail Design!

Additionally, we will be working on the following:

• removing invasive species
• trail compacting
• litter removal
• erosion mitigation

Two shifts to better accommodate schedules!

Our morning shift will get started at 9AM and go to Noon and break for lunch.

The afternoon shift will start at 1PM and pack it in at 4PM.

ALL AGES ARE WELCOME!!!

We can sign for volunteer hours for students!!!

How should I plan?

• attire: wear sturdy shoes and clothes you can work in.

• bring a reusable water container

• wear layers you can shed as the day warms

• bring sunscreen and bug spray

Tools (optional)

*****should you bring personal tools please clearly label them so you can make it home with what you brought.

*******note – we do not expect anyone volunteer to provide everything on this list, pick one or two things

• Gloves

• Loppers/Pruners (with your name on them)

• Hand saws (non-power like a bow saw or folding saw) and small Axe/Hatchet

• Hoe’s (both traditional & rogue) / Shovels (spade & square)

• Pulaski / Mattock

• Mcleod

• Rake (leaf and garden rake)

• Wheelbarrow

To join the discussion on the AM Shift visit the Facebook Event here or the PM Shift here.

This workshop is designed for educators interested in teaching kids how to enjoy Turkey Mtn & all outdoor spaces responsibly.

About this event

Topics in this interactive workshop include: 

Best practices for effectively reaching youth with Leave No Trace, including fun and interactive games and activities educators can use, whether online or in person, to teach students, campers, and other youth participants (ages 6 to 18) how to Leave No Trace.

Activities may include resources from Leave No Trace’s website, Bigfoot’s Playbook, PEAK, TEEN program, and Social Media + Stewardship. 

Participants who are new to Leave No Trace or have not had Leave No Trace training in recent years are encouraged to complete the self-paced (30-45 min.) Leave No Trace Online Awareness Course in advance. 

COVID-19 Updates: 

All participants are asked to follow CDC guidelines and state and local requirements regarding Covid precautions. 

See the following links for more information:

• CDC: https://www.cdc.gov/coronavirus/2019-ncov/index.html

• OK State Department of Health: https://oklahoma.gov/health.html

• We ask that all participants wear a functioning mask indoors or anytime distancing cannot be maintained (unless eating or drinking)

As we begin to discuss the River Parks Authority Turkey Mountain Master Plan created by MVVA one of the first things that must be done is undergrowth, fallen leaves and invasive species removal. There are a number of ways to do this. Manually, with grazing animals (like goats) or the most cost effective and natural option – fire. 

Without man made controls Oklahoma’s landscape would regularly cycle through a burn period allowing for the landscape to remove dead plants that were choking out part of the ecosystem and as a result would be a much healthier lush area as the foliage grew back.. This is apparent around Oklahoma in places like the Tallgrass Prairie, Deep Fork Wildlife Refuge and Cookson Hills. 

The reality is that by stopping this natural cycle Turkey Mountain has become a tinder box the dead wood and leaves actually are a huge danger and need to come out!  We also have invasive species choking out native plants. 

What about the animals? 

If you know anything about the TUWC you know that we consider humans as visitors to the space wildlife call home. The last thing we want to do is evict them! 

Controlled burns are done in small segments and set and watched by trained experts. By doing small areas at a time this allows the wildlife to safely evacuate. Where if we wait until a loose ember or lightning strike happens there will be no control and it will likely burn a much larger area. 

The TUWC is excited to see the implementation of the Master Plan and looks forward to the future of Turkey Mountain! 

Monarchs on the Mountain: Mobile Edition 2020 culminates on Monday with a virtual screening of, The Mystical Migration of the Monarch, and award winning film about the Monarch Migration.

At 6:45 tune in to the Tulsa Urban Wilderness Coalition Facebook Page to watch a message recorded for us from the creators of the film. Then follow the link to their YouTube channel to virtually share the experience of watching the movie together.

With gratitude to all of the organizations who have supported this event and worked to bring it to life: Tulsa River Parks Authority, the Tulsa Urban Wilderness Coalition, the Tulsa Audubon Society, The M.e.t, Monarch Initiative of Tulsa, Riverfield Country Day School, Sustainable Tulsa, Blue Thumb, Okies for Monarchs, The Tulsa Zoo, City of Tulsa, Save Our Streams, Gathering Place, Yard by Yard, Tulsa Master Gardeners and the Tulsa Garden Center.

I hope you will join us!

Information from their website about the film along with the links.

The Mystical Migration of the Monarch

This film is available for all butterfly enthusiasts around the world and also for every classroom around the globe. In addition there are resources and curriculum links related to the movie that have been field-tested, aligned with academic standards and are suitable for use in the classroom and at home.

Link to classroom resources: https://www.mysticalmigration.com/curriculum-for-educators.html  

Link to video to educators: https://youtu.be/jlRCCCaiKJo

Weekly episode about butterflies, gardening, habitat restoration, landscape design, renewal of blighted urban spaces, photography, art and more, entitled “Convos with Suzanne and Fairn” associated with the Mystical Migration YouTube channel. Link to Intro to Convos with Suzanne and Fairn video: https://youtu.be/UWDuM4_cOhM

During this time of transformation in our world when we are all reconnecting with nature and finding beauty in our own backyard, the movie producers ask you to please join them in the healing act of getting back to nature!

Link to subscribe to Mystical Migration YouTube channel

Find Mystical Migration at:

https://MysticalMigration.com

https://Instagram.com/MysticalMigration