EXPLORING OKLAHOMA WITH CHILDREN Explore Nature We’ve all heard them. The benefits to being in nature, especially for our children, are plentiful, mentally, physically and educationally. “Nature acts as a natural learning laboratory,” shared Jeremy Tubbs, manager of the J.T. Nickel Family Nature and Wildlife Preserve in Oklahoma. “Children’s five senses are heightened and [they] get the opportunity to interact with new and never seen discoveries.” With 35 state parks, nine national wildlife refuges and dozens of other locally-managed conservation areas, Oklahoma has a plethora of natural attractions for families to explore. Here are four of our favorites.
BY LINDSAY CUOMO . PHOTOS PROVIDED.
PHOTO BY GOING WEST PRODUCTIONS
Keystone Ancient Forest SAND SPRINGS, 1.5 HOURS NE OF OKC The Keystone Ancient Forest conservation area was established in 2007 to preserve Oklahoma’s natural forest landscape, and this Oklahoma gem is touted as one of the last great places on Earth by The Nature Conservancy. Eight miles of hiking trails traverse through 1,400 acres allowing hikers to explore centuries-old cross-timbers forest to see 500-year-old red cedars and 300-year-old post oak trees, plus deer, American eagles, bobcats, birds, about 80 species of butterflies and more. The trails offer beautiful views of Keystone Lake and the Arkansas River basin, too. Along the trails, hikers can learn about American author and historian Washington Irving and his travel through the area. Staff and volunteers are working to open a visitor’s center on site this spring as well as new trails this summer. The visitor’s center will include educational materials, bathrooms and a souvenir shop. Future plans include an astronomy night with a local astronomy club in July and a night hike in the fall. The City of Sand Springs is developing an app that will feature a virtual scavenger hunt, through which kids can learn more about the forest and environmentally-friendly practices. They expect to have the app ready to launch later this year. The forest is open to the public Thursday through Sunday from 8 a.m. to 2 p.m. Volunteer trail guides are available on certain days each month to share about the forest landscape. Stay up to date on upcoming events at facebook.com/ KeystoneAncientForest.
48 METROFAMILYMAGAZINE.COM / MAR-APR 2021
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