OACC 44
October 6-8, 2023 at Hammond Mill Camp
More information coming soon: For now, see information below about last year's event
OACC 43
October 8-9, 2022 at Hammond Mill Camp
All those who love and care about the Ozarks are invited to our 43rd annual congress, to celebrate, appreciate, and learn from this phenomenal part of the Earth and each other.
OACC is ...
... the first and longest-standing bioregional congress.
... an ecologically-aware, family-friendly community village where we learn, play, relax, take care of each other, and share homegrown Ozark culture.
... a meeting place for ecologically-informed, creative, talented people, growers, activists, small business operators, musicians, writers, and innovators.
... a decades-long forum for a sustainable and regenerative economy for the Ozarks. A place to network and get informed about significant issues affecting our lives in the Ozarks, in an ecological context.
OACC is a celebration of the Ozarks and all things restorative and ecological!
This year’s theme is Caring Passionately for the Ozarks...
...and the focus is on sharing ideas that can make the Ozarks be more resilient and adaptive in the face of change.
OACC folks are passionate about the Ozarks, and we’re in it for the long term, or we wouldn't still be here, making plans to celebrate our 43rd annual event! Whether we came here, or were born here, or visit whenever we can, we have fallen in love with this place.
Many of us are concerned about how our shifting climate will impact the land we love and everyone who depends on it. We're looking for actions that can help us adapt. Will our forests and food systems be able to stand up to a drought? Are we prepared for flooding? Is Ozark biodiversity suffering?
Come listen, connect and add your thoughts. We hope to see you at the gathering!
Our volunteer village ...
Please come ready to help out daily with volunteer community-sustaining work, whether in the kitchen, grounds cleanup, or whatever it takes to keep our little village going. It’s fun! When you register, please sign up for volunteer shifts. Your wholehearted help enables OACC to keep costs low and be inexpensive to attend.
Food ...
We will be serving lunch and dinner on Saturday. We serve mostly vegetarian meals prepared as much as possible with organic, local, or fair-trade ingredients. An occasional dish of locally-sourced meat may also be included. Such dishes are labeled. Help us keep registration costs low by bringing food to share. It could be garden produce, or bulk food, or wholesome items like bread, fruit, cheese, farm eggs, mushrooms, garlic, onions, etc. Please let tell our Food Coordinator what you can bring: OaccLeaf@gmail.com
Facilities …
Hammond Mill Camp is a beautiful CCC-era camp surrounded by the Mark Twain National Forest with the North Fork River nearby. It has a big pavilion, dining hall, and lots of outdoor space.
Lodging …
Tent camping is encouraged. Cabins with bunks are a short walk from the bathroom/shower building. Cabins are available on an RSVP basis, with a goal of planning cabin use to minimize Covid risk.
Childcare …
… will not be provided. Parents are welcome to work together to organize cooperative childcare. We have wonderful volunteers who are organizing to offer activities for children supported by parents and guardians. Check back here as our plans develop.
What to bring ...
Camp chairs, drums, musical instruments, songs. Acts for the coffeehouse talent show. Swim gear, river shoes. Food donations. Your kids, your friends. Plan for Ozark fall weather which can range from mild and dry to cool and wet. If you’re staying over, bring sleeping bags, pillows, bedding, soap, shampoo, towels.
Please, no dogs, other pets, drugs or alcohol.
Costs ...
— Adults (ages 17 & up) Weekend: $50
— Adults (ages 17 & up) Saturday only: $35
— Young ones (ages 5 to 16) Weekend: $30
— Young ones (ages 5 to 16) Saturday only: $15
— Youngest ones (4 and under): no cost
Saturday-only registration fee cover programs plus Saturday lunch and dinner. Weekend fee also includes lodging for two nights, but no additional meals.
Attendees under 17 must be accompanied by a responsible adult.
Last year’s OACC, “Finding a New Balance,” created a new template for the OACC flow. Among the new balances we sought – and achieved – were keeping the community safe from COVID and adjusting to our own limitations of time and energy for an all-volunteer event.
We did this by scheduling less and creating more space for self-organized presentations and connecting. OACC programming was kept to mostly outdoor activities on Saturday, with volunteers arriving to help with set-up on Friday and staying for clean-up Sunday. Within this framework we enjoyed a rich selection of presentations, performances, and just hanging out together, while getting the needed work done.
One event of note was what turned out to be one of the last-ever presentations by world-renowned herbalist, Steven Foster, who very sadly passed away a few months after OACC.
OACC was enlivened by the presence of filmmakers Andy Cline and Denise Vaughn, who are working on a documentary about the Ozarks back-to-land movement, which is still in progress.
Directions ...
From West Plains: Go west on Hwy CC, 15 miles to Camp entrance, on the right. The Ozark County line is 1.6 miles before.
Camp phone: (417) 256-2025
Program & General Schedule
OACC 43 planned activities and presentations