OACC 46
September 26 - 28, 2025, at Hammond Mill Camp
All those who love and care about the Ozarks are invited to our 46th 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!
OACC 46: Mapping Our Abundance: Matching Needs & Yields
As a part of our theme, Mapping Our Abundance: Matching Needs & Yields, we’ll be offering a map where participants can enter their location or contact info to publicize things they produce (yields) and things they would like to buy (needs). We’ve also assembled a panel of forest agriculturists which includes some of the most forward thinking practitioners in our area. On that panel is Richard Herman, a pioneer in forest farming, as well as newer practitioners, and the new Midwest Forest Farming Coalition. Richard Herman is also leading a hands-on apple cider pressing demo, that you can be involved in during its several stages! We hope you'll join us!
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 and cabins with bunks are available. Cabins are a short walk from the bathroom/shower building. They are available on a first-come, first serve basis, with no RSVP required.
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 ...
Our venue for many years, Hammond Mill Camp, has significantly increased fees. It is still the best value we've found, so we’ve given much thought and discussion on how to cover costs without stressing our participants.
Thus, we have decided to undertake a bold experiment for the coming year. Our long-time registration fee has been $50 for full weekend adult attendance; this covered the $40 camp fee per person, leaving $10 for everything else. However, now, Hammond Mill has increased the price to $67 for every adult staying the whole weekend, leaving a net loss $17 per adult registrant.
Yet, for some participants, even our low $50 registration fee can be a deterrent. We are concerned that situation could worsen, considering overall increases in the cost of living.
The experiment this is year is to make our registration fee simply “pay what you can, but please consider our costs.”
We anticipate that overall costs will average $80 per person (higher for those staying the weekend, but lower for those coming Saturday only). We hope that those of you who can give a little extra will balance out to cover those who are able to pay less.
You may register and pay on this website, or pay at the door.
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.
Program & General Schedule
OACC 46 planned activities and presentations