Presentations

Panel discussion: Fire benefits Ozark landscapes
We're excited about this topnotch lineup of professionals for our prescribed fire panel! (See next column.) They include a prescribed fire boss, fire science researcher, landowner, firefighter, and forest ecologist. They'll cover the scientific underpinnings of fire ecology and share practical know-how that could help landowners and future fire workers to use fire safely.

Our lived experiences: Challenges and tactics for sharing land
This round-table will highlight successes and identify obstacles for land-sharing situations. Whether you're interested in intentional community, you own land and would welcome on-site neighbors, or are looking for land, this session is for you. After short presentations by a panel, any one attending this session who has experience sharing land is invited to briefly (2-3 minutes) tell about your experiences, successes, lessons learned, and future hopes.

Planned Activities

OACC includes both pre-scheduled and spontaneous presentations. Scheduled activities are listed here.

State of the Ozarks. This popular session offers the opportunity to hear what others are doing and to share your news. Be prepared to give a short talk about your event, project, organization, business, or ideas. Whether you’re new or a long-timer, this session can help you find connections.

Open Space. Previously unscheduled events are added to the roster during our Open Space session. Join us to add your presentation at OACC. We set the final schedule then. OACC is all about sharing and participating!

Children’s activities. We expect to have planned and informal activities for children, with the support of their parents or guardians. Check back for more details here as our plans develop.

Coffeehouse Talent Show. Fun and entertaining! Enjoy our participants’ many talents. Everyone, from the smallest child, is encouraged to perform, be it with music, poems, theatrics, dance, or jokes.

Vendor booths. Exhibitors set up displays for their Ozark-based, environmentally-friendly, cottage-industry products.

General Information

This year, all scheduled activities and group meals – including lunch and dinner - will take place on Saturday.

Anyone is welcome to arrive on Friday evening and leave on Sunday (for instance if you are traveling a distance), but no planned activities or pre-planned meals are scheduled for then. Potluck meals and unannounced activities are certainly possible to emerge those days. The grounds will be open for tent camping, and cabin use can be arranged by RSVP.

We are staying observant of Covid developments and will make exact plans on how to manage that when we are closer to the event. Weather permitting,  we will be holding most activities outdoors and planning cabin use to avoid exposures. Meals and meal prep also will be planned to reduce risks. In case of rain, or unusual cold, we may need bring the event indoors. In that case, you may want to have your mask handy, to use at your own discretion, while in an enclosed space and close quarters with others.

Unlike the years before Covid, we are NOT scheduling a big slate of pre-planned programs. Instead, we are asking OACC participants to self-organize during the event. So, we’re encouraging anyone who wants to host a talk or discussion to come prepared: bring your show-and-tell items and then to sign up during the Open Space process.

GENERAL SCHEDULE

Preliminary information.  Details subject to change

Friday
2 p.m. Set up begins. Exhibitors may set up if desired.

5 p.m. Registration open for anyone staying overnight. Go pitch your tent or set up your cabin space.

6 p.m. Dinner—Potluck.

7:30 p.m. or so. Fun activities might pop up.

Saturday
8 a.m. Registration opens. Exhibitors may set up displays.

9 a.m. Opening Circle. Introduce yourself, make connections, learn about other participants. Very important for the full OACC experience.

After Opening Circle. Open Space Process. This is your time to sign up if you want to give a presentation or host a discussion.

10:30 a.m. State of the Ozarks.

12:30—1:30 p.m. Lunch.

1:30—5 p.m. Workshops, presentations, sessions, the things everyone signed up for during Open Space.

--1:30 - 3:00 Prescribed fire panel discussion. Open space sessions run concurrently.
-- 3:45 - 5:00 Land sharing roundtable discussion. Open space sessions run concurrently.

5-6:30 p.m. OACC 44 Congress Planning Session. All are encouraged to attend this session of the Congress, which determines the future of OACC!

6:30—7:30 p.m. Dinner.

After dinner. Coffeehouse Talent Show—Major fun!

Sunday
9 a.m. Breakfast—on your own. Some simple breakfast food will be offered. Leftovers might be available.

10-12 a.m. Free time. Open space presentations. Silent auction for leftover food. Cleanup.

After cleanup. Closing Circle.