Springtime officially arrives shortly, dear readers in Our Town and far beyond.
As I grew up locally, during the 1950's and early 1960's, my father, Col. C. H. Breedlove, routinely took me to the Oklahoma Academy of Science (OAS) yearly spring meeting. I always looked forward to this weekend outing, held each year at a different state park throughout Our State. Since my father was a chemist and was always involved with science as both a teacher and for his own curiosity, I faithfully followed him through his constant quest to learn. OAS meetings were just another example of his carefully guiding me though my crucial developmental years. He was such an inspiration!
So, each winter via the mail, we would receive a registration notice for the upcoming annual spring meeting, held in a different location every year all over Oklahoma. We would load our family car with sleeping essentials (sheets. pillows, blankets), bathing articles, and a change of clothing, then head off for some far away beautiful state park. I specifically remember spending spring weekends at Greenleaf State Park in the northeast, Boiling Springs State Park in the northwest, Quartz Mountain State Park in the southwest, and Robbers Cave State Park in the southeast parts of Our State. Each location has its own special charm. Long ago, I purchased a lifetime membership in the OAS, and they are still a functioning organization, in spite of the Covid-19 pandemic.
Here's how the spring meetings would unfold.. My dad and I would arrive at the meeting site, late on a Friday afternoon, check-in, and be assigned one of the group cabins. along with about a dozen other male campers. Usually, the restroom/washing area was located in a different building, but not far from our cabin. Friday evening, following a prepared supper served buffet-style in the dining hall, we would have an interesting, prepared lecture/color slides program. This was followed by the Saturday field trip leaders (a dozen or more people) explaining where they would be traveling in the area, and what they would hope to see/find the next day on their adventure. Before going back to our assigned cabin to sleep, we would have access to an outdoor portable telescope, with an trained astronomer to explain what we were seeing in the night sky. This event was called "star-gazing", and was very entertaining to me.
Early the next morning, after eating a buffet breakfast, we would depart on our chosen field trips for either a half or full-day of activity. Over time, I chose a wide variety of interesting field trips. My various choices included herpetology, mammals, ichthyology (fish), geology (rocks) , and geography (specific land features for the location). Because I attended the OAS for many years, I met many of Oklahoma's great scientists and educational personalities. Some years, I would go on two different field trips during the Saturday session; my afternoon activity would be different than my morning choice. Following evening supper back at the main campsite, the field trip leaders would each summarize what they did/discovered that day on their trips. We would then have a another prepared evening presentation, again followed by astronomy, if the weather conditions permitted. The next morning, following breakfast, the camp would be completed, and everyone would scatter for home.
Because of this yearly OAS weekend meeting, I was able to experience many beautiful parts of Our State, and, also, have fellowship with many wonderful people. Years later, I occasionally see these folks, and we share our memories of long ago in Oklahoma's great outdoors!
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