We are Thankful!


Photo by Brett Nixon

We are thankful to have this unique piece of nature, an ever changing canvas of art.

We are thankful to have this treasure to share with the public community: professors, students of all ages, wildlife enthusiasts, teachers, runners, nature observers, bird watchers, photographers, scientists, artists, geocashers, museums, and researchers. 

We are thankful for the habitat the reserve provides wildlife, and the gifts we receive in return, the serenity of a peaceful environment, the fresh air, the wildlife we are able to observe. 

And, as this place in nature is ever changing - from the trees growing, the flowers blooming, the leaves changing colors and falling, we leave this place changed ourselves; thankful we had a moment to come witness nature, forever changed, more inspired, and struck in awe and wonder. 

Happy Thanksgiving!

Guest Post From Granger Meador

Greetings! This is a guest post from Granger Meador, physics teacher at Bartlesville High School and avid day hiker. I have been tracking my many day hikes since July 2009, documenting them on my own blog at meador.org. Back in 2009 I first visited the RSU Conservation Education Reserve. In mid-September 2014 my girlfriend and I were looking to get out on the trails and drove to Claremore to enjoy the reserve trails, after I'd tracked down a nice online GPS map created by students at the local vo-tech; I had exported and saved that map to guide our hike. RSU Day Hike (click image for RSU Reserve slideshow) I started the MotionX GPS tracker on my iPhone as we entered the gate near the Terra Lab to circumnavigate the reserve on its Butterfly Loop, Southwest Trail, Wetland Loop, and Weather Trail for a total walk of 2.75 miles. The butterfly garden was buzzing with bumblebees. Wendy got a shot of the fish and a frog in the pond, and a bloom. As grandparents with grandchildren approached the garden, Wendy and I took off on the Butterfly Loop. Bumblebee A glade with benches featured a trailside tree which had been fully consumed by bagworms. The trail wound around the southeast portion of the reserve, and we heard another group of hikers in close pursuit. We lost them when we turned off onto the Southwest Trail, which had a profusion of yellow blooms. Southwest Trail A muddy pond had a turtle swimming along with only its eyes and snout protruding from the water. A meadow had sumac, while the wetlands featured small cattails and plenty of bugs. The big pond featured a windmill and extensive plant growth in the water teeming with tiny fish. A couple of dragonflies flew by and settled down, intent on, er, coupling. Dragonfly Couple It was a lovely walk in late summer, and Wendy and I look forward to continuing to enjoy this wonderful resource. Click here for a slideshow from our walk through the Conservation Education Reserve

A Beautiful Autumn Morning at the Reserve

As you walk along the trail you hear the crunch of the gravel below your feet.  The cool morning breeze blows the fallen leaves, making rustling sounds.  You look attentively at this sound; could it be an animal scurrying thought the woods?  You are greeted by the sunshine peaking over the colorful trees.  You walk slowly; your eyes have spotted something in the woods.  You joyously discover a deer grazing in the thick forest.  You remain quiet, not wanting to startle this gentle creature.  The deer you have spotted is a doe.  You successfully observe her for a few moments before she disappears into the thick of the forest.  Your journey into the reserve has been well rewarded and you will return again soon to discover what nature's beauty has to surrender to your curious eye.