FALL FIELD MEETING

Saturday, October 3, 2026
Wichita Mountains Wildlife Refuge
Join the Oklahoma Academy of Science for our annual Fall Field Meeting at the Wichita Mountains Wildlife Refuge. This is a single-day event and there is no cost to attend. Whether you are a longtime OAS member, faculty member, student, researcher, naturalist, or simply interested in exploring the natural world, we hope you will join us for a day in the field.
​Registration: There is no registration fee for the Fall Field Meeting, but we strongly encourage everyone planning to attend to sign up in advance using the form below. Advance registration will help us estimate attendance and plan appropriately for the day.

What to Expect: The Fall Field Meeting is an opportunity to spend the day exploring the Wichita Mountains Wildlife Refuge with colleagues and others interested in Oklahoma science and natural history. Additional information about the day's field activities, meeting location, and schedule will be posted as plans are finalized.

Meals and Water: To help keep the Fall Field Meeting free for participants, OAS will not provide meals or dining options during the event.
Please plan to bring:
  • A sack lunch
  • Any snacks you may want during the day
  • A reusable water bottle
Water will be available for participants to refill their water bottles.

What to Bring: Come prepared to spend much of the day outdoors. We recommend bringing:
  • Reusable water bottle
  • Sack lunch and snacks
  • Comfortable hiking shoes or boots
  • Clothing appropriate for outdoor conditions
  • Hat and sunscreen
  • Field guides
  • Binoculars
  • Any field or hiking equipment you normally use
  • Backpack or daypack for carrying your supplies
  • An adventurous attitude

Participants should plan for changing weather and outdoor conditions throughout the day.
Wichita Mountains Wildlife Refuge
32 Refuge Headquarters Road, Indiahoma, OK 73552​
Before You Arrive: Additional details will be provided before the meeting, including:
  • Meeting and check-in location
  • Parking information
  • Schedule for the day
  • Planned field activities
  • Information about hiking or physical activity involved
  • Weather considerations
  • Any important Wichita Mountains Wildlife Refuge guidelines or precautions

Please check this page as the meeting approaches for updates.

Questions? Additional contact information will be posted here as plans are finalized.

Tentative schedule and activities can be found below the registration form.
​

Field Meeting Schedule

Saturday, October 3  ·  Tentative — date and some sessions to be confirmed

Time Activity Leader Affiliation
6:30 – 8:30 AM Registration Check-In Adam Ryburn Oklahoma Academy of Science
7:00 – 8:15 AM Bird Walk Felipe Chavez-Ramirez, Ph.D. Pawnee Nation College
Morning Field Trips  ·  8:30 AM – 12:00 PM
8:30 – 10:15 AM
choose one		 Botany Walk Abby Moore University of Oklahoma
Bison Management Tour Quinton Smith or Dan McDonald Wichita Mountains Wildlife Refuge
Historical Archeology Tour Jenn Haney University of Oklahoma
10:30 – 11:45 AM
choose one		 Prescribed Fire on the Refuge Tour TJ Lowder Wichita Mountains Wildlife Refuge
Aquatic Insects Melissa Reed, Ph.D. Oklahoma State University
Herp Walk Richard Butler Prague High School
12:00 – 1:00 PM Brown Bag Lunch & Speaker Dr. Jason Shaw University of Science and Arts of Oklahoma
Afternoon Field Trips  ·  1:15 – 5:00 PM
1:15 – 2:30 PM
choose one		 Entomology Walk Jose Montalva East Central University
Fungi Walk Ethan Korn University of Science and Arts of Oklahoma
Geology Tour Belkasim Khameiss, Ph.D. University of Oklahoma
3:00 PM Tour of the J.A. Manning State Fish Hatchery TBD J.A. Manning State Fish Hatchery