2025 Owl Prowl

🦉 Annual Owl Prowl at Ozark Natural Science Center🦉

📅 November 8, 2025 | ⏰ 4:30 PM – Midnight

🎟️ Tickets include dinner, expert-led presentations, and hands-on owl monitoring

🏕️ Optional overnight lodging and Sunday breakfast available

🌠An Unforgettable Night Under the Stars

Join us for one of ONSC’s most beloved events—The Annual Owl Prowl—where science, conservation, and wonder meet under the cover of night. This immersive evening is perfect for nature lovers, bird enthusiasts, and those who simply want to experience something truly magical.

Your evening begins with a warm welcome and hearty dinner in the heart of the Ozarks. Then, you'll settle in for an inspiring presentation from Lynn Sciumbato, founder of Morning Star Wildlife Rehabilitation Center, as she shares her decades of experience in raptor rehabilitation—accompanied by her live ambassador birds, including Igor the Turkey Vulture and Sydney the Barred Owl.

As twilight settles in, Dr. Mitchell Pruitt, owl researcher and founder of the Ozark Bird Conservancy, will guide you through the world of nocturnal bird science. You'll learn about the elusive Northern Saw-whet Owl and then step into the role of citizen scientist as we head into the forest for live owl monitoring and net checks—a rare opportunity to witness research in action.

After the official programming ends at 9PM, guests are invited to stay as late as midnight, rotating through net checks, enjoying a crackling campfire, and browsing nature-inspired merchandise from the ONSC Store, open until 10:30PM.

🛏️ Stay the Night

Extend your experience with overnight accommodations at ONSC and an optional breakfast on Sunday morning. Spend the night in the peaceful quiet of the Ozarks—an ideal end to a magical evening. Both indoor and outdoor lodging options are available.

📌 Important Details

• Adults only, though we may allow mature teens with a strong interest in wildlife. Email breana.patterson@onsc.us to inquire.

• All proceeds support ONSC’s research, community science, and environmental education initiatives.

• Event runs rain or shine, so dress appropriately for outdoor activities.

  
  

Space is limited—don’t miss your chance to prowl with us this fall!

Ticket, Meal, and Lodging Options

• General Admission Ticket - $55 (includes Saturday night dinner and all lectures and activities)

• Program Only Ticket - $40 (This option only includes the program, it does not include Saturday night dinner)

• Sunday Breakfast - $10

• Lodging - When you purchase a room with multiple beds, you are welcome to add other workshop guests to your room at no extra cost.

  • Lodge room with 1 twin bed - $60

  • Lodge room with 2 twin beds - $60

  • Lodge room with 2 twin bunkbeds (sleeps 4) - $60

  • Lodge room with 3 twin bunkbeds (sleeps 6) - $60

  • Glampsite - $40

  • Primitive Campsite Platform - $15

• Some ONSC trails are rocky and steep, and there is a 3-minute walk from the parking lot to the Ewing Event Center. If you need accessible parking or any other accommodations, please let us know.

  
  

  ✨Optional donation to ONSC

  Despite rising costs in nearly every area, ONSC remains committed to providing affordable, high-quality programs that connect people with nature. We are not raising our prices at this time. If you find value in our work and would like to support our mission, we gratefully welcome tax-deductible donations to help sustain our efforts.

  
  

  All proceeds go to support research, community science, and education at Ozark Natural Science Center.

Tentative Schedule

🕓 4:30 PM – Arrival & Check-In: Settle in and get ready for an unforgettable evening in the Ozarks!

🍽️ 5:30 – 6:30 PM – Dinner: Enjoy a delicious meal with fellow nature lovers in a cozy, woodland setting.

⏸️ 6:30 – 6:45 PM – Short Break: Stretch your legs, grab a warm drink, and get ready for the evening’s first presentation.

🦅 6:45 – 7:45 PM – Raptor Rehab Presentation: Meet Lynn Sciumbato, director of Morning Star Wildlife Rehabilitation Center, and her ambassador birds—including Igor the Turkey Vulture and Sydney the Barred Owl—as you learn about raptor conservation and rescue.

⏸️ 7:45 – 8:00 PM – Short Break: Refill your mug or step outside to listen for early owl calls.

🦉 8:00 – 9:00 PM – Owl Presentation & Monitoring: Join Dr. Mitchell Pruitt for a fascinating talk on owls, followed by the start of live Northern Saw-whet Owl monitoring in the forest.

🌲 9:00 PM – Midnight – Net Checks & Campfire: Take turns heading into the woods to check mist nets for owl captures with our researchers. In between, relax by the campfire at the pavilion and enjoy the peaceful night.

🛍️ 9:00 – 10:30 PM – ONSC Store Open: Browse unique nature gifts and gear from the ONSC Store.

About Ozark Natural Science Center 

Our Mission: To strengthen the understanding, appreciation, and stewardship of land, water, and wildlife in the Ozarks.

Our Vision: Everyone should have the opportunity to connect with the outdoors. We inspire and educate our community to protect the Ozarks.

Our Core Values:

• Create clear and engaging educational programs

• Provide hands-on experiences in the outdoors

• Encourage responsibility for the natural world

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What We Do: At ONSC, we help people connect with nature through fun, hands-on science activities. Since 1992, we’ve been the only overnight science center in Arkansas. We’ve hosted more than 100,000 students through field trips, camps, and workshops.

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We also rent out our space—including lodges, tiny houses, an event center, classrooms, and campgrounds—so visitors can enjoy the outdoors.

We believe everyone has the right to receive outdoor education. No matter your background, we are here to help you to explore science and nature!.

About the Instructors:

Lynn Sciumbato is a federally licensed wildlife rehabilitator and founder of the Morning Star Rehabilitation Center. She has been rehabilitating wildlife for more than 3 decades. Several years ago, she restricted her work to bird rehabilitation. Lynn was a biology teacher at Rogers High School for more than 20 years.

Igor the Turkey Vulture and Sydney the Barred Owl are residents at Morningstar Wildlife Rehabilitation Center. During wildlife rehabilitation, the goal is always to release the animal, but animals like Igor and Sydney had health issues that prevented their release back into the wild. They are both ambassadors and educators who go with Lynn to schools, parks, and education events.

Dr. Mitchell Pruitt has had a passion for birds and the natural world from a young age. As an undergrad, he piloted a study of Northern Saw-whet Owls along with his professor and mentor. This experience, along with an internship at Hawk Mountain Sanctuary, led him to continue his career path and pursue a PhD studying owls. In addition to several other areas of research, Mitchell has conducted annual monitoring at ONSC of Northern Saw-whet Owls.  Even now that he has received his PhD, he is still continuing to monitor for the Northern Saw-whet Owls, and he has founded the Ozark Bird Conservancy, a new organization that focuses on bird research, conservation, and education and outreach in the Ozark Highlands.

Ticket Refund Policy

• Refunds up to 1 week before the event: Tickets are refundable minus any applicable fees (processing, administrative, etc.) until 7 days before the event.

• Refunds within 1 week of the event: For refund requests made less than 7 days prior to the event, a 50% refund will be given.

• No refunds within 24 hours of the event: Refund requests made within 24 hours of the event are not permitted, except in exceptional circumstances and only with approval from ONSC administration.

*Please note that all refund requests must be submitted in writing to jill.bowman@onsc.us. Refunds will be processed within 7-10 business days.

Questions? Please email Program Manager, Breana Patterson, at breana.patterson@onsc.us