Oklahoma’s Most Amazing Educational Adventures
When seeking hands-on educational fun for the whole family, there are numerous places around the state within driving distance that offer inspiration, learning opportunities and intellectual growth, all while creating lasting memories together. Fall break may be the perfect time to explore some of these Oklahoma treasures. Plan a visit to one or more, or even all, of the following locations for day trips that offer immersive and exciting experiences for everyone to enjoy.
Photo courtesy Sam Noble Museum
Sam Noble Museum of Natural History (Norman, OK)
Get out your best Halloween garb! Spooktacular Curiousiday at the Sam Noble Museum happens to be during fall break. On Saturday, October 11 from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m., museum guests can participate in costume contests and hands-on activities with a scientific twist. The museum may even have a few creepy surprises in store. Your young scientists will love seeing the dinosaur bones, learning about the people of Oklahoma, other cultures, and the natural world, all in a fun, engaging environment.
Plan your visit at samnoblemuseum.ou.edu.
Alabaster Caverns State Park (Freedom, OK)
This incredible 200-acre park is home to the world’s largest publicly accessible gypsum cave. The natural resources found here include pink, white and rare black alabaster, which is only found in three places in the world, including this vein in Oklahoma, as well as in China and Italy. Guided tours are available, and for those who are even more adventurous, wild caving or spelunking opportunities are offered, with a permit required. The caves additionally provide a sanctuary for five different species of bats.
After an ancient, shallow sea receded from the area during the Permian Period, over 200 million years ago, evaporation left large deposits of gypsum and other minerals. The gypsum was raised close to the surface during upheaval, and with water erosion over time, streams carved the tunnels that are found today. The first documented exploration of the cave system was in 1898. Now, visitors can explore the caves and enjoy hiking trails, camping, and more onsite. For more information on planning a visit, please visit travelok.com/state-parks/alabaster-caverns-state-park.
Photo courtesy National Weather Center
National Weather Center Tours (University of Oklahoma – Norman, OK)
Interested in meteorology? In Oklahoma, most people find this science fascinating as its studies affect us throughout the year. The National Weather Center (NWC) at OU offers tours of its facilities by reservation only, on specific days and times. Tours are free to the public and last approximately 1 to 1.5 hours, with a behind-the-scenes look at what it takes to predict the weather. Multiple organizations are housed within the center, including the National Weather Service (NWS) Norman Office and the NOAA National Severe Storms Laboratory. Highlights of the tours could include the OU School of Meteorology, the McCasland Family Observation Deck, the Storm Prediction Center, the National Severe Storms Laboratory, and the NWS Forecast Office. Sometimes movie props from the movie “Twister” can also be viewed, as well as an opportunity to visit The Flying Cow Café.
In the fall, NWC hosts the annual National Weather Festival, featuring weather research vehicles and activities. This year’s event will be held on November 1st from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. This is the most significant event hosted by the NWC, with an expected 4,000 guests annually. Several weather-related organizations will be in attendance, including the Oklahoma Mesonet and meteorologists from local news outlets. The festival is a family-friendly event offering fun and educational activities for all ages.
Visit ou.edu/nwc for more information on booking a tour, planning your visit, and making plans to attend the National Weather Festival this fall.
Science Museum Oklahoma (Oklahoma City)
There aren’t many places in the state where you can be fully immersed in hands-on experiences while exploring all the many studies of science that exist, but it is possible to find your passion for learning at this facility in OKC, with more than 500 exhibits to explore. Science is all about adventure here, inspiring imagination and deepening our understanding of how the world works. Many studies can be examined, including aviation, space, weather, light, mechanics, gravity, biology and more. Every nook and cranny of the museum is filled with curiosities and experiments designed to broaden the mind and spark a desire to learn more. Fun for all ages, plan a long day filled with excitement and discovery. Make sure to visit the planetarium, the garden, tinkering spaces, and don’t miss the Science Live Show!
Visit their website at sciencemuseumok.org to plan your trip.
Photo courtesy First Americans Museum, by Ben Winters
First Americans Museum (Oklahoma City)
The FAMily Discovery Center at First Americans Museum (FAM) opened in September. Experience what is described as “a giant pop-up-book world filled with Native stories, animal relatives and Oklahoma’s changing seasons.” Visitors will see the birds, animals, trees and plants of Oklahoma in this immersive world. Celebrate Indigenous Peoples Day at FAM. This large, public performance on Oct. 13 highlights the resiliency and vibrancy of global Indigenous people. Any day at FAM, families can learn about the 39 distinctive First American Nations in Oklahoma today.
Plan your visit at famok.org.
Endangered Ark Foundation (Hugo, OK)
It’s not every day you can get close enough to an elephant to look it in the eye, but at Endangered Ark, it is within reach.
The Endangered Ark Foundation is a private, nonprofit organization dedicated to ensuring the future of Asian elephants in North America. It functions as a retirement ranch for former circus elephants, while providing close-up encounters to educate the public about this endangered species. Public, private and group tours are available, along with special expeditions and cabin rentals. Reservations for each experience are required. Nearly a dozen elephants live and thrive on the property, receiving love and care from the staff.
In operation since 1993, their mission is “to respect the intimate understanding of the bond and partnership formed between animals and humans, and the need for action to save endangered animals. We believe that education and preservation efforts will ensure that people can continue to experience the joy and wonder of the Asian elephant for generations to come.”
Booking information and planning details can be found at endangeredarkfoundation.org.
Photo courtesy Euchee Butterfly Farm
Euchee Butterfly Farm (Leonard, OK)
An enchanting adventure awaits just a short drive out of Tulsa at the Euchee Butterfly Farm.
Guided tours of the farm include a walk through an outdoor aviary featuring native plant landscaping and over 1,000 live butterflies, available from May through October. Year-round, guests will be treated to a visit to the indoor tropical butterfly aviary with a vaulted 18-foot-tall ceiling, palm trees, and over 500 live butterflies. Additionally, 1.6 miles of nature trails are available for exploration, and a behind-the-scenes tour is offered to provide insight into how the butterflies are raised. Greenhouse tours are also available, where over 20,000 milkweed native plants are cultivated for monarch habitat restoration on tribal land, with a stop at the unique native plant seed bank. Inspiration for planting pollinator gardens can also be found, along with a native stone picnic area.
The butterflies on the farm are raised by the Natives Raising Natives Project, with a mission to create sustainable economic development for Native people in rural Oklahoma, provide hands-on science learning opportunities for Native youth, and raise awareness of the need for Native butterfly conservation. This mission also offers tribal members from the Muscogee (Creek) Nation with training, supplies, and technical support to become butterfly farmers.
For more information and to book a tour, visit their website at nativebutterflies.org.
Photo courtesy Nomad’s Animal Encounter
Nomad’s Animal Encounter (Seminole, OK)
An experience unlike any other awaits you in animal encounters at Nomad’s. This facility offers a fully hands-on wildlife adventure, where visitors are permitted to enter the animals’ enclosures for exciting interactions. Reservations are required for entry with guided tours, which allow guests to spend time with the zoo’s residents, accompanied by an educator who provides an educational presentation about each creature. Interactions are never forced on the animals as their welfare is the top priority.
Ticket prices start at $35 per person for individuals aged 2 and above, and each guided tour lasts approximately one hour. Visitors will enjoy time with a wide array of species, including native wildlife and some exotic creatures.
To book a visit to Nomad’s, guests can message the Facebook page at Nomad’s Animal Encounter, call 405.584.8159, or email from the website at nomadsanimalencounter.com.
Macy Goodnight is a freelance writer and photographer from Broken Arrow. She loves spending time with her family and friends, and has a keen interest in studying history, gardening, hiking, and traveling.
