Corporate Partners
A number of forward-thinking companies in northwest Arkansas and beyond have partnered with the Ozark Natural Science Center to support us in our efforts to enhance the understanding, appreciation and stewardship of the Ozark natural environment. These companies understand the critical importance of sharing environmental education, messages of sustainability and conservation and outdoor experiences with children to positively impact our world.
Please consider joining us as a corporate partner (learn more about partnership levels and our current needs here), or simply contact us to schedule a time to bring your team to visit our facility for a corporate retreat, strategy session, management getaway or our corporate sustainability program. Learn more about facility use here, or for more information, contact Executive Director Beth Stephens (479-633-7619 or beth@onsc.us).
Cargill began its relationship with the Ozark Natural Science Center with a splash in 2010 with its donation of a fleet of eight canoes manufactured in Jasper, Arkansas by Buffalo Canoes. The gift included a custom canoe trailer and related gear, and was valued at more than $8,000. The local Cargill Cares council, through the Cargill Water Matters Mini-Grant Program administered by The Conservation Fund along with the corporate and national offices of Cargill, made the decision to award the gift in support of our “innovative conservation endeavor” and water-related programming.
In 2011, Cargill again stepped up with $10,000 in support of our school programs, assistance with the cost of printing the field journals we provide to every visiting student, sponsorship of Call of the Wild 2011 and funding for implementation of phase one of an educational rain garden outside the Ewing Centre. The partnership between Cargill and ONSC is ongoing, and additional exciting collaborative projects are in the works. Read more about their commitment to ONSC.
We are exceptionally excited about our new partnership with GE Lighting, because our work at ONSC aligns perfectly with GE’s corporate focus on education and the environment. This year, GE will have a visible presence at Call of the Wild from lighting education tools and solutions to their support in offering a CFL bulb to each and every event attendee, highlighting our efforts to educate attendees, decrease our event’s footprint and increase awareness of energy and cost-savings through sustainable steps.
Additionally, members of the local GE Lighting team will assist us in assessing our facilities to find ways to improve our lighting choices, capture energy, reduce costs and lower our overall footprint. We’ve found the GE team to be tirelessly enthusiastic in their support of our mission, and expect to work closely with them for years to come. Learn more at their intriguing website, www.ecomagination.com.
With its message to “go out and play” and core values centered around supporting families and relationships through outdoor recreation, Lewis & Clark Outfitters is a natural partner for the Ozark Natural Science Center. From holding a recent management strategy session at the Center to enthusiastically brainstorming fundraising and support activities for ONSC, Lewis & Clark is emerging as one of our most exciting and innovative partnerships.
This year, we’ll work with Lewis & Clark and the Illinois River Watershed Partnership on a geocacheing event through ONSC Corps, and we’ll be featured visibly in their stores in addition to working on a number of behind the scenes projects together.
Shell has partnered with the Ozark Natural Science Center to support our corporate sustainability program, which is currently being redeveloped for relaunch. The Shell team sees ONSC as key in the development of consumer product team efforts in the sustainability arena. The corporate sustainability program is being revamped by both ONSC and Shell team members with support from the University of Arkansas’ Applied Sustainability Center.
