Dear Attendee, Thank you so much for reserving your attendance at The Nature Conservancy in Kansas 25th Anniversary Celebration: Visitors Day at Smoky Valley Ranch, Saturday, June 7th. Please find enclosed directions to the ranch, schedule of events and other important information about the day. If you have any follow up questions, please contact Shelby Stacy or Ruth Palmer. Shelby Stacy: office 785-233-4400; cell 785-230-9727 or email sstacy@tnc.org. Ruth Palmer: office 785-233-4400; cell 785-220-8723 or email rpalmer@tnc.org. Schedule of Events Time Activity Location 9:00 a.m. Event Opens Registration located at headquarters 9:30 a.m. 2.5 Hour Driving Tour Leave from Headquarters 1 Hour Driving Tour 1 Hour Hiking Tour 10:30 a.m. 11:45 a.m. Historical Presentations 10:30 a.m. 11:00 a.m. Native Americans and Bison presented by Ken Weidner Smoky Hill Riverbed 11:15 a.m. 11:45 a.m. Pre-Settlement and Early Settlement History presented by Mike Baughn Headquarters Classroom Noon 1:00 p.m. Lunch Headquarters Building 1:00 p.m. 2.5 Hour Driving Tour Leave from Headquarters 1 Hour Driving Tour 1 Hour Hiking Tour 2:00 3:15 p.m. Historical Presentations 2:00 2:30 p.m. Native Americans and Bison presented by Ken Weidner Smoky Hill Riverbed 2:45 3:15 p.m. Pre-Settlement and Early Settlement History presented by Mike Baughn Headquarters Classroom 3:30 p.m. 2.5 Hour Driving Tour Leave from Headquarters 1 Hour Driving Tour 1 Hour Hiking Tour 4:30 5:45 p.m. Historical Presentations 4:30 5:00 p.m. Native Americans and Bison presented by Ken Weidner Smoky Hill Riverbed 5:15 5:45 p.m. Pre-Settlement and Early Settlement History presented by Mike Baughn Headquarters Classroom
Activity Descriptions VAN TOURS (2.5 hours or 1 hour) There are two van tours available at 9:30 a.m., 1:00 p.m. and 3:30 p.m. The 2.5 hour tour will cover management and history of ranch and include information about lesser prairie chickens, black-footed ferrets, and other research. The 1 hour tour will feature several historical sites on the ranch. As the van tours have limited seating, please sign up for tours at registration desk. HIKING TOURS (1 hour) This moderate intensity 3/4 mile hike will take visitors along a one-mile trail through a diverse, scenic sample of Smoky Valley Ranch, including the Smoky Hill River, Niobrara Chalk bluffs, and sandsage flats. Hike will conclude at the location of the Native American history presentation. HISTORY PRESENTATIONS (1/2 hour each) Ken Weidner is a living history enthusiast who creates reproductions of Plains Indians materials. Local and national historical societies and museums have displayed his art including two saddles displayed in the National Museum of the American Indian in Washington D.C. Weidner will set up an historically accurate tipi and show some of his handmade materials at the Visitors Day. Presenter Mike Baughn, is a researcher and documentarian from Brewster, Kansas who is active in several historical associations. He is also is the 3rd District Thomas County Commissioner and has held a wide variety of local political positions like Mayor of Brewster and Thomas County Sherriff. Baughn will present on the settlement era history of the ranch and surrounding areas. Collection Policy The Nature Conservancy of Kansas is in the process of inventorying and evaluating the geologic and paleontologic resources at its Smoky Valley Ranch. Until the Conservancy has had an opportunity to evaluate these resources and formulate a management plan for the preserve, collecting is not allowed. While visiting the ranch, if you find a rock, mineral, fossil, or historical artifact that you feel is significant or may be of interest to the Conservancy, please mark its location on a map and report it to the Ranch Services Coordinator or Ranch Manager. The Conservancy does not want to discourage scientific research at the Smoky Valley Ranch, but until these resources have been evaluated, the Kansas Chapter does not want anything removed from the preserve without express written authorization. Filming Notice The Nature Conservancy will have a small film crew on hand to shoot the festivities and the ranch. If you do not wish to be filmed, please avoid the camera crew. Inclement Weather Please check the Conservancy s website (ww.nature.org/kansas) and Facebook page (facebook.com/tnckansas) for notices about event cancellation. Some activities may be cancelled or amended if there is rain. If you have questions about the weather that day, please contact either Ruth Palmer at 785-220-8723 or Shelby Stacy at 785-230-9727 or call the Smoky Valley Ranch office at 785-672-3834. Location Notice Please be advised that Smoky Valley Ranch is very remote and the closest medical care facility is nearly 30 minutes from the ranch. Lunch A barbeque lunch will be provided by a local caterer. Items include: pulled pork, beans, coleslaw, and chips. There will be limited seating during lunch. We advise attendees to bring lawn chairs. Space will be provided to store chairs while participating in activities.
Overnight Accommodations Sleep Inn in Oakley has a number of rooms available for anyone who wants to stay overnight. Here is the address and phone number. If the Sleep Inn is booked there are several other motels available in Oakley too. Sleep Inn & Suites 3596 East Hwy 40 Oakley, KS, US, 67748 Phone: (785) 671-1111 Parking Visitors can park starting at the headquarters road all the way back to the entry gates. When leaving visitors will be directed to circle the road that runs by the house. Volunteers and signs will be positioned along the road to direct visitors. Restroom Facilities Indoor restroom facilities will be open for visitor usage. Additionally, we will have at least one port-a-john located near the headquarters. Suggested Items The activities at Smoky Valley Ranch will provide little shade and the weather can be extremely windy. There will also be limited seating available at the ranch. To be prepared, we advise you to bring: sunscreen a hat sturdy shoes and/or boots long pants Refillable water bottle insect repellant lawn chairs Water A water refill station will be located near the headquarters. A water refill station with paper cups will be available. Please bring your own refillable water bottle. Other information No firearms and fireworks. No smoking. No drug or alcohol use. Guests are solely responsible for the security of their personal property and equipment. Be aware cell phone reception is variable at remote locations. Be cautious near bison and other animals do not approach them. No harming animals or their habitat. Avoid clearly marked or designated research projects/ areas. No littering. No collecting of anything from ground examples include fossils, turtle shells, feathers, etc.
Directions to Smoky Valley Ranch Headquarters Building Traveling from the east on Interstate 70 (distances are approximate) Take exit 76 and travel west on Highway 40 approximately 2 miles until you reach the intersection of Highway 83. Travel south of Oakley on Highway 83 eleven (11) miles to Seneca Road. (There is a cell tower at Highway 83 and Seneca road.) Travel west on Seneca Road seven 7 miles until you reach 370 Road. Travel south on 370 th Road approximately 6 1/2 miles until you reach The Nature Conservancy sign. Travel east (drive underneath the Smoky Valley Ranch sign) on the ranch road until you reach the headquarters building. Latitude 38 51'38.32"N Longitude 100 58'56.27"W From the South (distances are approximate) Option A Take Highway 83 north to Seneca Road. Turn west on Seneca Road seven 7 miles until you reach 370 Road. Travel south on 370 Road 6 1/2 miles until you reach The Nature Conservancy sign. Travel east (drive underneath the Smoky Valley Ranch sign) on the ranch road until you reach the headquarters building. Option B From Scott City, travel north on Highway 83, 20.5 miles until you reach Gold Road. Turn west on Gold Road and drive 4.6 to 390 Road. Turn north on 390 and follow the curves north and west 4.5 miles until you reach 350 Road. Travel north on 350 Road for 7 miles until you reach Plains Road. Turn west on Plains Road and travel 2 miles to 370 Road. Travel south on 370 Road 6 1/2 miles until you reach The Nature Conservancy sign. Travel east (drive underneath the Smoky Valley Ranch sign) on the ranch road until you reach the headquarters building. Location of Smoky Valley Ranch: a statewide perspective
Detailed map to Smoky Valley Ranch Headquarters
Smoky Valley Ranch Detailed Site Map