Support organizations helping the outdoors
If you haven’t noticed, The Better Life team is a big fan of being outside. Whether it’s browsing the art in the Automobile Alley District’s alleys or visiting the new outdoor children’s area at the National Cowboy and Western Heritage Museum, Oklahomans love to soak up the sun.
When out and about, it’s easy to see how clean and beautiful Oklahoma City thanks to the work of City employees and nonprofit organizations. If helping preserve nature is an interest of yours, check out these organizations and membership opportunities.
Oklahoma City Beautiful
Oklahoma City Beautiful has enhanced the landscape of our community for over 50 years and continues to motivate members to care for their environment. Having a beautiful, vibrant, clean city is critical for future development. Since 1985, Oklahoma City Beautiful has planted over 600 acres of wildflowers across the metro area and helps maintain more than 30 visible green spaces.
The organization seeks to change the behavior of children and adults through education programs and private-public partnerships. OKC Beautiful has planted 25 gardens at area schools and community centers.
Greater Oklahoma City Parks and Trails Foundation
The Greater OKC Parks and Trails Foundation raises money to enhance the city’s parks, trails and public spaces, while educating people on how to get involved.
Though much of their focus remains on the outdoors, the Foundation has provided opportunities for people to enjoy park-like activities while staying in their homes because of the COVID-19 pandemic. The Foundation’s Stay Indoor Activity Guide allows you to have adventures in the safety and comfort of their own homes or backyards. You and your children can learn how to build a paper kite, make green slime, set up a pillow fort campsite, and partake in other activities that will keep the entire family entertained.
Myriad Botanical Gardens Membership
While entry to the Myriad Botanical Gardens is always free, there are some perks to becoming a member. At the gorgeous 17-acre green space in downtown Oklahoma City, members can enjoy the park’s natural beauty and receive discounts and exclusive invites to special events.
If being outdoors or keeping the Myriad Gardens in tip-top shape is an interest of yours, then look into how you can contribute a member. All members, regardless of level, receive year-round admission to the Crystal Bridge Tropical Conservatory (until it closes in the spring for a major renovation), admission to the Children’s Garden Festival in June and Pumpkinville in October. Other perks include free ice state rental at the Devon Ice Rink, discounts on educational programs and exclusive opportunities for members-only events.
Individual memberships start at $50, but you get half of that back in savings at the Oklahoma Gardening School. The Family discount (two adults and four kids) also includes a $25 discount to the Oklahoma Gardening School. But if you upgrade your Family membership ($65) to the family plus ($100), your kiddos get free rides on Mo’s Carousel during operating hours. (The carousel has a cool history.)
If the family membership still leaves you paying for two kids, then consider the $125 Contributor membership, where you get all the things of the Family Plus, as well as an extra 15% off all member-priced public events. This would be a great option if you expect your family to visit you often in your new city. The Patron level at $250 gets you everything previously mentioned and your names get listed on the website’s membership page. At $500, the Benefactor package benefits include eight day passes to the Crystal Bridge Tropical Conservatory and 10% off event rentals. And the biggest membership level, Garden Leader, coming in at $1,000, comes with all the things mentioned above and you get to have one individual/dual membership to give as a gift.
Scissortail Park Membership
Oklahoma City’s 70-acre Scissortail Park is an urban park in the core of downtown. It has something for everyone, including your four-legged family members. The park offers a membership option, which lets people help sustain the gorgeous destination for generations to come.
Members can receive discounts to park activities, access to members-only programs, and preferred seating for selected events. Some benefits include one free $12 pedal boat, canoe or kayak ride per visit and 50% off Sky Rink roller skating rentals. Of course, you’ll also get the Tailwinds magazine and get on the member newsletter e-mail list.
A Scissortail membership also gets you benefits in the community, such as 50% off at Devon Skating Rink at the Myriad Gardens, one free child’s ticket with an adult purchase at Factory Obscura and a 10% discount at Ride OKC for a bike tour.
Since the program recently launched, you can snag a sweet deal on memberships. The normally price $50 membership for one adult is only $40. The dual membership of one adult and one child is $50 though that $25 discount won’t last long. There’s also a $25 discount on the family membership, which is now set at $75. A family membership is good for two adults and up to four children.
With the park being new and the programming in its beginning stages as well, becoming a member could get you in at the ground floor to help shape the park’s future.
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