The Outdoor Wilderness Learning Center (OWL)

Address: 1523 Hwy. 563, Dubach, LA, 71235   Phone: (318) 777-3460

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The Outdoor Wilderness Learning (OWL) Center

The OWL Center is located on 800 acres in Dubach, Louisiana, the piney hills of north Louisiana, and has been established to provide an outdoor educational training environment for children, families, youth, church, corporate, and other groups. This is a therapeutic, recreational, and educational facility, which enables all to participate in physical, psychological, and spiritual activities, which empower them to develop strong, lasting relationships. Dynamics such as team building, self-esteem skills, and family-strengthening experiences result in accomplishing the overall mission of the OWL Center ... RELATIONSHIP BUILDING!

The OWL Center is the perfect place for any day-long or overnight group activity.  All of the facilities are available for reservation by groups of 12 or more.

 

The A-MAZE-ING OWL MAZE

Our 10,000 square foot OWL Maze is waiting for your group to come and explore! Learn about teamwork, improve your problem-solving skills, use reasoning & critical-thinking, and have FUN, FUN, FUN! Our maze is a permanent structure with 6 1/2 foot walls and will be in use year-round.
You may want to add another dimension to the fun.  The maze can be used for games & educational purposes also.  Educational material or scavenger-type hunts can be posted within the perimeters of the walls for participants to discover as they travel within.  It proves to be versatile ...material used can be centered on spiritual or academic education.  Or we can break the group into small teams and hide items in the maze to solve a puzzle.  With advanced planning, a program may be customized to accommodate the specific needs of your group.
The maze can be entered and exited from different locations to prevent familiarity with the pattern.  We can even do night events!  There is a tower to insure safety for the participants.  Reservations are a MUST. 

 

EQUINE ASSISTED PSYCHOTHERAPY (EAP)

Equine Assisted Psychotherapy is an experiential form of therapy in which horses are used to help participants achieve emotional growth and learning. 

Clients participate in activities with the horses and then discuss the feelings, behaviors, and patterns uncovered during the activity.  These results can then be used to help the participant learn about themselves and the ways in which they relate to others.  Equine Assisted Psychotherapy is a collaborative effort that involves a licensed therapist as well as an equine professional.  The majority of activities take place on the ground and focus on skills such as non-verbal communication, assertiveness, teamwork, problem solving, and leadership.  EAP can be used with individuals or groups and is useful in treating a variety of mental health disorders.

 

HORSEMANSHIP CLASSES

The goal of the Horsemanship Classes is to provide children with the basic skills necessary to safely and effectively handle horses.  Through hands-on experience, they learn how to catch, halter, lead, and groom their horses.  Students may also learn to saddle their horses, work them in the round pen, and ride.  Different aspects of horse husbandry, such as feeding, veterinary care, and horse psychology are also discussed.  Often we are able to draw parallels between the horse's behavior and his handler's and discuss how this might be changed.  During this class we also discuss boundaries and respect for/from others-all in relation to the horses, but applicable to the children as well.

 

TEAM CHALLENGE ROPES COURSE

The OWL Center operates a Ropes Course certified by Adventure Experiences, Inc.  Louisiana Methodist Children's Home's Team Challenge Course is designated to accomplish two goals. One focus is upon enhancing the individual by building confidence and self esteem. The second focus is to help people learn to work together as a team and accomplish goals never thought possible.

The Team Challenge Course uses the elements to help our youth face fears, build trust, and learn to better communicate with others.  Groups will build friendships, self-confidence, and trust that create more effective and productive individuals.  We help turn the "I can't" attitude into "Yes, we can!".

The facilities are also open to private groups of 12 or more people. All course activities are facilitated by trained challenge course instructors certified annually through Adventure Experiences.

 

CAMPING FACILITIES

The OWL Center's camping facilities are designed to expose individuals to the joy of camping in a safe and secure environment.  Facilities include cabins, shower and restroom facilities, kitchen and storage, camping and R.V. sites, and also a bunkhouse for large groups.  Campers have the opportunity to learn basic survival skills like building a fire, pitching a tent, orienteering, and campfire cooking. The facility is open to residential youth and also private groups.

 

BUNKHOUSE and CABINS

A spacious front porch welcomes you into this rustic bunkhouse.  You enter into a nice-size foyer, which is perfect for registration or greeting purposes.  There are storage closets, tables & chairs.  The bunkhouse sleeps 40 people.  There are two separate wings with 10 bunks in each wing. Located between the two wings is a large central meeting area.  This is perfect space to conduct your group gatherings or meetings.

The cabins at the OWL Center are simple but functional.  Each rustic cabin sleeps four people. Each contains two bunk beds, a bench, and shelves.  There is no electricity or water in the cabins; however, there is a multipurpose building which houses a kitchen, men's and women's shower/restroom, and a laundry facility within a few yards.  A small covered pavilion with picnic tables for meals and gatherings completes this area.

 

MAIN PAVILION

The pavilion at the OWL is large enough to accommodate groups of 100+ as well as smaller groups.  There is a fully functional kitchen, large grill, and men and women's restroom facilities. There is also recreation storage area that contains playing equipment for field activities.

Adjacent to the pavilion is a large playing field for activities such as softball, football, soccer, and Frisbee-throwing. A short walk from the pavilion is an outdoor chapel overlooking a small pond in the woods.  Also, an Olympic-regulation sand volleyball court, nine-holes of disc golf, the Karen A. Vining Arbor Walk, and 5 mile hiking/biking trails are all nearby.  This area is perfect for family and class reunions, church gatherings, or retreats.

 

FISHING

Bring your own gear and enjoy fishing in our 4-acre pond filled with White Perch, Bass, Bream and catfish.

 

HOTHOUSE and SALSA

Contact the OWL Center, (318) 777-3460, for salsa orders or to arrange for your group to help with the hothouse.

We have two 90 foot double-bay hothouses located at the OWL Center.  Each bay is 30 X 100 ft.

We sell some to individuals and all the rest go into our Screamin' OWL™ Salsa.  Tomatoes are available from mid-November through June.

In the other hothouse bay we grow our ferns.  The children plant the ferns each August/September and they are available for sale during the months of March & April. There are usually 6-8 different varieties of ferns: Macho, Asparagus, Fluffy Ruffle, Boston, Hills Boston, Kimberly Queen, Fishtail, and Rabbit's Foot.

Volunteer groups are always needed to assist in clearing out the hothouses in late June through July.  We get ready for the next year's planting. And arrangements can be made if your group (3-5) would like to help make a batch of salsa.