Lake Texoma news

Update: Lake Texoma Burning of the Socks Switch to Flip Flops 2019

The 3rd Annual Lake Texoma Burning of the Socks and Switch for Flip Flops will be March 17, 2018.  This unique event invites everyone out to various marinas and resorts around the lake as mariners welcome the arrival of spring.   This is a Lake Texoma event that you won’t want to miss!

The Burning of the Socks is a tradition started in the 1970’s thanks to Bob Turner who managed the Annapolis Yacht Yard.  At winter’s end, Captain Turner upon leaving his work on the first day of spring, decided to burn his socks in tribute to the coming warmer weather.  Turner’s personal custom caught on with others and became an annual tradition.

Over the years, the tradition has expanded along the east and west coasts and in between.  Mariners all over the country will be holding sock burning events to shed heavy winter wear for summer attire.  In Texoma Flip Flop season begins with the Spring Equinox which marks the moment when the center of the sun appears directly overhead at the Equator.

The Lake Texoma Burning of the Socks Switch to Flip Flops Celebration will be a day full of family friendly fun.  Along with the burning of the socks there will be lots of other fun events.  Here is a little preview of the events planned around the lake.

Big Mineral Marina
9-11 – Beach Cleanup
11:30-1 – Burning of the Socks – Free hotdogs, chips, tea and lemonade
1-3 – Lakeside tunes with Tom Branton

Bridgeview Marina
Flea market all day, begins 8am
Burning of the Socks – starts at 11am – free hot dogs
Tri-City Fire Department will be there!

Buncombe Creek Marina
Starts at 11am
Chili cook-off, polar plunge, wiener roast, bonfire, cookie sale, dunk tank, car show and more!

Cedar Mills Marina
Activities are from 4-6pm

Flowing Wells
5-10pm, free food, bring your lawn chairs, beach blankets and your favorite beverages

Highort Marina
Free hotdogs and s’mores from 3-5pm
Free flip-flops to first 100 attendees!
After burn party starts at 5pm with a surprise mystery performer

Lighthouse Marina
Starts at 4pm
Horseshoes, potato sack races, corn hole contest, scavenger hunt
Bonfire and sock burning at 5:30 pm
Live music starting at 6pm

Loose Wheel Texas NEW Venue!
Receive a drink token (with or without alcohol) if you bring a pair of socks to burn in our fire pit and a new pair to donate (or just a new pair)!

Walnut Creek
Annual Smoke Out!
This event is their annual charity cooking competition with all the proceeds going to the local volunteer fire departments.

During the Burning of the Socks,  It’s a tradition to read the following poem…

Ode to the Sock Burners

By Jefferson Holland, Poet Laureate of Eastport, 1995

Them Eastport boys got an odd tradition

When the sun swings to its Equinoxical position,

They build a little fire down along the docks,

They doff their shoes and they burn their winter socks.

Yes, they burn their socks at the Equinox;

You might think that’s peculiar, but I think it’s not,

See, they’re the same socks they put on last fall,

And they never took ‘em off to wash ‘em, not at all…

So they burn their socks at the Equinox

In a little ol’ fire burning nice and hot.

Some think incineration is the only solution,

‘Cause washin’ ‘em contributes to the Chesapeake’s pollution.

Through the spring and the summer and into the fall,

They go around not wearin’ any socks at all,

Just stinky bare feet stuck in old deck shoes,

Whether out on the water or sippin’ on a brew.

So if you sail into the Harbor on the 17th of March,

And you smell a smell like Limburger sauteed with laundry starch,

You’ll know you’re downwind of the Eastport docks

Where they’re burning their socks for the Equinox.

Lake Texoma | February 18, 2018

Registration for Camp Dragonfly is now open. Camp Dragonfly is a weekend retreat, led by professional clinicians and trained staff, for children ages 8-12 who have suffered the loss of a loved one. All activities at Camp Dragonfly are designed to help children heal and  live successfully after loss. During the weekend, campers have the opportunity to participate in art activities, games, nature hikes, discussions, and a campfire with s’mores.  Campers learn ways to process feelings and treasure memories. Camp is not about forgetting, it is about healing. We use exercises to help the children learn to process grief and then fun activities to practice the coping skills they are learning,” said Nancy Jackson, Community Development Director and Camp Director. “Children grieve differently than adults. Some children have behavioral problems, some  struggle with schoolwork, some become argumentative or fearful, some hesitate to be away from a parent, and many don’t like to be alone.”

Children dealing with grief often feel isolated and feel that no one understands. One of the goals of Camp Dragonfly is to give the campers a chance to be with others who can relate to their feelings of grief and sadness to help them realize that they are not alone. “My child very much enjoyed camp, she has always felt different from other children and camp seemed to make her feel like she belonged,” said a parent whose daughter attended a previous session. “The grief counselor I talked to was awesome! She was very honest and straightforward with me. She even asked how I was handling everything.”

Parents will receive a debriefing after the weekend from the clinical staff designed to not only provide them with resources, but insight as to how children grieve. The goal is to help the parents understand that a child experiences grief differently and help parents recognize and help them to cope with those behaviors.

The spring session of Camp Dragonfly is scheduled for March 23rd -25th at All Saints Camp on Lake Texoma, 418 Stanton Way, in Pottsboro, Texas. If you know a child who would benefit from participating, contact Nancy Jackson at (903) 868-9315 or nancy.jackson@homehospice.org.
Home Hospice of Grayson, Cooke and Fannin Counties is a 501(c)(3) local community-based organization founded in 1982. Our mission is to provide compassionate care, emotional support and education to our patients, their caregivers and the community to enhance their Quality of Life. For more
information visit our website at www.homehospice.org.

The Friends of Hagerman National Wildlife Refuge and the Audubon society invites everyone to participate in its annual Christmas Bird Count.  The 2017 count will take place at Hagerman National Wildlife Refuge on Saturday, December 16^th.  Meet at the Visitor Center at 7 am.

You will be assigned to a team.  You may volunteer for half a day or all day.  Bring binoculars, water, and snacks.  Teams will drive to an assigned sector.  Email  friendsofhagerman@gmail.com to sign up.  At the end of the count, a social time and supper will be sponsored by the Friends of Hagerman at 5 pm.

The Audubon Society describes this event as the nation’s longest running citizen science bird project.  The count, which began in 1900 as a replacement for the tradition of bird hunting on Christmas Day, provides important data about the state of the bird population throughout the world.  To date, over 200 peer-reviewed articles have resulted from analysis of the data gathered, and federal agencies use the data in decision making processes that impact bird populations.

Audubon’s 118th Christmas Bird Count will be conducted this coming season, with all counts held between the dates of Thursday, December 14, 2017 through Friday, January 5, 2018.

A map view of the circles expected to be included in the completed 118th CBC can be found here. If you’re interested in participating this season, check out the map to find a count near you; more circles will be added as they are approved for the 118th CBC and beyond. Green and yellow circles are open for new participants, and red circles are full. Please note online registration will not be available for the 118th Count—please contact compilers by email using the information from the pop-ups on the map.

If you are a beginning birder, you will be able to join a group that includes at least one experienced birdwatcher.

If your home is within the boundaries of a CBC circle, then you can stay at home and report the birds that visit your feeder on count day as long as you have made prior arrangement with the count compiler. Check out the sign-up link above during the sign-up season for information on how to contact the compiler.  For information about nesting boxes, contact friendsofhagerman@gmail.com

Since the Christmas Bird Count began over a century ago, it has relied on the dedication and commitment of volunteers.  You may participate in as many counts as you wish.  Participation is free.