Heyburn Lake Outdoor Classroom Vandalized With Bullets and Trash

An outdoor classroom, set up to give kids a free place to learn about wildlife and the outdoors during the pandemic, has been vandalized.           

The Heyburn Lake Outdoor Classroom opened in early May.

Less than two months later, someone has shot up several signs, including a Polaroid selfie station, and trashed the scenic waterfall stop with ammo boxes, a grill and other litter.

The outdoor classroom is on public land managed by the Oklahoma Department of Wildlife Conservation.

It has nine stations where families should be able to have a safe, fun, hands-on learning experience in the Oklahoma outdoors.

Related Story: Outdoor Classroom Offers 'Live Science' And Wildlife Lessons For Oklahoma Kids

Wildlife biologist Matt Mattioda says target shooting on the Heyburn Lake Wildlife Management Area is not only illegal, but it's also reckless, irresponsible, extremely dangerous and selfish.

He says destroying part of the outdoor classroom takes learning opportunities away from children.

Mattioda also adds, every bit of time and money used to clean up and repair the damage takes away from wildlife projects in other areas.

Anyone with information about the vandalism can man an anonymous report by calling the Operation Game Thief hot line at (800) 522-8039.