Catch these Game and Parks education events in June

Nebraska Game and Parks Commission educators have scheduled interesting and engaging events for the curious in June.

Don’t forget to purchase a vehicle park entry permit to enter the state parks, except one is not required to park in the Schramm Education Center parking lot. Get one at OutdoorNebraska.gov or at state park entrances.

Flock to Birds of a Feather on June 3

Get ready to go birding by participating in the Birds of a Feather program at 9:30 a.m. on select Tuesdays at Eugene T. Mahoney State Park’s James Family Conservatory and Nature Center.

A different birding topic is introduced each session to begin the program, followed by a trip outdoors to the birding area. On June 3, the topic will be Nest Architecture 101. Participants will discover how birds make nests unique to their species, then go on a hike and observe nests around the park.

Little Saplings features fireflies June 4

Adults looking to explore the outdoors with their young children are invited to Little Saplings, a monthly early childhood nature discovery program at Schramm Education Center near Gretna.

The 2025 series, which occurs the first Wednesday of the month, returns June 4 with the theme fireflies at 9 and 10 a.m. It is designed for children ages 2-5 and their adult caregivers. The cost is $5 per child and $5 per adult.

See the calendar event entry at Calendar.OutdoorNebraska.gov for more information.

Nebraska Nature Nerd Trivia Night coming to Ashland

Grab your fellow nature nerds and join the Nebraska Game and Parks Commission as it hosts Nebraska Nature Nerd Trivia Night on June 4 at Glacial Till Cider House in Ashland.

Get your teams of no more than five players and be ready to compete for prizes. Registration is not required. This event from 6-8 p.m. is for adults only and free to attend, but a purchase from the host site is encouraged.

For more information and or questions, email monica.macoubrie@nebraska.gov.

Prairie Pines will host wildflower workshop

Celebrate Nebraska Wildflower Week at a free workshop discovering the beauty of native wildflowers at 6 p.m. June 4 at Prairie Pines Nature Preserve just east of Lincoln.

Participants will learn about native wildflower and pollinator species while making their own wildflower seed bombs, designing tote bags with flower pounding and capturing wildflower silhouettes on bandanas with cyanotyping.

Registration is required and can be completed by visiting the calendar event entry at Calendar.OutdoorNebraska.gov. Participants must be 18. Direct any questions to megan.castor@nebraska.gov.

‘Science of’ porcupines scheduled in June

Discover the fascinating world of porcupines June 5 as the Nebraska Game and Parks Commission’s popular “Science of” virtual webinar series returns.

In this series, on select Thursdays at 3 p.m. Central time, Game and Parks educators discuss some of the science behind common things regarding nature and animals.

The hourlong webinars are free, but separate registration is required for each. See the calendar event entries at Calendar.OutdoorNebraska.gov for registration links.

Join butterfly survey training at Homestead

Become a community scientist and help conserve Nebraska’s rare, at-risk butterflies. Training for the Monarch and Regal Fritillary Survey will be from 1:30-5:30 p.m. June 7 at Homestead National Historical Park near Beatrice.

The survey is a community science project where volunteers help biologists document monarch and regal fritillary butterflies in Nebraska. Participants will learn how to walk an assigned transect, count butterflies, and assess habitat features.

For more information and to register, see the calendar event entry at Calendar.OutdoorNebraska.gov.

Two Rivers debuts Outdoor Learning program

A new education series, Outdoor Learning, begins in June at Two Rivers State Recreation Area. All events are held from 8 a.m.-noon at the pavilion east of the Caboose Park, unless otherwise noted.

June 7 – Monarch Migration: Explore monarch life cycles, take home butterfly-friendly seeds to plant and more.

June 14 – Dragonfly Detectives: Search for dragonflies, create art and explore their life cycles. Meet at the Lake No. 4 parking lot.

June 21 – Beginner Bird Identification: Look for chirpy chickadees or soaring hawks while learning to identify the park’s common birds.

June 28 – Insect Investigations: In this hands-on adventure, explorers will catch, observe and learn about Nebraska insects.

Train to become a Nebraska Master Naturalist

Nebraska Master Naturalist is offering its Complete Training course June 8-14 at Cedar Point Biological Station near Ogallala.

The Complete Training provides the required 60 hours of classroom content and field activities that allows you to achieve “Certified Nebraska Master Naturalist” status after participating in the full week of training.

The training combines fascinating coursework, hands-on field trips and meaningful volunteer opportunities. The program is perfect for anyone eager to make a positive impact on their local environment.

The cost is $500, which includes room and board.

For more information or to register, see the calendar event entry at Calendar.OutdoorNebraska.gov. Direct any questions to jamie.bachmann@nebraska.gov.

Treehouse Classroom offering three programs

The new Treehouse Classroom is open at Schramm Park State Recreation Area and three fun programs for all ages are scheduled.

Nature Poetry Workshop, at 3 p.m. June 10, is a beginner poetry-writing program led by a naturalist who will guide writers through different forms of nature poetry inspired by the park’s beauty.  

All About Bullfrogs is at 10 a.m. June 10. Learn about bullfrogs, make art inspired by them and grab a net and try to catch some in Canyon Ponds.

Nature Zines is at 6 p.m. June 26. Zines are mini magazines that can be shared to bring joy and spread a positive message about nature. Create Zines and plan on how to share them.

Wise and Wild is June 10 at James Family Conservatory

Wise and Wild is a free program for those age 55 and up who love the outdoors. It will be at 2:30 p.m. on select Tuesdays at Eugene T. Mahoney State Park’s James Family Conservatory and Nature Center.

On June 10, the topic will be Gardening for Pollinators. Learn about native plants and pollinators from Game and Parks’ horticulture team while celebrating Nebraska Wildflower Week.

Schramm to host Monarch Conservation Workshop

Come to the Schramm Education Center at 1 p.m. June 14 for a Monarch Conservation Workshop in partnership with Monarch Joint Venture.

During this free workshop, you will explore various methods for assessing monarch habitat, with a special focus on the Integrated Monarch Monitoring Program, a nationwide protocol designed for tracking monarch and pollinator populations. 

Additionally, we will discuss best management practices for maintaining monarch habitat and address any questions you have about monarch conservation in Nebraska.

To see an agenda and to register, visit the calendar event entry at Calendar.OutdoorNebraska.gov.

Schramm Pollinator Party is June 21

Celebrate Nebraska pollinators and their plants at the Schramm Pollinator Party from 10 a.m.-2 p.m. June 21.

This free event at the Schramm Education Center near Gretna, part of a statewide celebration of Nebraska Pollinator Week, will include activities, science, crafts, a plant sale and fun for all ages.

Direct any questions about the event to Jen Ruyle at 402-332-5022 or Jennifer.ruyle@nebraska.gov. For more information, see the calendar event entry at Calendar.OutdoorNebraska.gov.

Participate in Bioblitz at Ponca SP

Enjoy nature-themed activities and learn from Nebraska wildlife biologists and experts at the Ponca State Park Bioblitz on June 21. Discover and identify as many plants and animals as possible while contributing to real scientific research.

Whether you’re a seasoned naturalist, beginner wildlife enthusiast, student or family looking for a fun outdoor activity, there is something for everyone in this free event open to the public.

For a schedule and more information, visit the calendar event entry at Calendar.OutdoorNebraska.gov. Direct any questions to meghan.thompson@nebraska.gov.

Sips, Sounds and Wild Surrounds is June 29

All ages are invited to enjoy Sips, Sounds and Wild Surrounds at Ashland’s Glacial Till Vineyard & Winery on June 29.

From 1-3 p.m., this free family-friendly day with Nebraska Game and Parks will include hands-on nature activities and exhibits such as live animals, nature scents, coloring stations, yard games, invasive species education, skulls and pelts, and more.

There also will be live music, a food truck and drinks for purchase.

Direct any questions to monica.macoubrie@nebraska.gov.