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Nebraska Game and Parks Commission educators have scheduled interesting and engaging events for the curious in October. Here are some opportunities:
The Nebraska Game and Parks Commission’s virtual webinar series “The Science of …” returns in October. On three Thursdays at 3 p.m. Central time, Game and Parks educators will discuss the science behind common things regarding nature and animals.
The webinar schedule of topics: Oct. 5 – Rattlesnakes; Oct. 12 – Mustelids; Oct. 19 – Animal Eyes.
The webinars are free, but separate registration is required for each webinar. See the calendar event entries at calendar.outdoornebraska.gov for registration links.
Contact monica.macoubrie@nebraska.gov for more information.
Discover how amazing spiders are during the Wildcat Hills Homeschool Program Web Walkers on Oct. 12 at Wildcat Hills State Recreation Area. Learn all about their stealth, camouflage and engineering.
This program meets once a month at 10 a.m. Mountain time at the Wildcat Hills Nature Center.
The program is free, but a vehicle park entry permit is required. For more information contact the Nature Center at 308-436-3777. Children must be accompanied by an adult.
Wildcat Hills State Recreation Area will host the monthly Wildcat Tales preschool program Oct. 10.
Each program will include a lesson plan, story and hands-on activity specifically targeted for children ages 2-6 years. The program Web Walkers will meet at the Nature Center at 10 a.m. Mountain time. Each month will have a different program topic.
The program is free, but a vehicle park entry permit is required. For more information contact the Nature Center at 308-436-3777. Children must be accompanied by an adult.
Homeschool families are invited to join an outdoor educator on a guided hike to learn about fall leaves at Schramm Park State Recreation Area near Gretna during the Homeschool Hikes program at 9 a.m. Oct. 18 and 2 p.m. Oct. 19.
Homeschool Hikes is a monthly nature exploration program hosted by the Schramm Education Center geared toward homeschool families and ages 5 and up.
Participants are encouraged to RSVP in advance through the event listing at Calendar.OutdoorNebraska.gov.
Families are invited to celebrate Nebraska Reptile Month on Oct. 26 in Lincoln with Reptiles of Nebraska.
This free event, hosted by the Nebraska Game and Parks Commission and the University of Nebraska-Lincoln School of Natural Resources, will take place from 5-8 p.m. at Hardin Hall, located on UNL’s East Campus at 3310 Holdrege St.
UNL Herpetologist Dennis Ferraro will have an exhibit of live Nebraska snakes, lizards and turtles. There also will be touch stations, coloring stations, turtle activities, snake activities, and educational booths.
Contact monica.macoubrie@nebraska.gov with any questions.
Sensory Safari is an event Oct. 4 where visually and sensory impaired guests will have the opportunity to touch, feel, hear and smell at interpretative stations located throughout the Lincoln Children’s Zoo.
Nature experts from organizations across Nebraska will engage visitors at each station during this special event hosted by the zoo and the Nebraska Game and Parks Commission from 10 a.m.-12:30 p.m.
Registration is required and can be completed at the calendar event entry at Calendar.OutdoorNebraska.gov.
Contact monica.macoubrie@nebraska.gov with any questions.
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 2023 series continues Oct. 4 with the theme Seeds at 9 and 10 a.m. It is designed for children ages 2-5 and their adult caregiver.
See the calendar event entry at Calendar.OutdoorNebraska.gov for more information.
Do you have young nature enthusiasts at home who love a challenge? Nebraska Nature Nerd Trivia for Kids is just for them. Omaha’s Backlot Taphouse at Aksarben will host the event from 6-7:30 p.m. Oct. 10.
Join the Nebraska Game and Parks education team for a fun trivia event. Create a family team or bring together a group of young nature lovers to answer trivia questions about nature, especially species found in Nebraska. Winners will receive prizes such as nature books, stickers and more.
The Backlot Taphouse is located at 2110 S. 67th St. Suite 108. The event is free with a purchase from the host.
Direct questions to grace.gaard@nebraska.gov.
Among the variety of other programming at Schramm Park State Recreation Area and Nature Center are three nature-based sessions for nature lovers this month. Join park naturalists for:
Nature Journaling and Sunset Hike – Learn about nature journaling and take a sunset hike in the park with an educator and master naturalist Oct. 12. Meet at the new shelter near the first pond. The program, from 5:30-7:30 p.m., will include an introduction to nature journaling, time to look for crepuscular critters and awe-inspiring landscapes as we hike at sunset.
Create Your Own Fishing Fly – The Cornhusker Fly Fishers will be at the Schramm Education Center from 10 a.m.-noon Oct. 21 creating fancy flies for fishing. Watch them or join them in their craft as they teach you how to create your own feathered fly.
Animal Tricks and Treats – At 10 a.m. and 1 p.m. Oct. 31 at Schramm Education Center, learn about some tricks animals do to survive. Explore behavioral adaptations with live animal ambassadors in the education center classroom. Following the program, make s’mores on the grill.
Eugene T. Mahoney State Park near Gretna is hosting a variety of nature-based education programs in October. Join park naturalists for:
Beginner Birding – On Tuesdays in October at 9 a.m., meet at Mahoney’s Owen Marina to explore the world of birding and hike the park looking for birds with a naturalist.
Archery – Test your precision and accuracy with bow and arrows in this introductory archery program from 9-11 a.m. on Saturdays in October. This program is located behind the Bur Oak Shelter past the fence by the hay bale targets. Ages 5 and up.
Snakes of Nebraska – Stop by the naturalist table at Owen Marina to learn all about snakes from 1-3 p.m. Oct. 21 and 28. Weather permitting, a live animal ambassador snake will make an appearance.
Updated 12:55 p.m. Sept. 18 to reflect Wildcat Hills Nature Center programming.
