Mar 15, 2023
Catch these Game and Parks education events in March
Nebraska Game and Parks Commission educators have scheduled interesting and engaging events.
Read More
Nebraska Game and Parks Commission educators have scheduled interesting and engaging events for the curious in September. Here are some opportunities:
Fishing for Younger Friends, scheduled at 10 a.m. Sept. 1 and 22 at Eugene T. Mahoney State Park, is a program designed to get young people into fishing.
Children ages 3-5 years will learn the names of some common Nebraska fish, make a fish print and learn to cast by playing Backyard Bass.
Following the program, the children can fish at the lake. Equipment and bait will be provided. Adults ages 16 and up who fish with their children must have a fishing license. Adult supervision is required.
October is Nebraska Reptile Month, and students across the state are invited to celebrate by participating in an annual art contest hosted by the Nebraska Game and Parks Commission.
Artists in grades K-12 may submit their original artwork of a Nebraska native reptile between Sept. 4 and Oct. 18 at OutdoorNebraska.gov; search for “Reptile Awareness Month” and use the submission form on that page.
Students may use any medium to create their art, but then must scan, or take a picture and upload their artwork to the website. Students who submit entries will receive reptile items. To learn more about Nebraska’s native reptile species, or for inspiration for artwork, visit OutdoorNebraska.gov and search for “reptiles.”
To view the winners at the end of the contest, “like” the Nebraska Wildlife Education Facebook page.
For more information, email monica.macoubrie@nebraska.gov.
Beginner Birding is a program for all ages at 9 a.m. each Tuesday in September at Eugene T. Mahoney State Park. Explore the world of birding and hike the park looking for birds with a naturalist.
Learn about what it takes to be a birder, some benefits of the hobby and ways to identify the birds you see. The hour-long program meets at Owen Marina.
Resources will be available, but participants may bring their own binoculars. Dress comfortably for walking and time outdoors.
A Growing Up WILD educator workshop, which provides an early foundation for developing positive attitudes and behaviors about nature and lifelong social and academic skills, is scheduled for Sept. 5 in Hastings.
This award-winning early childhood curriculum guide is for educators of children ages 3-7. The guide builds on children’s sense of wonder about nature by providing age appropriate, interdisciplinary lessons. Each thematic lesson includes multiple activities which teach math, reading, letter recognition, science, social studies as well as social-emotional skills.
This free workshop is from 6:30-8:30 p.m. at the Hastings Museum, 1330 N. Burlington Ave. Space is limited. Email monica.macoubrie@nebraska.gov for more information. Register at the calendar event listing at Calendar.OutdoorNebraska.gov.
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 Sept. 6 with the theme Spiders at 9 and 10 a.m. It is designed for children ages 2-5 and their adult caregiver. The cost is $4 per child and $5 per adult per program and includes admission to the Education Center after the program.
See the calendar event entry at Calendar.OutdoorNebraska.gov for more information.
Join natural resource experts and community volunteers to discover the biodiversity of the Chadron State Park on Sept. 8-9.
The bioblitz is designed for participants to learn about plants and animals at the park, and then work to identify as many as possible during the event.
Sept. 8 participants will learn about small mammals, bats and the night sky, eat dinner and play nature trivia. On Sept. 9, participants will see bird banding, survey for small mammals, plants and insects, or explore the pond.
Register for the event by Sept. 5 in the event listing at Calendar.OutdoorNebraska.gov, where you also can find the schedule of events. People may attend as much of the event as they want.
The program is free, but a vehicle park entry permit is required.
Wildcat Hills State Recreation Area will host the monthly preschool program Sept. 12.
The program Beautiful Birds will meet at the Nature Center at 10 a.m. Mountain time. There will be a lesson plan, story and hands-on activity specifically targeted for children ages 2-6.
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.
Participants will learn about types of fish, fish anatomy and take part in an art project during the Wildcat Hills homeschool program Feathered Friends on Sept. 14.
This program meets 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.
Participate in Rockin’ Rocks and join a naturalist and geologist at the geological outcrop at Schramm Park State Recreation Area to learn about rocks and fossils on Sept. 17.
During this 10 a.m. event, participants can conduct chemistry experiments on rocks, learn the significance of the rock cycle in Nebraska and more.
The outcrop is located at the park’s east entrance across from the canoe launch.
Grab your fellow nature nerds and join the Nebraska Game and Parks Commission as it hosts Nebraska Nature Nerd Trivia Night at 7 p.m. Sept. 21 at Prairie Pride Brewing Company in Grand Island.
Nature is cool, so there is no shortage of topics questions could cover. Get your teams of no more than five players and be ready to compete for prizes. Registration is not required.
These events are for adults only and are free to attend with a purchase from Prairie Pride Brewing, 115 E. South Front St., No. 1.
For more information, email monica.macoubrie@nebraska.gov.
Homeschool families are invited to join an outdoor educator on a guided hike to learn about geology at Schramm Park State Recreation Area near Gretna during the Homeschool Hikes program at 9 a.m. Sept. 20 and 2 p.m. Sept. 21. The theme is ladybugs.
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. Cost is $4 per child and $5 per adult per program. This includes admission to the Schramm Education Center after the program. Schramm Family Pass members participate free.
Participants should dress in season-appropriate layers and wear closed-toed shoes that can get dirty. Hats and water bottles are recommended.