Dedication of Turpin Outdoor Education Center is Oct. 14

Celebrate the legacy of Dick Turpin by enjoying free time on the archery and firearm ranges at the dedication of the Turpin Outdoor Education Center on Oct. 14 in Lincoln.

Dick Turpin was a legendary Nebraska outdoorsman who loved connecting people to the outdoors. In his 40 years with the Nebraska Game and Parks Commission, Turpin was a conservation officer, hunter education coordinator and chief of law enforcement. Turpin, who retired in 1999, had a passion for inspiring a love of the outdoors in all he met, and he loved spinning masterful stories. He died in 2022.

The dedication of the facility, formerly known as the Nebraska Outdoor Education Center, will take place from 10 a.m. to 1 p.m., with special remarks at 11 a.m. It is located at 4703 N. 44th St.

Tours of the facility and refreshments will be provided. No personal firearms will be allowed in the firearm range.

The outdoor education center opened in June 2014, and its name change was approved by the commission in summer 2023.

The center is known for its outdoors skills educational programming geared toward youth and adults new to archery, shooting or hunting. The center offers educational classes, day camps, workshops, special events, and instruction for all ages and skill levels. It also has indoor and outdoor archery ranges and an indoor firearm range for those seeking to improve their skill level.

Learn more about the center and the programming it offers at OutdoorNebraska.gov. There, you also can find information on Turpin, whose family, along with Game and Parks, created the Dick Turpin Outdoor Education Memorial Fund after his death to support hunter education and outdoor skills programs across Nebraska. Donate at OutdoorNebraska.gov; search for “Turpin Memorial.”