NGPC News

LINCOLN – Try your hand at shooting steel targets quickly and accurately at the Rimfire Challenge on July 12 at Platte River State Park. This event, which includes instruction followed by competition, starts at 9 a.m. at the Roger G. Sykes Outdoor Heritage Education Complex. This introduction to rimfire steel shooting is about shooting fast, but participants first will learn the fundamentals by being slow and methodical while practicing. Space is limited to the first 20 people ages 12 and …

Beautiful scenes of the West will be on display at the 41st annual Western & Wildlife Art Show at Fort Robinson State Park. The show, a traditional part of Crawford’s annual Fourth of July celebration, will be Tuesday through Friday, July 1-4, at the park’s historic Veterinary Building. The work of 26 select artists from at least five states — featuring subjects such as landscapes, animals, ranchers, cowboys and Native Americans — will be available for viewing and purchase. The …

LINCOLN – Visitors to seven state recreation areas will be allowed to touch off fireworks on Independence Day, according to the Nebraska Game and Parks Commission. Those visitors should use extra caution with fireworks wherever dry conditions and high fire hazard exist. Branched Oak State Recreation Area (SRA) near Malcolm, Fort Kearny SRA near Kearney, Memphis SRA near Memphis, Fremont SRA near Fremont, Two Rivers SRA near Venice, Pawnee SRA near Emerald and Wagon Train SRA near Hickman will permit …

LINCOLN — Communications professionals, journalists and those who work in the field of natural resources conservation still have time to register for the 2014 Association for Conservation Information conference. This year’s conference will be held July 7-10 at the Lied Lodge and Conference Center in Nebraska City. Hosted this year by the Nebraska Game and Parks Commission, the annual conference will include sessions on marketing to millennials, measuring the impact of social media, the importance of branding, how to manage …

Birds and tomahawks are the topics of a pair of nature programs at Chadron State Park this weekend. Amanda Filipi, Nebraska Game and Parks Commission outdoor education specialist, will lead a birding program at 9 a.m. Saturday, June 28. Following at 10:30 a.m., she will teach participants to throw a tomahawk “like a regular Daniel Boone.” Those participating in the birding program will learn about species’ adaptations, extensive migrations and unique field marks. They will also enjoy a short hike …

LINCOLN – The Smithsonian “Traveling Museum of Music” program will be featured as part of the holiday weekend of living history at Fort Hartsuff State Historical Park on July 6 at 1 p.m. The program was developed for the Smithsonian Institution based on stories and songs about the music that was popular during every war in which America has been engaged, starting with the Revolutionary War. This free program is sponsored by the Friends of Fort Hartsuff and funded in part …

LINCOLN – The snakes of Nebraska will be displayed and discussed during a workshop from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. on July 19-20 at the Ak-Sar-Ben Aquarium. Dennis Ferraro, a University of Nebraska-Lincoln county extension educator, will display 29 species of snakes found in Nebraska and answer questions about the reptiles. Attending this workshop is a fun way to learn about snake identification, their habitat, and their value to people. In addition, the aquarium is a great place to visit …

LINCOLN – The following is a listing of Nebraska Game and Parks Commission events and important dates in July: July 1 – Archery fishing of game fish is allowed statewide through Dec. 31 July 1 – Underwater spearfishing of game fish allowed in specific waters through Dec. 31 (see page 20 of 2013-2014 Fishing Guide) July 1-14 – Paddlefish snagging permit application period July 2-4 – Western Wildlife Art Show, Fort Robinson State Park (SP), Crawford, 308-665-2900 July 4 – …

LINCOLN – Ponca State Park’s first Bowfishing Mentor Program will run July 9 through Aug. 6 on Wednesday nights, 6 p.m. until dark. The free program is open to ages 10 and above. Enrollees are encouraged to attend all sessions, which will cover basic archery, fish identification, water safety and more. Sessions will be conducted by local bow hunter education instructors. The program is sponsored by the Nebraska Game and Parks Commission, Cajun Archery, Muzzy Bowfishing, Backwater Outdoors and others. …

LINCOLN – A grand re-opening of the lake at Victoria Springs State Recreation Area to celebrate the completion of an aquatic habitat project will be June 25 from 4-7 p.m. The public is welcome to take a tour of the lake and stay for hot dogs, beans, chips and soda. The lake has undergone many improvements, including deepening, replacement of the outlet structure, bank stabilization, better shoreline angling access, a fishing pad, and the installation of underwater fish attractors. The …