NGPC News

LINCOLN, Neb. – More than 2,000 students in grades 6-12 are expected to compete in the 51st Annual Cornhusker Trap Shoot April 29-May 1 on the home grounds of the Nebraska Trapshooting Association in Doniphan, Nebraska. Joining shooters from across Nebraska also will be those from Wyoming, Iowa, Colorado and South Dakota. COVID-19 protocols are in place to provide for the safety of everyone at the event. Individuals attending the shoot must wear face masks when they are not able …

LINCOLN, Neb. – Sign up for the virtual Project WILD educator workshop to learn more about environmental education in Nebraska. Project WILD will help teach lessons about life cycles, habitats, wildlife populations, biodiversity and much more. Learn new skills and ways to implement activities into the classroom. The updated curriculum builds upon changing wildlife conservations, needs and advances in instructional methodology in Pre-K through 12th grade education. There is new content in every activity, including outdoor learning opportunities, STEM extensions …

LINCOLN, Neb. – There is good news for foragers. The morel mushroom picking season is just beginning. Some morels now are being found along eastern Nebraska’s river bottoms. In a few weeks, they will emerge in hilly wooded areas above rivers. “Look for morels near dead and decaying trees like cottonwoods,” said longtime morel hunter Greg Wagner, public information officer with the Nebraska Game and Parks Commission. “Walk slowly and scan the ground carefully. Where you find one, you should …

LINCOLN, Neb. – Celebrate American Wetlands Month this May with a series of virtual webinars. In a state full of diverse aquatic habitats, these webinars will be a great chance to get to know Nebraska’s wetlands. A variety of topics will be covered, from types of wetlands to the species that rely on them for survival. Registration is required and can be completed by visiting the event entries at calendar.outdoornebraska.gov or Facebook.com/NGPCWildlifeEducation. The series schedule is: • May 4 – …

LINCOLN, Neb. – Learn some history, gain some knowledge on resource management and celebrate state parks on May 8 at Natural History Day at Rock Creek Station State Historical Park. The Nebraska Game and Parks Commission is hosting the event, which is open to the public and part of the state parks centennial celebration. Landowners and conservationists are encouraged to attend. The event will feature eight 45-minute hikes on natural history, land and game species management, geology and history from …

CHADRON, Neb. — Chadron State Park is closing its campground from April 25-28 for its road improvement project. Gregg Galbraith, park superintendent, said the closure will allow workers to pave the roads without interruption and ensure the asphalt has properly cured before being subject to the weight of traffic. He said the campground will reopen the night of April 29 if the work occurs without delay. Galbraith said most campers seeking sites this time of year have been turkey hunters, …

SCOTTSBLUFF, Neb. — The Bird Conservancy of the Rockies and Nebraska Game and Parks Commission are inviting the public to survey the natural resources of the region during the Virtual Panhandle BioBlitz May 1-2. A bioblitz is an inventory of species, such as plants, mammals, birds, insects and fungi, in a specific area during a specific period. The free event will begin with a welcome segment May 1 at 9 a.m. MDT. Participants will then be encouraged to explore the …

LINCOLN, Neb. – Riverview Marina State Recreation Area in Nebraska City will be closed temporarily April 22 due to the replacement of a culvert under the entry roadway. One-lane access will be allowed starting April 23. Two-lane access should be available within two weeks.

LINCOLN, Neb. – Anglers will notice construction work at Gracie Creek Pond on the upstream end of Calamus Reservoir in Loup County. The work is the initial phase of the pond’s rehabilitation project. Nebraska Department of Transportation crews will remove nearly 20,000 cubic yards of soil from the north and west side of the parking lot. The soil will be removed to make way for sediment to be excavated during the pond’s rehabilitation, which should begin late this summer or …

LINCOLN, Neb. – The Nebraska Game and Parks Commission is looking to provide additional hunting and fishing opportunities on private lands through its Open Fields and Waters Program. Landowners willing to allow public, walk-in access for hunting or fishing can receive annual, per-acre payments through the program. Participating landowners are afforded liability protection through the Nebraska Recreational Liability Act. Additional financial incentives often are available for habitat improvements, such as Conservation Reserve Program enrollment or management upgrades. Game and Parks …