NGPC News

LINCOLN, Neb. — Schramm Education Center is hosting an Outdoor Studio series at 3 p.m. on Wednesdays that explores creative ways to record nature observations on paper. The one-hour sessions, designed for adults, will examine natural wonders such as birds, bones, insects and leaves. The cost is $5 per session, which includes the time in the education center prior to class beginning. Register online at bit.ly/OutdoorStudio. Classes will be capped at 15 participants. Schedule Sept. 23 — Drawing Birds: Drawing …

LINCOLN, Neb. – Platte River State Park’s Lincoln Journal Star Observation Tower will close temporarily to the public so it can be painted. Located near Walter Scott Jr. Lodge, the tower will be closed Sept. 17 to Nov. 1. Hiking near the tower is permissible, but the area below the tower will be closed to traffic. The Daugherty Tower, located near Mallet Lodge, will remain open, and dining at Walter Scott Jr. Lodge will continue through the maintenance. The observation …

LINCOLN, Neb. – Youth are invited to enter the Nebraska Game and Parks Commission’s Kayak Kid Essay Competition for the chance to win an outdoors prize package. The contest requires a handwritten 250-word essay expressing why growing up in the outdoors is important. Entries must include a photo of the essay writer at one of the southwest region parks or reservoirs, including Johnson Lake, Elwood Reservoir, Gallagher Canyon Reservoir, Lake Maloney, Sutherland Reservoir, Buffalo Bill Ranch State Historical Park and …

LINCOLN, Neb. — Students across Nebraska are invited to celebrate National Reptile Awareness Day 2020 through an art competition hosted by the Nebraska Game and Parks Commission. Young artists in grades K-12 may submit their original artwork of a Nebraska native reptile by Oct. 14 at outdoornebraska.org/reptileart. Each student that submits a digital piece of artwork will receive a Reptile-ology magazine. Winners from each grade level will be selected by Game and Parks staff and announced on National Reptile Awareness Day …

By Larry Pape Nebraska Game and Parks Commission Keep your catch of fish as fresh as possible and you will be rewarded with a wonderful meal that is the finale to a fishing trip. In mid-October, trout will be stocked across Nebraska in small city park ponds and state park lakes. These pan-sized fish offer a person the delicious main course of a meal. From the lake to the table, every step is critical in making the best of what …

LINCOLN, Neb. – A health alert for harmful algal blooms, also known as toxic blue-green algae, remains in effect for Pawnee and Wagon Train lakes in Lancaster County and Willow Creek Reservoir in Pierce County. Visitors to Pawnee (east and west beaches), Willow Creek and Wagon Train state recreation areas should avoid full-body contact activities that could lead to swallowing water, such as swimming, wading, skiing, jet skiing, etc. Non-contact activities such as boating, fishing and camping are OK. Dog …

LINCOLN, Neb. – Fall is here, and Nebraska’s outdoor resources offer a variety of ways to have fun, relax and enjoy nature. Here are a few activities the Nebraska Game and Parks Commission recommends exploring in the coming months. State parks – Less crowded and decorated with autumn color, Nebraska’s state park areas are a great place to be in the fall. Take advantage of the cool weather and enjoy your favorite outdoor recreation activity, whether that be fishing, boating, …

LINCOLN, Neb. – Lake 1A at Louisville State Recreation Area has been renovated to remove rough fish, especially silver carp. Lake 1A and Lake 1, which will be renovated the week of Sept. 13, were invaded by unwanted species during the 2019 spring flooding of the Platte River. The 1-acre Lake 1A was treated Sept. 8 with rotenone, which is a toxicant used to eliminate fish. The lake was found to contain more than 200 silver carp of at least …

NORTH PLATTE, Neb. — Cedar View Campground at Lake McConaughy State Recreation Area was slated to close on Sept. 9, 2020 for upgrades to campground amenities. The campground will now temporarily close for public access beginning on Sept. 28, 2020 due to a delay in construction. Cedar View Campground, located about 15 miles west of Kingsley Dam on Highway 92, will be available to visitors on a first-come, first-served basis until Sept. 28. Upgrades to the campground will include the …

LINCOLN, Neb. – Hunters will take to the field Sept. 15 for the start of the fall turkey season. Nebraska, one of the nation’s top turkey hunting destinations, has the birds, permits and opportunities for a great outdoor adventure. Turkey hunting can be combined with big game, upland game, waterfowl or fishing for a true Nebraska mixed-bag outdoor adventure. There are plenty of other reasons to undertake a Nebraska turkey hunt: • Wild turkeys may be found in all 93 …