Parks

Nebraska’s massive, scenic outdoor playground, the Lake McConaughy/Lake Ogallala complex in Keith County, will be highlighted on my Saturday morning Great Outdoor Radio Show. My special guest will be Scott Eveland who is a boating safety officer for us at the Nebraska Game and Parks Commission. He works the Lake McConaughy/Lake Ogallala area along with the western portion of the state. Scott thoroughly knows the waters and landscape of Keith County. Scott will also talk about the impressive trout fishery at Lake Ogallala. Don’t miss an opportunity to chat …

Nebraska’s first state park will celebrate its 93rd anniversary Saturday with a wide variety of activities for all ages. Activities are planned at Chadron State Park from early morning to late at night. “We have a lot of great activities planned for people young to old and expect to have big turnout for our celebration,” said Gregg Galbraith, park superintendent. “If you’re looking for a great way to have a lot of fun for not a lot of money, this …

A one-day workshop at the Wildcat Hills Nature Center south of Gering this month will explore the importance of pollinating insects to the world’s food supply and ecosystems. The Panhandle Pollinators Workshop will be Thursday, June 19, from 9 a.m. to 1 p.m. and is free to the first 25 registrants. A lunch will be provided. The deadline to register is Friday, June 13. While many know of bees as obvious pollinators, the workshop will discuss a variety of other …

Those looking to ride horses in a scenic area with wide open spaces will be hard-pressed to find better territory than the Panhandle of western Nebraska. Two state parks in Nebraska’s scenic Pine Ridge offer trail rides and riding is allowed on an abundance of other public land in this region of rugged buttes, sweeping grasslands and ponderosa pine forests. Visitors to Fort Robinson State Park near Crawford soon realize they’re in horse country. A sign at the entrance of …

From a humble beginning with a handful of riders to the largest gathering of the Lakota horse nation, the Crazy Horse Memorial Ride is a growing tribute to Oglala Lakota war chief Crazy Horse, as well as warriors of yesterday and today. “The ride is in honor of all veterans,” said Bamm Brewer, ride organizer from Pine Ridge, South Dakota. From Fort Robinson State Park near Crawford, participants of the 17th annual event traveled to Chadron on Monday to camp at the Dawes County Fairgrounds. On Tuesday morning, …

A series of nature programs continues this week at the two state parks in the northern Panhandle. Park naturalist Jami Campbell will lead eight family-friendly programs at Chadron State Park and Fort Robinson State Park on Thursday, June 5, through Saturday, June 7. The action will start at Chadron State Park’s Trading Post on Thursday at 3:30 p.m. with a program about snakes. At 5:30 p.m. she will tell about the tiniest creatures in the prairies and forests. The programming …

It is prime time for viewing wildflowers in the Pine Ridge and Nebraska Game and Parks Commission staff members are inviting the public to an informational hike through the colorful countryside. Commission biologist Shelley Steffl and park naturalist Jami Campbell will lead the hike in the Mexican Canyon area of Fort Robinson State Park on Saturday, June 7. Participants will meet at the Post Playhouse at 9:30 a.m. and form a convoy to the site of the morning hike. Participants …

Did you know that a state recreation area near Omaha, NE was the site one of the largest icehouses/ice plants in the country? It sure was! In 1897-98, the Armour and Company Icehouse was constructed just northwest of Memphis, NE in Saunders County on a 154-acre tract of land purchased from a farmer who sold some of his property due to the severe farm crisis of the 1890’s. The Icehouse According to Nebraska State Historical Society records, the Armour and Company …

Fort Robinson Intertribal Gathering Powwow, Crawford – June 13-15 Located on the parade grounds of the historic Fort Robinson State Park near Crawford, the 15th annual Intertribal Gathering Powwow is hosted by the Friends of the Intertribal Powwow at Fort Robinson. Isanti Dakota Wacipi, Santee – June 21-22 The Santee Sioux Tribe host an annual traditional powwow with contest specials near the town of Santee. Winnebago Homecoming Celebration Powwow, Winnebago – July 23-25 The oldest memorial powwow in the nation, the Winnebago Homecoming Celebration honors …

My friends, family and other followers know that I try to post one nature photo each weekday to Facebook and Twitter. It’s a fun exercise, and I’m sometimes surprised to discover which photos generate the most reaction among friends on followers on social media. It seems some photos that get the best response take the least amount of work. Others, of which I’ve forged an emotional attachment because of their technical difficulty or the hike and planning involved to get …