Catch these Game and Parks education events in January

LINCOLN, Neb. – Nebraska Game and Parks Commission educators have scheduled interesting and engaging events for the curious in January. Here are several opportunities:

Enjoy Winter Under the Water at Schramm Education Center

LINCOLN, Neb. – Walk among a winter wonderland Jan. 1 and 8 at Schramm Education Center near Gretna, viewing aquariums aglow, lights and snow in Winter Under the Water, a holiday frost-filled fish encounter.

Plan a day to see this special exhibit and enjoy the lights, naturalist programs and some time outdoors.

The event is open from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. Admission is $10 for adults, $7 for seniors and ages 4-12, and free for ages 3 and under.

Schramm Education Center hosting Winter Break Day on Jan. 3

LINCOLN, Neb. – School is out between the holidays. What is there to do? Schramm Education Center is hosting Winter Break Day on Jan. 3.

From 10 a.m. to 5 p.m., Schramm visitors can fight boredom and get away from screens by spending a day with fun, healthy, educational activities for all ages. Find the complete program schedule in the event listing at calendar.outdoornebraska.gov.

Admission is $10 per adult, $7 for ages 4-12, and ages 3 and under are free. Call 402-332-3901 for more information.

Nature Tales story time for pre-K begins in January

LINCOLN, Neb. – The Nebraska Game and Parks Commission will host the free, virtual pre-K program, Nature Tales, at 10 a.m. Central time each Tuesday in January.

Outdoor educators from across the state will read, via Zoom, a nature-themed children’s book, then lead an activity for children, their families and caregivers.

The schedule of programs, with themes: Jan. 4 – Animal Tracks; Jan. 11 – Splash Day; Jan. 18 – The Moon; Jan. 25 – Feathers.

The webinars will be recorded and posted to the Nebraska Game and Parks YouTube Education Channel. Visit the event listing at calendar.outdoornebraska.gov for more information or to access the link to join the program.

Little Saplings early childhood program presents Snowy Homes

LINCOLN, Neb. – The Little Saplings early childhood nature discovery program will have the program, Snowy Homes, at Schramm Education Center at 9 a.m. Jan. 5.

Investigate how animals create snowy homes under and above snow. This program, designed for children ages 2-5 and their adult caregiver, will bring nature themes to life through stories, sensory activities, crafts and outdoor exploration.

See the calendar event entry at calendar.outdoornebraska.gov for more information.

Enjoy winter birding program Jan. 8 from Wildcat Hills

LINCOLN, Neb. – Join Education Specialist Amanda Filipi on Jan. 8 for the virtual Snowy Saturday Series: Winter Birding.

This free workshop will begin at 9 a.m. Mountain time as Filipi presents live from Wildcats Hills Nature Center, next to cameras showing birds enjoying the bird feeders.

Visit the event listing at calendar.outdoornebraska.gov for more information or to access the link to join the program.

Learn about Nebraska mushrooms at Schramm Sunday Speaker Series

LINCOLN, Neb. – Learn what giant puffballs, chicken of the woods and dead man’s fingers have in common. They all are types of mushrooms found in Nebraska.

Chance Brueggemann, project biologist for the Northern Prairies Land Trust and the Nebraska Game and Parks Commission, will discuss mushrooms during the Schramm Sunday Speaker Series at 2 p.m. Jan. 9 at the Schramm Education Center near Gretna.

The event is free, but seating is limited. Visit the event listing at calendar.outdoornebraska.gov for more information or to register.

The Schramm Sunday Speaker Series is a monthly program where experts in the field deliver presentations related to nature and science in Nebraska. All programs take place in the Schramm Education Center classroom. Visitors also wishing to tour Schramm Education Center must pay admission to the center and enter through the main entrance. No park permit is required in the Center’s parking lot. For more information, contact Jen Ruyle, outdoor education specialist, at jennifer.ruyle@nebraska.gov or 402-332-5022.

Virtual Growing Up WILD educator workshop set for Jan. 12

LINCOLN, Neb. – A Growing Up WILD educator workshop, which provides an early foundation for developing positive attitudes and behaviors about nature and lifelong social and academic skills, is scheduled for 6 p.m. Jan. 12. The free workshop will be virtual on Zoom.

This award-winning early childhood curriculum guide is for educators of children ages 3-7. The guide builds on children’s sense of wonder about nature by providing age appropriate, interdisciplinary lessons. Each thematic lesson includes multiple activities that teach math, reading, letter recognition, science, social studies and social-emotional skills.

See the calendar event entry at calendar.outdoornebraska.gov for more information and to register.

Birds and Books educator workshop connecting science and literature

LINCOLN, Neb. – Nebraska is home to more than 450 species of birds. They are easy to see and fun to watch, creating a fantastic opportunity to learn about science.

A virtual Birds and Books educator workshop Jan. 26 will use literature to teach science concepts to preschool-aged children.

Participants will receive bird-related and science-focused lesson ideas and bird-related books. This free Nebraska Game and Parks Commission workshop, which begins at 6 p.m. Central time, is approved for two in-service hours. Register through the calendar event listing at calendar.outdoornebraska.gov.

For more information, contact Jamie Bachmann at jamie.bachmann@nebraska.gov.

Game and Parks to host The Science of … Animal Teeth virtual webinar

LINCOLN, Neb. – The Nebraska Game and Parks Commission will host a virtual webinar The Science of … Animal Teeth at 3 p.m. Jan. 27.

Teeth are an indicator of what an animal is eating. They also provide insight into the evolutionary heritage of an animal.

The webinar is free, but registration is required in the calendar event entry at calendar.outdoornebraska.gov. The webinar will be recorded and posted to the Nebraska Game and Parks YouTube Education Channel. Contact monica.macoubrie@nebraska.gov for more information.