Catch these Game and Parks education events in March

Nebraska Game and Parks Commission educators have scheduled interesting and engaging events for the curious in March. Here are several opportunities:

Little Saplings early childhood program presents Traces and Tracks

The Little Saplings early childhood nature discovery program will have the program, Traces and Tracks, at 9 a.m. March 2 at Schramm Education Center near Gretna.

Footprints in mud and snow give clues about what animals are around in the spring. We’ll look closely, predict, and match tracks to tell who’s been there.

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.

Game and Parks to host The Science of … Salamanders

Salamanders often are confused with lizards. But these aquatic amphibians couldn’t be more different from their reptile counterparts. Join the Nebraska Game and Parks Commission for the virtual webinar The Science of … Salamanders at 3 p.m. Central time March 3.

Salamanders are some of the most secretive animals on the planet, and most people never see them. Their long bodies and short limbs support their lifestyle in damp conditions, which helps them breathe. They often can breathe through their skin. Join this webinar to learn more.

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.

Nature Experience Learning Centers educator training: Birds and Beaks

The Nature Experience Learning Center educator trainings are a series of short virtual educator workshops, each focusing on a different nature topic. The topic at 1 p.m. March 10 will be birds and their beaks.

This workshop is for in-home and center childcare providers of children ages birth through 5. Learn the similarities and differences between different wildlife tracks as well as everything students can acquire from looking at animal tracks. Fun activities will be included.

Visit the event listing at calendar.outdoornebraska.gov to register. For questions, email jamie.bachmann@nebraska.gov.

Learn about Nebraska conservation officers at Schramm Sunday Speaker Series

Learn how conservation officers protect Nebraska’s natural resources and help keep people safe by attending the Schramm Sunday Speaker Series at 2 p.m. March 13 at the Schramm Education Center near Gretna.

Listen to tales from the field from officers Sophia Gobber and Dan Evasco. The first half of the program will take place in a classroom, and then participants can head outside to view the Nebraska Wildlife Crimestoppers mobile exhibit trailer.

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.

Nature Nerd Night to feature Starlight Ecology on March 15

Nocturnal animals have adapted to the night life. In the Nebraska Nature Nerd Night virtual webinar Starlight Ecology, outdoor educators will discuss how the night sky helps some animals find resources to survive. The free event starts at 7 p.m. Central time March 15.

Registration is required through the event listing at calendar.outdoornebraska.gov. Participants also may submit questions to be answered during the webinar while registering. For more information, contact monica.macoubrie@nebraska.gov or follow the Nebraska Game and Parks Commission or Nebraska Wildlife Education on Facebook.

Those unable to attend can view the recorded webinar on the Nebraska Game and Parks YouTube Education Channel.

The Nebraska Nature Nerd Night series, for curious adults, takes places on the third Tuesday of every month.

Spring Break Days at Schramm all about frogs

It’s all about frogs at the Schramm Education Center near Gretna on March 15 and 17 during Spring Break Days.

Adults and students on break can learn about the habitats and adaptations of Nebraska’s frogs and toads. From 10 a.m. to 3 p.m., outdoor educators will lead a series of educational activities, crafts and games.

The cost is $10 for adults, $7 for ages 4-12 and seniors, and free for ages 3 and under.

Homeschool Hike set for March 16 at Schramm Park SRA

Come to Schramm Park State Recreation Area near Gretna on March 16 for Homeschool Hikes, a nature exploration program for homeschool families.

On the third Wednesday of the month at 9 a.m., an outdoor educator leads a guided hike while participants ask questions, draw, observe and make discoveries in nature.

Visit the event listing at calendar.outdoornebraska.gov for more information and to register.