Parks

In the spirit of the Winter Olympic Games, we’re gonna take you sledding on this week’s WOWT 6 News Outdoor Report! Recognize this sled run? That’s right, we’re heading to Mahoney State Park at I-80 Exit #426 near Ashland, NE for some winter outdoor fun! Find out more details about the sled/toboggan runs at the park by tuning in tomorrow night (Thursday night) during the sports segment with Ross Jernstrom and I LIVE on the WOWT 6 News 6 p.m. CST newscast. Here’s a sample of what it’s like to …

Buffalo Bill Ranch State Historical Park (SHP) was the site of a ceremony Jan. 16, presenting the Friends of Buffalo Bill $8,284 in unclaimed property. State Treasurer Don Stenberg returned the unclaimed property to group president Judy Herbst Brown. “We are happy to present this check today to the Friends of Buffalo Bill so that the group can use the money to support its mission,” Stenberg said. Herbst Brown was active in the Friends of Buffalo Bill from 1978 to 1996. …

Did you know that cabins and other lodging facilities are available for rental this time of year at five Nebraska state park lands with various discounts and special packages? They sure are! Find out which ones and more about state park lodging by tuning in to my Weekly Outdoor Report segment tomorrow (Thursday) evening during the 6 p.m. CST sportscast with Ross Jernstrom on Omaha’s WOWT 6 News. Can you guess the park where these cabins are located? Here’s another hint. One …

Nebraska poets Twyla M. Hansen and Amy Plettner will present the Winter Poetry event on Jan. 26. from 1:30 – 3:30 p.m. in the Prairie Building Auditorium at Pioneers Park Nature Center in Lincoln. Recently named Nebraska State Poet, Hansen’s work has appeared in numerous publications.  She has published six books of poetry, and was presented with the High Plains Book Award and the WILLA Literary Award, as well as the Nebraska Book Award in 2004 and 2012. While grounds manager …

Don’t miss my weekly WOWT 6 News Outdoors segment Thursday evening when we cover winter bald eagle viewing in Nebraska. Everyone I know, including myself, marvels at the sight of a bald eagle in the wild! Here’s a photo of a bald eagle at the Ak-sar-ben Aquarium/Schramm Park State Recreation Area near Gretna, NE. Cool, huh? How about another photo of a bald eagle from that same area? Find out more information about bald eagle viewing opportunities by tuning in to The Weekly …

LINCOLN – The following is a listing of Nebraska Game and Parks Commission events and important dates in December: Dec. 1 – Cornucopia of Crafts, Eugene T. Mahoney State Park (SP), Ashland, 9 a.m.-5 p.m., 402-944-2523 Dec. 1 – Bobcat hunting and trapping season opens Dec. 1, 21-22, 26-30 – Roger G. Sykes Outdoor Heritage Education Complex open to public, Platte River SP, Louisville, 10 a.m.-4 p.m., 402-471-5547 Dec. 1-31 – Antlerless elk hunting season Dec. 1-31 – Muzzleloader deer …

LINCOLN – Rekindle winter family traditions or create new ones during the Winterfest at Ponca State Park. Scheduled for Saturdays Nov. 30 through Feb. 28, activities are free and open to the public. Each Saturday from Nov. 30 through Dec. 28 at the Resource and Education Center there will be crafts and activities from 10 a.m.-noon, cookie decorating from 1-2 p.m., classic holiday movies shown from 2-4 p.m., and hayrack rides from 5-6 p.m. Special events scheduled in December include …

Visitors to Fort Robinson State Park often enjoy catching a view of the animals that roam most of the park’s 22,000 acres. In addition to the wildlife, the bison, longhorn cattle and horses that graze the park’s scenic pastures instantly conjure up images of the region “when the West was wild,” as they say. I was fortunate this week to be on site when park superintendent Mike Morava and a crew of experienced ranch hands rounded up the bison and …

The 22nd annual Becoming an Outdoors Woman (BOW) workshop was held last weekend at the 4-H camp near Halsey, NE. I write about this event every year after the workshop, not because writing is part of what I do, but because I am passionate about every aspect of the weekend and empowering women to get outdoors and experience all the wonderful activities and beautiful things in nature – all in hopes that they will pass their new knowledge on to …

I attended my first Missouri River Expo a couple weeks ago, and I had a great time! For those who have never been (which may not be many of you), the Expo runs for 3 days in September — Friday, Saturday and Sunday. While Saturday and Sunday are open to the public and are the busiest days, Friday is only open to elementary schools. Nearly a thousand 5th graders this year received a private sneak peek before the general public …