Parks

Come celebrate the beginning of the holiday season on Saturday, November 8 at Ponca State Park. The entire family can make pinecone owl ornaments, fall wreaths and then test their archery skills at the Eric Wiebe Shooting Complex. Meet at the Resource and Education center at 10 a.m. to learn about the owls of Ponca State Park while making your own owl craft to display at home for the fall season. All ages are welcome at $2 per craft. Then …

The 20th annual Historical Christmas Dinner at Fort Robinson State Park is set for Saturday, Dec. 6. To mark the special anniversary, the dinner’s theme will step back 100 years with attire and the menu from the 1914 Christmas dinner at the Fort. Only 200 tickets will be sold for the dinner, and will be available on a first-come, first-served basis beginning at 8 a.m. Monday, Nov. 3. Tickets will be available by cash or check at the Fort Robinson …

Ponca State Park’s 16th Annual Hallowfest enjoyed beautiful fall weather this past Saturday, October 18. Crafts and activities were enjoyed by children and adults of all ages. The park’s main attraction, Haunted Hayrack rides, pulled in over 900 guests. Proceeds from the rides were given back to the surrounding communities through: Ponca Fire and Rescue, Allen Consolidated School’s Junior Class, Ponca High School’s “One Act” group, and the Ponca Honor Society. The event’s famous pumpkin rolling contest had three age …

I’ll be taking you to what many believe (including myself) is the top spot for viewing fall foliage color in southeastern Nebraska on my Weekly Outdoor Report on Omaha’s WOWT 6 News. Take a look at the photograph below. Any guesses as to where we might be heading? It’s a beautiful state park located about 90 minutes south of Omaha and the fall color peak there is just around the corner! Here’s your answer. The park also has a fun-filled …

Those looking to take a traditional approach to cooking a delicious meal in the outdoors are encouraged to sign up for an upcoming program at Wildcat Hills State Recreation Area of Gering. Amanda Filipi, Nebraska Game and Parks Commission outdoor education specialist, will present the “Lovin’ Dutch Oven” program Saturday, Nov. 1, at 9 a.m. at the Nature Center. The deadline to register is Friday, Oct. 24. Filipi will demonstrate the age-old process of using Dutch ovens, cast iron pots …

By Julie Ashton, Friends of Fort Atkinson If you have driven into Fort Calhoun lately, you’ll notice a few new soldiers standing on the north and south sides of town. These soldiers, made of iron and painted to look 3-dimensional, are part of an effort to bring additional recognition to Fort Atkinson State Historical Park and help brand the area as a “fort” town. A plan was laid out that would involve the Commission, the Fort, the City of Fort …

Fort Atkinson State Historical Park and its fall living history weekend will be featured on my WOWT 6 News Weekly Outdoor Report. I’m totally pumped up for it and, of course, to promote it! Check out the third soldier from the left. Jenny Nguyen’s NEBRASKAland Magazine camera captured me pulling guard duty at the fort. Well, sort of. See video of and get more information about this unique state historical park event by tuning in to my outdoor segment on Omaha’s WOWT …

Fort Atkinson State Historical Park’s final Living History event of the 2014 season will be held October 4 and 5. Visitors will witness this 1820’s Military Post come alive as volunteer interpreters portray the daily activities of soldiers and civilians as they prepare for the upcoming winter. In addition to normal activities portrayed, such as military demonstrations, blacksmithing, tinsmithing, coopering, carpentry and textile trades, Omaha’s Old Dominion Dance group will present three period-style dances on Saturday, and on Sunday, Matt …

September is Nebraska Archaeology Month and staff of the Nebraska State Historical Society will lead tours of the archaeological sites at Fort Atkinson State Historical Park (SHP), to be held concurrently with the Fort’s Living History weekend on September 6 and 7. At 2 p.m. on Saturday and 12:30 p.m. on Sunday, archaeologist Nolan Johnson will lead tours of the numerous structures and facilities located on the grounds of this National Historical Landmark. On Saturday at 12:30 p.m., Rob Bozell …

With the kick off of football season around Nebraska (high school and college), on my WOWT 6 News outdoors segment I’ll be encouraging you to leave a little early for your game and tailgate in one of many Nebraska’s many state park lands. For those traveling from Omaha to Lincoln via Highway 6 for the Husker game Saturday afternoon, I’ll be telling you to leave a bit early and stop at this quiet, quaint state recreation area to grill some …