LINCOLN, Neb. – Guests can enjoy special lodging, gift packages or events this Valentine’s Day at four Nebraska state parks.

Ponca State Park will offer its annual Birds and Breakfast event Feb. 11-12, a weekend getaway package that includes a 30% discount on lodging, a complimentary bottle of wine or cider, a breakfast basket in your cabin, and an opportunity to participate in the Great Backyard Bird Count on Feb. 12. For additional details, call the park at 402-755-2284.

In need of a cozy cabin getaway? Reserve a cabin at Lewis and Clark State Recreation Area between Feb. 11-14 or Feb. 18-20 to enjoy a 30% discount. Reservations must be for at least two nights. Check out the add-on package, which includes early check-in, late check-out and waived pet fee; fresh flowers, sweet treats and Nebraska State Park Centennial wine glasses; drink tickets to CJ’s at the Lake; and more. To book, call 402-388-4169.

Eugene T. Mahoney State Park offers an add-on Valentine’s package for guests reserving a minimum two-night cabin or lodge room stay between Feb. 10-14. The package includes a box of chocolates, a rose, a bottle of red wine or sparkling juice, a $25 gift certificate to The View at Mahoney, and more. To book your stay, call 402-944-2523, ext. 7327.

Arbor Lodge State Historical Park is offering guests the opportunity to go back in time with their Celebrate Love weekends. Learn about weddings related to the Arbor Day’s founders and their family, the history of Valentine’s Day or view vintage Valentine’s Day cards.

Guests also can enjoy an assortment of teas and dainty brunch and dessert selections at the the Valentine’s Tea in the Arbor Lodge mansion sunroom. Teas are at 10 a.m. and 2 p.m., and the cost is $20 per person, which includes mansion admission and entrance to the tea. Purchase tickets online in the event listing at calendar.outdoornebraska.org.

Catch these Game and Parks education events in February

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

 

Nature Tales story time for pre-K has two events in February

LINCOLN, Neb. – The Nebraska Game and Parks Commission will host the free, virtual pre-K program, Nature Tales, at 10 a.m. Central time Feb. 1 and Feb. 8.

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 themes will be clouds on Feb. 1 and slugs and snails on Feb. 8.

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 Backyard Bird Count

LINCOLN, Neb. – The Little Saplings early childhood nature discovery program will have the program, Great Backyard Bird Count, at Schramm Education Center at 9 a.m. Feb. 2.

Participants will see how many types of birds can be spotted at the center’s feeders and will practice using binoculars to search for birds.

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.

 

All About Amphibians educator workshop is Feb. 2

LINCOLN, Neb. – What is the difference between frogs and toads? What is the lifecycle of a salamander?

The virtual All About Amphibians educator workshop at 6 p.m. Feb. 2 will use Nebraska amphibians to explore science and ecology concepts for participants to take back to their students. Participants will receive a curriculum guide, free amphibian-related educational swag, and two hours of approved in-service.

Visit the event listing at calendar.outdoornebraska.gov for more information or to register. For questions, email [email protected].

 

Game and Parks to host The Science of … series in February

LINCOLN, Neb. – The Nebraska Game and Parks Commission will host the virtual webinar series The Science of … each Thursday in February.

Starting at 3 p.m. Central time, Game and Parks educators will discuss the science behind common findings in nature or animals. The schedule for the series is: Feb. 3 – Geology and Fossils; Feb. 10 – Mussels; Feb. 17 – Rodents; Feb. 24 – Earthworms.

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 [email protected] for more information.

 

Enjoy virtual winter wildlife tracking program Feb. 5

LINCOLN, Neb. – Learn some tricks and tips on identifying common Nebraska wildlife tracks by participating Feb. 5 in the virtual Snowy Saturday Series: Winter Wildlife Tracking.

This free Facebook live workshop will begin at 9 a.m. as outdoor educators also will teach the signal that these animals are leaving behind in the snow. At the end of this interactive experience, participants should be able to confidently head out and look for tracks, signs and identify animals in their area.

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

 

Join Insect Investigations educator workshop Feb. 9

LINCOLN, Neb. – Come and see what kids really want to know about insects in the Insect Investigations educator workshop. This free virtual event will be at 6 p.m. Feb. 9.

This workshop, for formal and informal educators of grades kindergarten through fourth, will explore how they can incorporate insects into classrooms or afterschool programs.

Participants will receive information on basic insect anatomy and lifecycles, hands-on supplemental activities, door prizes and two hours of approved in-service.

Visit the event listing at calendar.outdoornebraska.gov for more information or to access the link to register. For questions, email [email protected].

 

Nature Nerd Night to feature Animal Love on Feb. 15

LINCOLN, Neb. — In the natural world, finding the right mate is an important part of a species’ survival. In the Nebraska Nature Nerd Night virtual webinar Animal Love, outdoor educators will discuss the surprisingly scientific and creative world of animal pair bonding and reproduction. The free event starts at 7 p.m. Central time Feb. 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. 

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.

For more information, contact [email protected] or follow the Nebraska Game and Parks Commission or Nebraska Wildlife Education on Facebook.

 

Homeschool Hike set for Feb. 16 at Schramm Park SRA

LINCOLN, Neb. – Come to Schramm Park State Recreation Area on Feb. 16 for Homeschool Hikes, a nature exploration program at 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.

 

Nature Math educator workshop scheduled for Feb. 16

LINCOLN, Neb. – Discover how nature can be used as a tool to teach math concepts such as symmetry, patterns, counting, observations and the Fibonacci sequence. The Nature Math educator workshop Feb. 16 is for formal and informal educators of grades kindergarten through fourth.

Participants of this free virtual event, which begins at 6 p.m., will receive Math and Nature literature books, age-appropriate lessons and two hours of approved in-service.

Visit the event listing at calendar.outdoornebraska.gov for more information or to access the link to register. For questions, email [email protected].

 

Nature Experience Learning Centers educator training: Animal Tracks and ID

LINCOLN, Neb. – 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. Feb. 21 will be animal tracks and identification.

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 [email protected].

 

Explore plants during virtual workshop Feb. 23

LINCOLN, Neb. – The Plantology educator workshop explores plants using hands-on activities aimed at strengthening observations skills. This free virtual workshop will be at 6 p.m. Feb. 23.

Participants will receive plant-related literature books, the Plantology activity and exploration guide and two hours of approved in-service.

Visit the event listing at calendar.outdoornebraska.gov for more information or to access the link to register. For questions, email [email protected].

 

Learn about Nebraska invasive species at Schramm Sunday Speaker Series

LINCOLN, Neb. – Learn how invasive species pose a threat to Nebraska’s natural resources by attending the Schramm Sunday Speaker Series at 2 p.m. Feb. 27 at the Schramm Education Center near Gretna.

Allison Zach, program coordinator for the Nebraska Invasive Species Program, will discuss the invasive plants, animals, and other organisms that cause harm when they are introduced to an area in which they are not native.

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 [email protected]or 402-332-5022.

Free-earned Landowner Elk Permit Program now available

LINCOLN, Neb. – Landowners and leaseholders can get a free elk permit based on accumulated antlerless elk harvests on their Nebraska property.

The Free-earned Landowner Elk Permit Program was approved by the Nebraska Game and Parks Commission in October 2021 and became effective in mid-December.

In the program, a person who owns or leases at least 80 acres of agricultural land qualifies for an either-sex elk permit following the verification of 10 general permit holder or special depredation season antlerless elk harvests on that property. When the tenth harvest is recorded, a free permit will be issued, at no charge, to either the qualifying landowner or one of their immediate family members.

Immediate family includes spouse, child, stepchild, spouse of child or stepchild, sibling sharing ownership or spouse of sibling.

Other highlights of the program:

  • Landowners do not need to be Nebraska residents.
  • The qualifying landowner or leaseholder must complete the general antlerless elk harvest form by the close of business Feb. 18, 2022, and drop off at a Game and Parks office in Alliance, North Platte or Bassett. Only harvests that occur during the most recent early- and late-antlerless seasons will be allowed on the form. Special depredation season antlerless harvests can be recorded within one month of the close of that season.
  • Elk harvested under landowner permits do not count toward the 10 qualifying harvests.
  • It is unlawful to falsely report antlerless elk harvests.
  • The free-earned permit must be designated to a hunter on a form provided by Game and Parks, by March 25. Completed forms must be submitted to a local district Game and Parks office. Find a location at OutdoorNebraska.org/locations.
  • The free-earned permit is valid only on the property of the qualifying landowner or leaseholder.
  • The free-earned permit will be designated for the next elk season following the 10th qualifying antlerless harvest.
  • The free-earned permit does not affect eligibility for general or landowner permits.

Find the Free-Earned Landowner Elk Harvest Reporting Form or the Free-Earned Permit Application at OutdoorNebraska.org/landownerpermits or at a district office. Find season date information at OutdoorNebraska.org/HuntingSeasons.

The free-earned landowner elk permit was created during the 2021 Legislative Session. The goal is to increase hunting access and antlerless elk harvest, and increase elk hunting opportunity for landowners who regularly have elk on their property.

For more information, visit OutdoorNebraska.gov/LandownerPermits.

Commissioners will consider special area regulation changes for WMAs

LINCOLN, Neb. – The Nebraska Game and Parks Commission will consider special area regulation changes for wildlife management areas when it meets Jan. 28 in Lincoln.

The meeting will start at 8 a.m. at Commission headquarters, 2200 N. 33rd St.

The proposed changes would affect hunting at Gifford Point WMA in Sarpy County, including moving the application period for special access permits to hunt deer. Changes also would clarify regulations on the Killdeer Lake WMA sight-in range in Lancaster County, including the possession of certain types of firearms, ammunition and targets. The regulations include proposed rules for the new Cedar Valley WMA sight-in range in Lincoln County, which is scheduled to open as soon as this summer.

Also on the agenda are staff recommendations to:

• approve the Berggren Plan 2.0, Nebraska’s updated plan to improve pheasant hunting.

• approve grant awards for the Land and Water Conservation Fund Stateside Assistance Program.

• approve outdoor trail projects for federal funding through the Recreational Trails Program.

• rename Twin Oaks Wildlife Management Area in Johnson County to the James N. Douglas Wildlife Management Area in honor of Game and Parks’ recently retired director.

In addition, staff will make separate presentations on the Fort Kearny Master Plan and the Dead Timber SRA Redevelopment Plan.

Hunter education instructors John Niemoth of Omaha and Robert Sevenker will be recognized for their many contributions to the program over the years and will be the first to achieve the honor of Heritage Instructor.

Staff will present a report on chronic wasting disease sampling results taken during the past November firearm deer season. Staff also will provide an overview of some of the agency’s priority outreach messages for the year. The commissioners will elect their officers for the year.

A complete agenda is available at Outdoornebraska.gov/publicnotices.