LINCOLN, Neb. – The rich, diverse history and heritage of Nebraska as told through its often-secluded historical monuments and markers is the subject of a presentation at Fort Hartsuff State Historical Park on June 6.

Marking Nebraska: Our (Mostly) Hidden Historical Monuments, by historian Jeff Barnes, is a review of the state’s earliest historical markers, from setting its borders to marking its trails to honoring its people. The event will take place at 3 p.m. in the Enlisted Men’s Barracks.

Drawing from his site visits and photographs collected from across the state, Barnes shares some of the more interesting, colorful, and even controversial ways Nebraskans told their stories through boulders, tablets, plaques, and statues.

The presentation is in conjunction with Barnes’ newest book, “Cut in Stone, Cast in Bronze: Nebraska’s Historical Markers and Monuments.”

A park entry permit is required.

3-D Archery Shoot set for June 5-6 at Ponca State Park

LINCOLN, Neb. — The 12th Annual SCHEELS 3-D Archery Shoot will be June 5-6 at Ponca State Park.

The tristate competition will be from 8 a.m. to 3 p.m. both days in the Eric Wiebe Shooting Complex, where 20 stations and 60 targets will be set up. All ages and skill levels are welcome.

Register onsite. Fees are $20 for those 13 and older, and free for those 12 and younger. Each adult registration will receive a free $10 SCHEELS gift card.

Prizes will be awarded to the top archers. Attendees also can register for a chance to win a $200 SCHEELS gift card.

A park entry permit is required.

For more information about the competition, contact the SCHEELS Archery Department at 712-252-1551. For more information about Ponca State Park, visit OutdoorNebraska.org/Ponca.

Biodiversity conservation grant funded by Nebraska Environmental Trust

LINCOLN, Neb. – The Nebraska Game and Parks Commission recently received $200,000 from the Nebraska Environmental Trust for the Nebraska Natural Legacy Project: New Approaches to Biodiversity Conservation.

This is the third and final year of the grant project, totaling $570,000.

These funds have been used to improve thousands of acres of habitat on private and public lands. Two notable efforts include removal of eastern red cedar trees in the Sandhills and prescribed burning with landowners throughout the state. Both efforts are aimed at restoring native grasslands and helping birds and other animals that depend on grasslands to thrive. This work benefits landowners by improving the health of their grazed pastures, livestock and livelihood.

This project also has increased public engagement and enthusiasm for biodiversity conservation. In 2020, biologists raised awareness of species at-risk of extinction in the state, and educated residents about native wildlife, plants, and habitats in Nebraska. They trained community scientist volunteers across eastern Nebraska how to conduct surveys for monarch butterflies and regal fritillaries. More than 100 surveys were completed, with more to come in 2021.

Additionally, 2021 is the State Parks Centennial, and, to celebrate, the Natural Legacy Project participated in Natural History and Habitat Day at Rock Creek Station State Historical Park on May 8. There are upcoming events at Wildcat Hills State Recreation Area on June 26 and Ponca State Park on Aug. 21. See the calendar event entry for more information at calendar.outdoornebraska.gov.

The Nebraska Natural Legacy Project has been the blueprint for conservation of Nebraska’s plants, animals, and natural habitats since 2005. It identifies at-risk species, their threats, conservation actions, and prioritizes Biologically Unique Landscapes for conserving Nebraska’s biodiversity. Natural Legacy partners have worked with hundreds of private landowners to implement projects in nearly two dozen BULs to enhance more than 400,000 acres of at-risk species’ habitat. Learn more at NebraskaNaturalLegacy.org.

The Nebraska Environmental Trust is funded from the Nebraska Lottery and has awarded more than $349 million to conservation projects in Nebraska since 1994. Learn more at EnvironmentalTrust.Nebraska.gov.

State park visitors can take online survey to share experiences

LINCOLN, Neb. – Visitors to Nebraska state parks can take a survey online to share their experiences this summer.

To take the survey, visit go.unl.edu/nestateparks. The survey also is available at OutdoorNebraska.org/parkusersurvey.

Crews have been conducting surveys in select parks every weekend since the beginning of April and will continue through the first weekend of August.

The Nebraska Game and Parks Commission is looking for feedback about visitors’ park experiences at 22 state parks, recreation areas and historical parks. It is contracting with the University of Nebraska-Lincoln’s Bureau of Sociological Research to conduct the surveys.

Game and Parks hopes to understand how to better serve the wants and needs of the public in Nebraska’s state parks. It also hopes to get a clearer picture of how people recreate in parks, and it looks forward to actionable feedback.

Bureau staff will be at different state park areas each weekend handing out surveys to visitors and asking for contact information to follow up on responding to the survey. They will be located next to the kiosk booths and entrances in the state park areas.

Surveys are being conducted at the following park areas:

• State parks: Ponca, Platte River, Smith Falls, Eugene T. Mahoney, Fort Robinson and Chadron.
• State recreation areas: Lewis and Clark, Johnson Lake, Lake McConaughy, Branched Oak, Medicine Creek Reservoir, Mormon Island, Fort Kearny, Fremont Lakes, Merritt, Calamus, Louisville, Lake Minatare and Summit Lake.
• State historical parks: Fort Atkinson, Ash Hollow and Buffalo Bill Ranch.

For more information, contact the Bureau at 402-472-3672 or [email protected].

Reptiles & Amphibians on Tap events set for Lincoln, Beatrice

LINCOLN, Neb. — Learn about the 29 snake species and 14 amphibian species that call Nebraska home at Reptiles & Amphibians on Tap events in Lincoln and Beatrice.

They are scheduled June 12 at Lincoln’s Rock ’n’ Joe Coffee Bar, 5025 Lindberg St., and June 18 at Beatrice’s Tall Tree Tastings, 122 N. 5th St.

Nebraska Game and Parks Commission educators will host the in-person, festival-style event at Rock ’n’ Joe Coffee Bar from 9-11 a.m., with live reptile and amphibian talks on the patio from 9 to 9:30 a.m. and 10:30 to 11 a.m.

Other activities at the family-oriented event will include activity booths on birds, insects, reptiles, amphibians and mammals.

The event is free with a purchase from Rock ’n’ Joe Bar. The Beatrice event, from 6-7 p.m., is free with a purchase at Tall Tree Tastings.

For more information, visit calendar.outdoornebraska.gov or email [email protected]. Follow the Nebraska Wildlife Education on Facebook to keep up-to-date or find additional educational opportunities.

Catch these Game and Parks education events in June

LINCOLN, Neb. — From fish to snakes to pollinators, those curious about nature will have plenty of opportunities to be engaged by Nebraska Game and parks Commission educators this June. Here are a few opportunities:

Get trained to survey for rare butterflies
LINCOLN, Neb. — Learn to survey for rare butterflies in Nebraska during a June 5 training session offered by the Nebraska Game and Parks Commission.

Game and Parks and community scientists will conduct surveys for monarch butterflies and regal fritillaries in the tall grass prairies of Nebraska between June 15 and Aug. 15. The annual surveys help document and understand butterfly abundance and habitat needs.

To participate in the surveys, people should attend the virtual training session. Register online at calendar.outdoornebraska.gov.

The first hour of training is dedicated to learning about the two butterfly species, common plants and other community science opportunities. It will be followed by training on the methods to survey the rare butterflies.

Surveys will primarily take place in the eastern quarter of Nebraska, but this year volunteers are being recruited to conduct site surveys in additional locations across the state.

For more information, follow Facebook.com/nebraskaMPI or contact Cody Dreier at [email protected].

Party with Parasites in virtual education opportunity
LINCOLN, Neb. — Join the hosts and science educators from Nebraska Game and Parks in talking about the not-so-cuddly and cute category of living organisms: parasites.

Partying with Parasites: Diving into UNL’s Parasitology Lab, part of the free virtual series Nebraska Nature Nerd Night, is at 7 p.m. on June 15. The series is designed for curious adults and explores the secrets and science of nature in Nebraska through storytelling and conversation.

The University of Nebraska-Lincoln research scientists — Scott Gardner, professor and curator of parasitology at the University of Nebraska State Museum and School of Biological Sciences, and Gabor Racz, collection manager at the University of Nebraska’s Manter Laboratory of Parasitology — will talk about what parasites are, what their life cycles are like, and just how common these species are on Earth. The two also will talk about the Manter Lab collection of more than 10,000 parasite species from around the world.

Registration is required through the event listing at calendar.outdoornebraska.gov; when registering, guests also are able to submit their questions for experts.

Find information on the other monthly Nebraska Nature Nerd Nights planned on the third Tuesday of each month through November at calendar.outdoornebraska.gov.

Conservation Career Chat: Fisheries Outreach Program manager
LINCOLN, Neb. — Join the Nebraska Game and Parks Commission on June 16 in its series of virtual Conservation Career Chats. This month, learn about the role of the fisheries outreach program manager: Daryl Bauer.

Bauer will share his daily career duties, challenges and successes in the Zoom session set for 10 a.m. Central time. The interview will be recorded and uploaded to the Nebraska Game and Parks Education YouTube Channel.

See the calendar event entry at calendar.outdoornebraska.gov for the registration link as well as a schedule of future Conservation Career Chats.

For more information, contact [email protected] or check out Facebook.com/NGPCWildlifeEducation.

Partner with Nebraska Game and Parks for National Pollinator Week
LINCOLN, Neb. — Nebraska Pollinator Week returns June 21-27, and the Nebraska Game and Parks Commission invites organizations to host in-person or virtual events on pollinators in partnership of the event.

Organizers can enter their event information at NebraskaPollinatorWeek.org and become a part of the growing list of ways Nebraskans can get involved in celebrating bees, butterflies and other pollinators.

The list already includes community science training; pollinator story time; a nighttime light survey; and a variety of pollinator webinars.

Learn more about nebraskapollinatorweek.org.

Explore wildlife education online
Interested in a webinar hosted in June, but missed it? All webinars are recorded and posted to the Nebraska Game and Parks Education YouTube Channel.

Stay up-to-date with Wildlife and Fisheries Education events at calendar.outdoornebraska.gov or via Facebook.com/NGPCWildlifeEducation.

Enders Reservoir SRA 100-year Extravaganza to celebrate centennial

LINCOLN, Neb. – Enjoy music, barbeque, history and trick shooting at Enders Reservoir State Recreation Area’s 100-year Extravaganza on June 5.

The daylong event is part of Nebraska’s state parks centennial celebration.

Activities will be located on the north side of the reservoir at Hannibal Hollow and Center Dam. Food and craft vendors will set up near the main park entrance at Center Dam camping area. All the events and activities are free.

Camping at North 40 and Center Dam campgrounds will be closed to the public June 2-5 to make room for vendors, but plenty of camping areas remain available at Enders.

The lineup is:

• A 5K run at Enders starts at 7 a.m. Mountain Time, with registration at 6:30.

• Hands-on activities will begin at 8 a.m., including kayaking, tent featuring history of Enders Reservoir and Rock Creek SRA, mammal trailer, bird trunk, activity trailer, and booths.

• Semi-truck, tractor and car shows will be from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. To enter these shows, register at 7:30 a.m. June 5 or call the park at 308-394-5118.

• The Gould Brothers will perform their trick shooting exhibition at 3 p.m. at the archery range.

• Live country/rock music with Shooter Jaxx at 7 p.m. at the North 40 area.

• Compete in the Enders Smoke-off and test your barbeque skills. Awards will be given at 5:30 p.m. and food from the smoke-off will be served at 6 p.m. To enter, register by June 4.

A park entry permit is required and will be available at the park or at OutdoorNebraska.org.

For more information about the 100-year Extravaganza, call the Enders office or visit the event calendar entry at calendar.outdoornebraska.gov.