Nebraska Game and Parks Commission educators have scheduled interesting and engaging events for the curious in October. Don’t forget to purchase a vehicle park entry permit to enter the state parks, except one is not required to park in the Schramm Education Center parking lot. Get one at Outdoor-Nebraska.gov or at state park entrances.
Little Saplings presents Seed Safari on Oct. 2 — Adults looking to explore the outdoors with their young children are invited to Little Saplings, a monthly early childhood nature discovery program at Schramm Education Center near Gretna.
The 2024 series, which occurs the first Wednesday of the month, continues Oct. 2 with the theme Seed Safari at 9 and 10 a.m. It is designed for children ages 2-5 and their adult caregivers. The cost is $4 per child and $5 per adult.
See the calendar event entry at Calendar.OutdoorNebraska.gov for more information.
Learn beginner astronomy at Platter River SP — Join naturalists at Platte River State Park’s RV Campground Shelter for beginner astronomy activities at 4 p.m. on Fridays in October.
Beginning Oct. 4, participants can make a constellation, use a star chart to identify seasonal stars, examine a moon globe and compare it to the moon in the sky. Late at night they can use what they learned as the stars become visible.
Two parks to host They Aren’t That Spooky — Some critters get a bad rap for being spooky. Learn to love things like bats, spiders and snakes for their unique adaptations and positive impact on the ecosystem.
The They Aren’t That Spooky program will meet at 10 a.m. Oct. 4, 5 and 18 Eugene T. Mahoney State Park’s James Family Conservatory and Nature Center. It also will meet at 2 p.m. Oct. 19 and 26 at Platte River State Park’s Nature Center.
Flock to Birds of a Feather on Oct. 8 — Get ready to go birding by participating in the Birds of a Feather program at 9:30 a.m. on select Tuesdays at Eugene T. Mahoney State Park’s new James Family Conservatory and Nature Center.
A different birding topic is introduced each session to begin the program, followed by a trip outdoors to the birding area, which may include a hike. On Oct. 8, the topic for this free, bird-related program for all ages will be Fall Migration.
Wise and Wild is Oct. 8 at James Family Conservatory — Wise and Wild is a program for those age 55 and up who love the outdoors. It will be at 3 p.m. on select Tuesdays at Eugene T. Mahoney State Park’s new James Family Conservatory and Nature Center.
On Oct. 8, the topic for this free event will be Dutch Oven Cooking. Gather around the fire and enjoy some delicious cast iron cooking.
