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Spring Creek Prairie offers a wide range of programs for the general public and specialty groups (public and private schools, day cares, camps, adult organizations) throughout the year. The highlight is our annual prairie festival, Twilight on the Tallgrass, which is held every September to celebrate the majesty of the tallgrass prairie. Information about our public programs can also be found in our newsletter, The Prairie Sage. Public Programs
ADULTS
NATURE NIGHTWATCH FOR ADULTSClass sizes are limited. Registration is required unless noted otherwise. Call 797-2301 to reserve your space. Payments (cash, check, credit card) accepted on day of class. Friday, August 15 7:30 p.m.-12:00 midnight or beyond $15/adult for basic Nightwatch program, $35/adult for Nightwatch overnight, breakfast, and birding. Stay up late and experience nature after the sun sets. Venture out into Spring Creek Prairie's special habitats with camp chairs and red-tipped flashlights to sit quietly and await potential animal visitors as they go about their noctural activities. Techniques will also be used to attract insects for the purpose of investigation and to see life in the pond after dark. Participants can choose to leave at midnight or stay all night—camping space is limited—and then enjoy a simple breakfast followed by a bird hike. This is guaranteed to be a night to remember! Participants should be 18 years or older. Register by Wednesday, August 13. ALL AGES PRAIRIE ILLUSTRATION WORKSHOPS This popular series of illustration workshops taught by scientific illustrator and Nebraska Statewide Arboretum Botanical Print winner Karina Helm (www.helmillustration.com) returns for 2008. Classes will be held indoors in the education building unless otherwise noted. Workshop enrollment: minimum of 3 – maximum of 12. PLANTS OF THE PRAIRIE: WILDFLOWERS Saturday, June 7 10:00 a.m.-2:00 p.m. $40/person FIELD SKETCHING Saturday, June 28 10:00 a.m.-2:00 p.m. $40/person PLANTS OF THE PRAIRIE Saturday, July 12 and Saturday, August 9 10:00 a.m.-2:00 p.m. $40/person INSECTS FOR KIDS Sunday, July 27 and Saturday, August 30 1:00-3:00 p.m. $20/person PLANTS OF THE PRAIRIE: GRASSES Saturday, September 6 10:00 a.m.-2:00 p.m. $40/person LANDSCAPE SKETCHING Sunday, September 21 2:00-5:00 p.m. $30/person SATURDAY EARLY BIRD WALK AND BRUNCH Saturday, May 31 8:30-11:30 a.m. $12/person Migration should be in full flight by the end of May. Join Kevin Poague, our resident birding expert, to explore the pond, prairie, and woodland habitats in search of those elusive spring birds. Some of the species that should be seen include red-headed woodpecker, Baltimore oriole, yellow warbler, and grasshopper sparrow. After the walk, enjoy a light brunch and conversation at the Center. Children must be accompanied by an adult. Register by May 29. WEEKEND WILDFLOWER WALKS Sunday, June 1 10:30 a.m.-12:00 noon & 1:00-2:30 p.m. $6/adult, $4/child (age 12 and under) June is a great month for viewing native prairie wildflowers. As part of Nebraska Wildflower Week, a morning and an afternoon walk will be led by Kay Kottas, University of Nebraska research specialist in ecological agronomy and horticulture. Kay has had a long history with Spring Creek Prairie and is familiar with its wildflower “hot spots.” This is also an opportunity to see some native plants up close and get ideas how they might work in a home landscaping project. Children must be accompanied by an adult. Registration required by Saturday, May 31. FIREFLY PICNIC Saturday, June 7 7:30-9:30 p.m. Saturday, June 21 7:30-9:30 p.m. $6/adult-child team, $2/each extra team member A warm summer’s evening is the perfect setting for a firefly picnic. Participants are invited to pack a “light” snack and bring a blanket to sit on while they enjoy a beautiful prairie sunset. Later, they will explore the trails to discover the magic of firefly habits and habitats. This program is designed for children 3 through 8 years accompanied by an adult. Great for grandparents and their grandchildren. Space is limited. Register for either picnic by June 6. HANDS-ON HERPETOLOGY Saturday, June 21 9:00 a.m.-5:00 p.m. $25/person “Herps”—reptiles and amphibians—are excellent organisms to demonstrate concepts about biology and ecology. This day-long service workshop will involve in-depth study and investigations of Nebraska snakes, frogs, turtles, salamanders, and lizards. Experts will bring live specimens, and there will also be trips to prairie, woodland, and wetland habitats. The course is designed for biologists, teachers, naturalists, and anyone who wants to learn more about reptiles and amphibians with a broad critical approach to conservation issues. Participants will receive a herpetology curriculum/activity guide and field guide, and a CD of frog and toad calls. Registration fee includes workshop materials, lunch, and beverages. Registration ends Friday, June 6. To register, contact Jeanine Lackey, Nebraska Game and Parks Commission, 471-5581; jeanine.lackey@ngpc.ne.gov. NABA BUTTERFLY COUNT Saturday, July 19 9:00 a.m.-12:30 p.m. $5/adult & $2/child (age 12 and under) Spend a morning with the butterflies! Take part in the 34th annual butterfly count sponsored by the North American Butterfly Association (NABA). All participants will begin with an informative hour-long introductory slide show in the Prairie Building at Pioneers Park Nature Center (PPNC). From there they will divide into smaller groups and disperse with count leaders to PPNC, Spring Creek Prairie Audubon Center, and Nine-Mile Prairie. The count involves walking about two hours and covering two to three miles. No need to be an expert; an experienced butterfly watcher will accompany each group. After the count, those who wish may gather at PPNC to compare notes and share a light lunch after the count. Fee includes payment required by NABA for each participant. Children must be accompanied by an adult. To register, call PPNC at 441-7895 before the July 12 deadline. NATURE NIGHTWATCH FOR FAMILIES Saturday, August 9 9:00 p.m.-12:00 midnight $10/adult, $7/child (age 12 and under) Stay up late and experience nature after the sun sets. Venture out into Spring Creek Prairie's special habitats with camp chairs and red-tipped flashlights to sit quietly and await potential animal visitors as they go about their noctural activities. Techniques will also be used to attract insects for the purpose of investigation and to see life in the pond after dark. This is guaranteed to be a night to remember! Recommended for children at least eight years old; children must be accompanied by an adult. Register by Thursday, August 7. Download a school field trip brochure. (PDF file) Volunteer Discovery Leaders Wanted: We are looking for people who want to lead students of all ages on field trips to Spring Creek Prairie. Learn more here. Imagine your students learning about Nebraska's natural heritage while exploring one of its most beautiful tallgrass prairies. Spring Creek Prairie has nearly 650 acres of native tallgrass prairie, as well as wetlands, ponds, streams, springs, and bur oak woodlands. Evidence of a rich human history connects the landscape to its past inhabitants (Native Americans, European immigrants, and ranchers). See mid-19th-century wagon ruts from the Nebraska City-Ft. Kearny Cutoff to the Oregon Trail. There are abundant opportunities to experience and learn. 
Topics include (but are not limited to):
Animals and Habitats: Students will explore and compare diverse habitats — prairie, streams, ponds, wetlands, and woodlands. (Meets Lincoln Public Schools First Grade Science Animals and Habitats objectives.) Prairie Explorers: Students will explore the tallgrass prairie and make discoveries about our natural and human history. (Meets Lincoln Public Schools Fourth Grade Science Prairie objectives and can incorporate Nebraska History objectives.) Prairie Waterworks: Become immersed in and learn about prairie springs, streams, and wetlands. (Meets Lincoln Public Schools Fifth Grade Science Wetlands objectives.)  By
incorporating a multi-disciplinary approach and hands-on activities, students are encouraged to make their own discoveries about
Nebraska's natural history. Programs can be individualized to meet particular grade-level objectives, and can be introductions or
follow-ups to classroom study.
Fee is $3/student per program. (One adult sponsor admitted free with every ten students.) Visits can be scheduled for any day of the school year and can last from two to six hours (students need to bring their own lunches; picnic areas available). Classes will be divided into small groups, each led by a staff member or volunteer naturalist. For more information or to schedule your group, call (402) 797-2301 or e-mail us. |
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Copyright 2006 by Audubon Nebraska, National Audubon Society, Inc. All rights reserved.