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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
PRAIRIE ILLUSTRATION WORKSHOPSClass 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. This popular series of illustration workshops taught by scientific illustrator and Nebraska Statewide Arboretum Botanical Print winner Karina Helm (www.helmillustration.com) returns for 2009. 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 13 10:00 a.m.-2:00 p.m. $40/person. Learn the basics of drawing and painting prairie wildflowers. Sharpen observational skills while learning flower anatomy and botanical terminology. Participants will work in graphite and watercolor techniques. NATURE ART FOR CHILDREN Saturday, July 11 10:00 a.m.-12:00 noon $20/child. Prairie teems with a rich diversity of plant and animal life. Discover all sorts of insects, butterflies, flowers, frogs, and trees while learning simple steps to easily draw different shapes and forms. No experience required, just an interest in nature and art. FIELD SKETCHING Change of date: Sunday, August 23 10:00 a.m.-2:00 p.m. $40/person. Learn a range of field-adapted color sketching techniques to quickly illustrate plants, animals, and landscapes using pencil, pen, watercolor, and colored pencil. Participants will learn to sharpen observational skills and increase their awareness of the natural world. PLANTS OF THE PRAIRIE Saturday, August 15 10:00 a.m.-2:00 p.m. $40/person. Learn the basics of drawing and painting prairie plants. Sharpen observational skills while learning plant anatomy and botanical terminology. Participants will work in graphite and watercolor techniques. SATURDAY EARLY BIRD WALK AND BRUNCH Saturday, June 6 8:30-11:30 a.m. $12/person Spring bird migration is one of the most exciting times to get out and experience nature. 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 the red-headed woodpecker, Baltimore oriole, yellow warbler, and grasshopper sparrow. After the walk, enjoy a light brunch and conversation at the center. Register by June 4. Children must be accompanied by an adult. WEEKEND WILDFLOWER WALK Sunday, June 7 1:30-3:00 p.m. $6/adult, $4/child (age 12 and under) (Update: Class is full as of June 5 -- waiting list available.) June is a great month for viewing native prairie wildflowers at Spring Creek Prairie. As part of Nebraska Wildflower Week, an afternoon walk will be led by Kay Kottas, Ph.D. Kay has a long history with Spring Creek Prairie and is familiar with its wildflower “hot spots.” This is also a wonderful opportunity to see some of these native plants up close and get an idea how they might work in a home landscaping project. Appropriate for age 8 and older; children must be accompanied by an adult. FIREFLY PICNICS Saturday, June 13 7:30-9:30 p.m. Saturday, June 27 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, a walk along trails will uncover the magic of firefly habits and habitats. This rogram is specially designed for children 3 through 8 years accompanied by an adult. It is a great program for grandparents and their grandchildren, as well as parents and children. Sign up for either date by June 9. NABA BUTTERFLY COUNT Saturday, July 25 9:00 a.m.-12:30 p.m. $5/adult & $2/child (age 12 and under) Take part in the 34th annual butterfly count sponsored by the North American Butterfly Association. All participants will begin with an informative hour-long slide show in the Prairie Building at Pioneers Park Nature Center. From there, groups will disperse with count leaders to Pioneers Park Nature Center, Spring Creek Prairie Audubon Center, or Nine-Mile Prairie. A butterfly expert will accompany each group. The count involves walking about 2 hours and covering 2 to 3 miles. Those who wish may gather back at the Nature Center to compare notes and share a light lunch after the count. To register, contact Pioneers Park Nature Center, 441-7895 before the July 12 deadline. $5/adult, $2/each child 12 and under; children must be accompanied by an adult. NATURE NIGHTWATCH Saturday, August 8 9:00 p.m. to 12:00 midnight $10/adult, $7/each child 12 and under Venture out into Spring Creek Prairie’s special habitats with camp chairs, insect repellent, and red-tipped flashlights to sit quietly and await potential nighttime visitors as they go about their nocturnal activities. We’ll also use techniques called “sugaring” and “the old white sheet trick” to attract insects for the purpose of investigation, and try out a special underwater light to see what’s going on in the pond after the sun goes down. Guaranteed to be a night to remember! Recommended for children at least 8 years old; children must be accompanied by an adult. DRAGONFLY AND DAMSELFLY COUNT Saturday, August 29 9:30 to 11:30 a.m. $5/adult, $3/child under 12 Adult dragonflies and damselflies are showy, beautiful, and well-known cultural icons. Take part in a new citizen science program that will help establish a baseline count of these amazing insects for future monitoring. The program, led by Gordon Warrick, will begin with a half-hour introductory slide show. Field time for the count is about 1 1/2 hours. Participants are encouraged to wear sunscreen and a hat and bring water. Those who wish may bring a lunch and join Gordon for the final tally and observations after the count. Recommended for children 8 and older; children must be accompanied by an adult. WOMEN AT THE SPRING Saturday, October 3 3:00 to 9:00 p.m. A series of integrated workshops created to empower women by connecting them to the prairie through the study of its history, the role of women then and now, and how visual and performing arts within the natural habitat strengthen and guide women. 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.