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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. For the most current information about our public programs, read the latest issue our newsletter, The Prairie Sage. Public Programs
ADULTS
WEAVING: BASKETS AND STORIESClass sizes are limited. Preregistration is required unless noted otherwise. Call 797-2301 to reserve your space. Payments (cash, check, credit card) accepted on day of class. Saturday, March 1 9:00 a.m.-3:00 p.m. $35/adult. Update: Class is full as of Jan. 25. Waiting list will be kept. Local artist and basket weaver Judy Hart will facilitate this hands-on basket weaving workshop. Ms. Hart is not a master basket weaver, but rather a master cheerleader who presents basic weaving techniques and guides participants through choices that make each basket personal. Imagine bundling up for a trip to the prairie, when the world seems as gray as Judy’s hair, and arriving at the warm Audubon center to share friendship, stories, and the frustration of making a first basket. It is so refreshing to go home with a functional object that you struggled to make. We’ll try two kinds: ribbed (like an egg basket with handle) and twined (a gathering basket with no handle). All supplies will be provided, but participants can bring their own five-gallon bucket and plant pruners or clippers. Participants will also need to bring their own lunch; coffee and tea will be provided. Since hands will be in water all day, hand cream might be nice for the ride home. Preregistration required by February 29. WOMEN AT THE SPRING Saturday, April 19 9:00 a.m. to 3:30 p.m. Saturday, November 1 9:00 a.m. to 3:30 p.m. A series of two 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. ALL AGES NEW YEAR'S WINTER WALKABOUT Saturday, January 5 10:00 a.m.-12:00 noon and 1:00-3:00 p.m. $5/adult, $3/child 12 and under Winter on the prairie can be a true test of endurance. It can also be a wonderful time to discover some of Mother Nature’s best-kept secrets. Don your warmest winter togs and come explore some of the more remote areas of Spring Creek Prairie. Learn why winter is an important, even essential, part of the cycle of life in Nebraska. This event is appropriate for all ages. Most of the time will be spent outdoors, so participants should dress for the weather. Register early for either the morning or afternoon session. Children must be accompanied by an adult. BECOMING A WINTER NATURALIST Rescheduled for Saturday, February 2 10:00 a.m.-12:00 noon $6/adult, $4/child 12 and under. Learn more about how the plants and animals cope with whatever Mother Nature has to offer. Find out what animals stay active and how they adapt to winter’s fickle weather. Discover examples of plant life cycles in all their stages. There is always much to see and explore as a winter naturalist.A majority of this program will take place outside, weather permitting. Participants must dress for the weather. This program is appropriate for age 8 and older. Children must be accompanied by an adult. Preregister by January 18. SNUG AS A BUG Saturday, February 9 10:00 a.m.-12:00 noon $6/adult, $4/each child 12 and under. Using magnifiers, microscopes, and mindful techniques, adult/child teams will probe through leaf litter and logs to discover a variety of spineless wonders wiling away the winter. Activities include a short hike, weather permitting, and an indoor investigation session. This program is appropriate for grades K through 6 and is designed for adult/child teams of 2 or 3.Preregistration required by February 8. IN SEARCH OF A SEASON: A SPRING TREASURE HUNT Saturday, March 29 9:00 a.m.-12:00 noon Starting times for teams every 30 minutes from 9:00-11:30. $15/team This program is designed for teams of two to ten participants. Teams outfitted with a treasure map and clues will search for treasure chests hidden along the trail. At each chest they will use observation skills, deductive reasoning, special equipment, and common sense to investigate the sights and sounds of the prairie and discover the subtle and sometimes elusive treasures of spring. The activities are geared for a variety of skill and interest levels; each team must have at least one adult.Teams must preregister for a scheduled starting time by Friday, March 28. 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.