Events and Activities
Summer Events Calendar 2019
JUNE
Pollinators on the Plaza
June 19, 4p.m. – 6p.m., Union Plaza.
Lincoln Parks and Recreation and the University of Nebraska-Lincoln Bee Lab invite the public to learn all about pollination! Celebrate National Pollinator Week with the family by learning all about the wonderful world of pollinators. This FREE event will have lots of fun and creative activities for all ages.
Partner: University of Nebraska-Lincoln Bee Lab
Cost: Free
Link: Pollinators on the Plaza
Trail Trek
June 23, Pioneers Park Nature Center.
Trail Trek is a popular community fundraising event that encourages families to explore Lincoln’s 150-mile trail system. A variety of bike routes and distances appeal to both novice and experienced riders. Each participant receives lunch, t-shirt and a water bottle. Now in its 17th year, Trail Trek has contributed nearly $200,000 to building trails in and around Lincoln.
Partner: Great Plains Trail Network
Cost: Child: $15 Adult: $30 Children 5 or under: free
Link: Trail Trek
Wild & Scenic Film Festival
June 26 7p.m., The Railyard.
The festival inspires environmental activism and a love for nature through stellar filmmaking, beautiful cinematography and first-rate storytelling to inform, inspire and ignite solutions and possibilities to restore the earth and human communities, while creating a positive future for the next generation.
Partners: Prairie Pines Partners nonprofit and Threads – Footloose & Fancy
Cost: Tickets are $15 in advance, $20 at the door. Children 12 and under are free.
Link: Wild & Scenic Film Festival
Bites, Bikes and Bison
June 29, Pioneers Park Nature Center.
A bike themed family festival. There are 2 parts to this event which allows everyone to enjoy the day! For everyone there will be food, drink, biking in the park, strider bike course for little kids, bison viewing, yoga, wagon rides and entertainment. For cyclists who are up for a bigger challenge there is a longer bike route that will go to local brew establishments for discounted or free drinks. The event is a fundraiser for the Friends of the Pioneers Park Nature Center. On-line ticket sales will go through Thursday, June 27. 2019. Tickets will be available at the event.
Partner: Pioneers Park Nature Center
Cost: $15 per person
Link: Bites, Bikes & Bison
JULY
Bioblitz on Denton Prairie
July 13, 7a.m. – 12p.m., Denton Prairie.
A Bioblitz is an intense period of biological surveying to record all living species in a designated area. You can participate by joining one of our four teams: bird team, insect team, plants team, and stream and everything else team. No experience necessary in this family-fun event. And a special bird banding demonstration will start off the day. Water and snacks available, please bring your own water bottle to refill.
7:00-8:30 am – Bird banding demonstration
8:30-9:00 – Check-in, intro, team assignments
9:00-12:00 noon – Bioblitzing and tallying up species
Partners: Spring Creek Prairie Audubon Center, Nebraska Game and Parks Commission
Cost: Free
Link: Bioblitz on Denton Prairie
Third Tuesday Bird Walks
July 16, 8a.m. – 10a.m., Spring Creek Prairie Audubon Center.
Sharpen your birding skills, meet fellow birders, and get to know the birds founds along the prairie trails during these free guided bird walks, every third Tuesday of the month from April to October.
Partner: Spring Creek Prairie Audubon Center
Cost: Free
Link: Third Tuesday Bird Walks
Summer Serenity
July 17, 7:30p.m. – 8:30p.m., Spring Creek Prairie Audubon Center.
Sunset Yoga on the Prairie
Partner: Spring Creek Prairie Audubon Center
Cost: Pre-register
Link: Summer Serenity
Summer Serenity
July 24, 7:30p.m. – 8:30p.m., Spring Creek Prairie Audubon Center.
Sunset Yoga on the Prairie
Partner: Spring Creek Prairie Audubon Center
Cost: Pre-register
Link: Summer Serenity
Summer Serenity
July 31, 7:30p.m. – 8:30p.m., Spring Creek Prairie Audubon Center.
Sunset Yoga on the Prairie
Partner: Spring Creek Prairie Audubon Center
Cost: Pre-register
Link: Summer Serenity
AUGUST
Third Tuesday Bird Walks
August 20, 8a.m. – 10a.m., Spring Creek Prairie Audubon Center.
Sharpen your birding skills, meet fellow birders, and get to know the birds founds along the prairie trails during these free guided bird walks, every third Tuesday of the month from April to October.
Partner: Spring Creek Prairie Audubon Center
Cost: Free
Link: Third Tuesday Bird Walks
SEPTEMBER
Third Tuesday Bird Walks
September 17, 8a.m. – 10a.m., Spring Creek Prairie Audubon Center.
Sharpen your birding skills, meet fellow birders, and get to know the birds founds along the prairie trails during these free guided bird walks, every third Tuesday of the month from April to October.
Partner: Spring Creek Prairie Audubon Center
Cost: Free
Link: Third Tuesday Bird Walks
Fall Fest
September 28, 5p.m. – 8p.m., Spring Creek Prairie Audubon Center.
Music, art, wagon rides, kids’ activities, and free cake & custard.
Partner: Spring Creek Prairie Audubon Center
Cost: Free
Link: Fall Fest
OCTOBER
Third Tuesday Bird Walks
October 15, 8a.m. – 10a.m., Spring Creek Prairie Audubon Center.
Sharpen your birding skills, meet fellow birders, and get to know the birds founds along the prairie trails during these free guided bird walks, every third Tuesday of the month from April to October.
Partner: Spring Creek Prairie Audubon Center
Cost: Free
Link: Third Tuesday Bird Walks
NOVEMBER
Prairie Run
November 2, Races begin at 9a.m. and 9:30a.m., Pioneers Park Nature Center.
Pioneers Park Nature Center is hosting its 7th trail run. This course is on trails and mowed paths through the Nature Center. The route will take you up and over rolling hills, along groundwater fed ponds, and through tallgrass prairie. The 1 Mile option is a moderate route on mowed trails with some hills. The 5K option is a challenging hilly course along uneven terrain. Proceeds will go to support our prairie land management program and the animals that live there. All participants will be entered in a prize drawing and receive a participation gift. This event will NOT be officially timed.
Partner: Pioneers Park Nature Center
Cost: $12 for 12 and under, $25 for 13 and up
Link: Prairie Run
Past Events
Celebrating the Prairie Corridor
May 14, 5:30-7:30 p.m.
Pioneers Park Nature Center, 3201 S. Coddington Ave.
Come celebrate the Prairie Corridor on Haines Branch with activities with our project partners and activities for the whole family.
Partner: Lincoln Parks Foundation and the City of Lincoln
Cost: Free
Link: lincolnparks.org
-Tour the Prairie Corridor Trail using Pedalpushers pedi-cabs or BikeLNK bikes.
-Discover the Prairie Scavenger Hunt is planned for kids.
-Visit the Hudson Cabin and Heritage School.
-View the prairie from the perspective of a drone.
-Learn about Native Birds.
-Stroll through the Prairie.
-Bid in our silent auction to benefit the Prairie Corridor project.
-Enjoy delicious food for purchase from Gelato To Go, Kitchen Sink Bakery, The Gilded Swine and Roaming Tacos.
For more information, contact Maggie Stuckey, Lincoln Parks Foundation, at 402-441-8258 or Director@LincolnParks.org.
The Lincoln Parks Foundation’s website is lincolnparks.org, and more information on Lincoln Parks and Recreation is available at parks.lncoln.ne.gov.
MAY
Super BIRD Saturday: Birds & Bites
May 11, 9a.m. – 10:30a.m., Spring Creek Prairie Audubon Center.
Guided prairie stroll with donuts
Partner: Spring Creek Prairie Audubon Center
Cost: Free
Link: Super BIRD Saturday: Birds & Bites
Super BIRD Saturday: Family Bird Fair
May 11, 11a.m. – 12p.m., Spring Creek Prairie Audubon Center.
A festival of bird games, a kids’ bird walk, bird crafts, and more! Fun for the whole family.
Partner: Spring Creek Prairie Audubon Center
Cost: Free
Link: Super BIRD Saturday: Family Bird Fair
Super BIRD Saturday: Book Signing with author Paul Johnsgard
May 11, 1p.m. – 2p.m., Spring Creek Prairie Audubon Center.
Meet local legend and author Paul Johnsgard and get his new book about Spring Creek Prairie signed.
Partner: Spring Creek Prairie Audubon Center
Cost: Free
Link: Super BIRD Saturday: Book Signing with author Paul Johnsgard
Super BIRD Saturday: Birds and Brews
May 11, 2:30p.m. – 4p.m., Spring Creek Prairie Audubon Center.
Join us and Zipline for happy hour on the prairie and hear all about how birds got their crazy names!
Partner: Spring Creek Prairie Audubon Center
Cost: Free
Link: Super BIRD Saturday: Birds and Brews
Saturday with our Naturalist
May 18, 2p.m. – 3p.m., Pioneers Park Nature Center.
Hit the trails with a Naturalist to explore and learn about plants, animals, insects, and more. Open to all ages. Children must be accompanied by an adult. Register by May 15.
Partner: Pioneers Park Nature Center
Cost: $5 per person
Link: Pioneers Park Nature Center Programs
Third Tuesday Bird Walks
May 21, 8a.m. – 10a.m., Spring Creek Prairie Audubon Center.
Sharpen your birding skills, meet fellow birders, and get to know the birds founds along the prairie trails during these free guided bird walks, every third Tuesday of the month from April to October.
Partner: Spring Creek Prairie Audubon Center
Cost: Free
Link: Third Tuesday Bird Walks
Birds & Brew at The Happy Raven
May 22, 7p.m. – 8p.m., The Happy Raven.
Join us for a fun time at The Happy Raven in downtown Lincoln. Great brews will be on tap and our Birdnerd, Jason, will present general bird trivia and prep you for an all-bird-themed Trivia Night at the Raven on June 3.
Partner: The Happy Raven
Cost: Free
Link: Birds & Brew
JUNE
Environmental Experience Early Childhood Workshop
June 1, 10a.m. – Noon, Spring Creek Prairie Audubon Center.
“Environmental Experiences for Early Childhood” provides an introduction to environmental education, encouraging children ages 3 to 6 to explore, discover, and communicate in expressive ways. With over 130 experiences that engage young children in outdoor exploration and play, it’s no wonder Learning® Magazine chose PLT’s Early Childhood guide as a Teachers’ Choice Award winner. Through this workshop you will gain access to the curriculum and learn how to use it in your programs.
Partner: Spring Creek Prairie Audubon Center
Cost: $24
Link: Environmental Experiences for Early Childhood
Wildflower Walk
June 8, 10a.m. – 11:30a.m., Spring Creek Prairie Audubon Center.
We’re celebrating WILDFLOWER WEEK in Nebraska with a wildflower walk through the tallgrass prairie. Join naturalist Mary Sawicki for a lovely and leisurely stroll on the trails of Spring Creek Prairie to look and learn about our native flowering plants.
Partner: Spring Creek Prairie Audubon Center
Cost: $5
Link: Wildflower Walk
Let’s Go Birding Together, Celebrate PRIDE month
June 9, 10a.m. – 11:30a.m., Spring Creek Prairie Audubon Center.
A guided bird hike. As part of National Audubon’s Equity, Diversity & Inclusion initiative, we are partnering with OUTLinc to provide a guided bird tour for our diverse community in Lincoln. We’ll take an informal and fun walk around the prairie to learn bird identification, chat about diversity in conservation, and more. All friends and allies are welcome, and binoculars will be available.
Partner: Spring Creek Prairie Audubon Center
Cost: $5
Link: Let’s Go Birding Together
Third Tuesday Bird Walks
June 18, 8a.m. – 10a.m., Spring Creek Prairie Audubon Center.
Sharpen your birding skills, meet fellow birders, and get to know the birds founds along the prairie trails during these free guided bird walks, every third Tuesday of the month from April to October.
Partner: Spring Creek Prairie Audubon Center
Cost: Free
Link: Third Tuesday Bird Walks