Parks

By Jamie Bachmann, Wildlife Educator In Nebraska, high summer reigns as the busiest season for family camping, but I’m the kind of mom who prefers to camp in seclusion, seeking to avoid the distractions of busy campgrounds. With less than 3 percent of land in Nebraska designated as publicly accessible, opportunities for isolation are limited. But when my kiddos were young, I heard tales — near legends — of families embracing cold-weather camping. Then in March 2003, a single car …

Enjoy family-friendly Omaha magician Ryan Chandler as he performs at Eugene T. Mahoney State Park on Nov. 26 for the first of several dates. Chandler, who has appeared on television with magicians Penn and Teller, will perform at 3 p.m. at Kountze Memorial Theater. Other performances will be (all begin at 3 p.m. unless otherwise noted): Dec. 17; Dec. 31; Jan. 1, 5 p.m.; Jan. 14; Jan. 21; Feb. 11; Feb. 18; Feb. 25; March 11; March 18; March 25; …

The Main Area Campground at Johnson Lake State Recreation Area will be closed Nov. 2 until May 2023 for an electrical upgrade. All 82 sites at the Main Area Campground will be upgraded to 50/30/20 amp service. The increase in electrical capacity in each campsite will serve a broader range of visitor needs. It also will provide adequate levels of power to larger, more modern RVs and campers. The South Inlet Campground will remain open during this project. Johnson Lake …

By Renae Blum Looking for a place to go camping this fall? You can’t go wrong with a Nebraska state park. All are great choices, but these 11 stand out for their camping amenities and activities to enjoy during your stay. Pick one near you and enjoy a camping adventure with family and friends this fall. Indian Cave State Park Campers can experience some of Nebraska’s best fall color at Indian Cave State Park. The park’s hardwood forest puts on …

Try to solve a mystery by participating in the Fort Atkinson Candlelight Tour – The Demise of Lt. Gabriel Field on Nov. 5. Lt. Field was a former soldier who was injured outside the fort, then rescued and returned to the fort. A guide will lead visitors on a 90-minute walking tour from room to room in the fort, where reenactors will portray events that would have taken place. By only communicating with the guide, visitors will try to learn …

LINCOLN – The Nebraska American Legion recently donated $16,055 to the Nebraska Game and Parks Commission for the purchase of an all-terrain wheelchair for state park visitors. Game and Parks currently has two of the tracked wheelchairs at Ponca State Park. The chairs provide people the freedom of mobility to hunt, fish, view nature and enjoy the outdoors in all types of terrain. “This track chair is going to give disabled veterans the kind of mobility and independence they need …

Olive Creek State Recreation Area and Olive Creek Wildlife Management Area in southwestern Lancaster County will remain open after a wildfire burned through both areas Oct. 23. Visitors should proceed with caution and be on the lookout for hazardous trees and potential hot spots in the burned areas. The boat ramp and campgrounds were not damaged in the fire. Users should be mindful of boundaries, however, as border fences and signs have not yet been replaced. Download the state recreation …

The Yankee Hill Wildlife Management Area boat ramp access road will be closed starting Wednesday, Oct. 26, until further notice so work on the boat ramp may begin. The ramp has suffered significant erosion caused by water and wave action that must be addressed before further damage occurs. Repair work is expected to take one to two weeks depending on weather conditions. All other access points to the wildlife management area just southwest of Lincoln are open. For more information, …

Explore Fall Bird Migration By Olivia DaRugna, Watchable Wildlife Biologist As summer vacations come to an end and a new season of Husker football begins, many birds have already begun their journeys from northern breeding territories to their southern wintering grounds. Songbirds, shorebirds and waterfowl typically migrate at night, arriving to new locations to rest and refuel during the day. This is an exciting time for birders as our favorite locations can transform literally overnight from having almost no avian …

at Fort Robinson State Park By Justin Haag, Nebraskaland Magazine Some say ghosts haunt the historical grounds of Fort Robinson State Park. Whether it is true, on one night in late October, the spooky side of the park will take center stage — and, judging from the previous year’s success, visitors are anything but scared away. The staff at Fort Robinson is gearing up for the park’s second “Haunted Halloween,” an event that features wagon rides, a chili feed and …