September to Remember!

August 27 – September 6  The Nature Center will staff a booth/activity at the Nebraska State Fair in Grand Island. We are partnering in cooperation with 4-H and several of our partners and sponsors to offer nature-based displays and presentations in a large tent right near the midway. We are actively seeking volunteers to help out. Please contact us at the Center if you wish to volunteer. Likely times include 9-1, 1-5 and 5-9. You will receive a pass to the fair for each day you volunteer. 

September 14 – 16 Look for us at the Husker Harvest Days in Grand Island. We will again host a booth in the NRD association tent on the north side of the grounds. Last year we had several thousand people stop by the booth to say hello and check out what we are doing at the Center.  

September 25  We will host an open house at the Center from 10 a.m. - 3 p.m.  We will celebrate with food, music and fun for the entire family.  Our gift shop "The Crimson Crown" will be featuring local authors and artists who will be on hand highlighting their work. We will need a full compliment of volunteers to help with the day’s events, so please let us know if you are interested. We're also on the "JUNK JAUNT", so come ready to find a bargain!  There is no cost for the day. 

Be sure to keep up to date with all of our events at our web-site www.nebraskanature.org. Just look for the calendar on the front page. Give us a call at 308-382-1820 to find out more information. 

Report: Day Camping 2010

In July, the nature center offered its first day camp since reopening. And what a blast it was!

The camp, a collaboration between NNVC and South Central 4-H camp, ran from July 12-15. Events included fishing, a GPS search, butterfly catching and identification, a field trip to the planetarium at the University of Nebraska-Kearney, fishing, canoeing and more. Four full days of activities -- no question about it.

We had plenty of help during the camp from 4-H camp staff Katie Zabel and Morgan Marasco. They led several activities and kept the camp humming along through fun games. Dale and Gay Crandall hosted Katie and Morgan during their stay. Thank you Katie, Morgan, Dale and Gay!

Next year, our day camp is tentatively scheduled for July 11-14. We will keep you informed.

Perseid Meteor Shower: A Summer Sky Spectacular

Every August, Earth passes through a trail of cosmic debris left behind by Comet Swift-Tuttle. If weather, moonphase and sleep schedules allow, observers can watch the fiery disintegration of these particles as the Perseid meteor shower.

The shower peaks this year after midnight on August 12th (and possibly the 13th as well), when as many as 60 meteors an hour can be witnessed from dark sky locations. Like most meteor showers, the Perseids are more numerous predawn because the "radiant", the point from which the meteors appear to originate, is higher in the sky after midnight, and the meteors are visible in all directions. During the evenings of the 11th and 12th, the radiant is very low in the sky, and many meteors are invisible below the horizon. The Perseid radiant is located within the constellation Perseus the Hero (hence the designation Perseids, or "Children of Perseus.")

Viewing the shower requires a location well away from city lights; the darker your sky, the more meteors you'll see. A reclining lawn chair, snacks, beverages (non-alcoholic!) and bug repellent also make for a more enjoyable viewing experience. Those wanting to see the shower at its best might consider attending the Nebraska Star Party, taking place at Merritt Reservoir, 25 miles south of Valentine, Nebraska. For more information, point your browser to www.nebraskastarparty.org

Changes A-Comin' for Crane Season 2011

The end of September is nearly halfway between the end of last crane season and the beginning of the next. And it's never too early to plan for that next one!

For crane season 2011, we will hold guided tours March 4 - April 6. We have a number of changes planned, including:

* New prices. The viewing blind tour cost declines slightly to $25/person, while the price for the footbridge tour rises a little to $10/person. Tax is additional.

* Age Limitations. Children under 10 will no longer be allowed on footbridge tours. (The lower age limit of 12 remains for blind tours.)

* Tour participant ID. We'll issue a sticker, bracelet, ticket etc. to distinguish tour participants from others. Only tour participants will be allowed into the display room for the pre-tour presentation.

* Step-On Tours. A guide will be available to step onto a school bus, motorcoach, etc. to direct groups to current crane viewing hotspots during the day. Popular in the past, we're reviving this service.

We're interested in comments on these ideas and hearing about others you may have. Let us know!

A Walk in the Prairie

Our prairie trail is now open to the public. We offer several miles of walking trails allowing access to the river and prairie. The trail is open daily from sunrise to sunset and can be accessed through the building or via the gate on the east side of the parking lot. The warm season grasses are coming in very strong at this point along with good varieties of butterflies, birds and insects. We do not charge for access to the trails and hope that you can take time to stop by and explore. (Hoary vervain in the photo.)

Stay Connected to NNVC

Between newsletters, you can stay connected to the Center through our Facebook page, Twitter, and our blog "The Green Shoe Diaries". Be sure to friend us on Facebook for day to day updates! We also have a photo page on Flickr. You can add photos that you have taken for the world to see. 

If you're not into all of the social media that's ok, you can just pick up the phone and call us at 308-382-1820. 

Overnight Under the Stars

October is often a great month for stargazing: Clear blue skies during the day, cool and mosquito-less conditions at night with stars galore. Camp out with your family under the stars! We'll set up around the south classroom Friday, October 8th and enjoy a campfire meal in the early evening. Then we'll do some astronomy-related activities and take a spin around the night sky with a BIG 16" telescope (recently donated to the nature center!). The event wraps up Saturday morning with breakfast around the campfire.

Contact Dan@nebraskanature.org for more details or to register. 

Conferences and Events this Fall

For those of you who are in the outdoor education area, I recommend the NACEE annual conference. It's a great place to connect and learn. 

The Nebraska Alliance for Conservation and Environment Education (NACEE) will host its annual conference on September 9-11, 2010 at Camp Carol Joy Holling in Ashland, Nebraska. The theme of the conference is “Coming into Focus: Conservation and Environment Education in Nebraska.” Conference participants can expect to learn about the latest nature and environmental education resources and programs in Nebraska.  
On Friday evening, NACEE will host Michael Forsberg, Nebraska-native, world-renowned wildlife photographer. He will speak on the need for conservation and environmental education in Nebraska. The evening will also feature dinner and a live fundraising auction. More information and an application form can be found at www. nacee.org. 

You will also want to mark October 5-7 on your calendar. Watchable Wildlife will be holding its national conference in Kearney. Stay tuned for more information about speakers and activities. The conference is designed to bring landowners and nature based tourism entities together and explore what opportunities are out there in the eco-tourism industry. 

Rent the Nature Center!

We have been busy with rental groups . The Nebraska Nature & Visitor Center is a great place to host your next meeting. Schools, banks, insurance groups, state and local government, churches, non-profit boards, clubs and associations have all used the Center in the last few months. We're located right between Grand Island, Kearney and Hastings and are a great place to meet in the middle. Groups have found that more people attend their events when they are held here because it is a shorter drive to a beautiful facility.  We work with several very good caterers in the area and can help you create a perfect place to get things done. Our facility can handle a groups from very small up to over one hundred. Call Vicki at 308-382-1820 to see if it is the right place for your next meeting. 

This email was sent to [email address suppressed] on behalf of the Nebraska Nature and Visitor Center, 9325 S. Alda Rd. Wood River, Nebraska 68883.

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