Join Dusty Trails for their viewing blind, located on the beautiful North Platte River. It is the perfect place from which to witness the Sandhill Cranes as they roost in the shallow waters of the river in the early morning hours, awaiting the arrival of the sun. Pick up location is the North Platte Visitor […]

Located in a pine-covered valley one mile east and one mile north of Valentine, the Valentine Fish Hatchery is one of five hatcheries in Nebraska. Spread over 700 acres, the hatchery handles millions of fish eggs annually (60 million walleye eggs, for example). Last year, lakes in Cherry County alone were stocked with some 675,000 fish. Visitors […]

Giant sculptures of sea life, made from marine debris collected on Oregon's beaches, graphically illustrate the tragedy of plastic pollution in our ocean and waterways. The epic exhibit, Washed Ashore: Art to Save the Sea, at Lauritzen Gardens includes a titanic triggerfish, a pair of grand penguins, and an 11-foot-long shark named Chompers! More than […]

Take a stroll through the arboretum at Lauritzen Gardens and learn how water is important to living things- animals, people, and plants. Following along with the story “Living Things Need Water” by Karen Aleo, your family can take part in some fun activities. StoryWalk® combines the love of reading with healthy, fun activities that fit […]

Enjoy the unique experience of viewing the many dances of the Sandhill Cranes during the daylight hours. This tour, by Dusty Trails, provides numerous photo opportunities (bring your long lens), including action shots, as you travel to the various feeding grounds throughout the Platte River Valley on a school bus, which acts as a mobile […]

Explore the sights and sounds of Fontenelle Forest with a journal and notebook! This naturalist-guided hike is designed to help forest-goers of all ages write about – and even sketch! – your experiences in the Forest. Whether you’re a poet or a scientist, this is a great chance to develop your field journaling skills and […]

The sight and sound of the vast number of birds provides a thrill for the senses as you eagerly anticipate the landing of the first birds. Join Dusty Trails for a viewing blind, located on the beautiful North Platte River, is the perfect place from which to witness the majestic Sandhill Cranes as they come […]

Giant sculptures of sea life, made from marine debris collected on Oregon's beaches, graphically illustrate the tragedy of plastic pollution in our ocean and waterways. The epic exhibit, Washed Ashore: Art to Save the Sea, at Lauritzen Gardens includes a titanic triggerfish, a pair of grand penguins, and an 11-foot-long shark named Chompers! More than […]

Take a stroll through the arboretum at Lauritzen Gardens and learn how water is important to living things- animals, people, and plants. Following along with the story “Living Things Need Water” by Karen Aleo, your family can take part in some fun activities. StoryWalk® combines the love of reading with healthy, fun activities that fit […]