Our 3rd Annual native plant garden giveaway, vendor fair, and speaker presentation event is scheduled. Sign-up to reserve one of three native plants gardens: Sun, Ground Cover, or Shade. Registration and Refundable Fee Required for Garden Giveaway.

Event by Pollinator Alliance of the Heartland

Bees and other pollinators visit flowers to forage for their food. Floral nectar supplies carbohydrates, and for bees, pollen is a critical protein source necessary to producing offspring. But pollinators also encounter a range of plant chemicals at flowers, some of them potent toxins like nicotine and cardiac glycosides. Why do flowers invest pollinator rewards with chemicals that might poison them? And how do pollinators cope with these chemicals? In this talk, Leif Richardson, Xerces Endangered Species Conservation Biologist, will dive into the fascinating world of plant chemical ecology, and share how these chemicals can both harm and heal their consumers. Registration Required.

Event by Xerces Society

Led by Plant records specialist Trent Erickson, this guided experience blends a tram ride with short walks through garden areas, highlighting native plants from Eastern Nebraska and the broader Midwest. Learn how these species thrive in our region’s unique climate and how they play a vital role in local ecosystems. Registration and Fee Required.

Event by Lauritzen Gardens

This course provides an overview of Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) regulations as they apply to land management and stewardship activities. Learn about safety standards for working with heavy equipment, herbicides, and in the field, as well as proper risk management practices. Registration and Fee Required.

Event by Golden Hills RC&D

The monarch butterflies are on their way! Every year in late summer, the super-generation of monarchs make their way to overwintering grounds in Mexico. Come learn about monarch butterflies, their life cycle, and their miraculous migration to Mexico as we teach you how we catch, handle, and tag monarchs for research. Registration and Fee Required.

Event by Hitchcock Nature Center

The monarch butterflies are on their way! Every year in late summer, the super-generation of monarchs make their way to overwintering grounds in Mexico. Come learn about monarch butterflies, their life cycle, and their miraculous migration to Mexico as we teach you how we catch, handle, and tag monarchs for research. Registration and Fee Required.

Event by Hitchcock Nature Center

A presentation on how and why to add native plants to your landscape followed by the opportunity to harvest native grass and forbs seeds growing near Pony Creek Nature Center. Pre-Registration is APPRECIATED

Event by Mills County Conservation Board and Golden Hills RC&D

Explore a restored grassland teeming with life as the summer flowers will be in full bloom! This event takes place on a slice of land that farmer Randy Ruppert and his wife, Nancy Ruppert, have been restoring with native prairie species since 2005. Joining him is Ian Peterson, a horticulturist with UNL Extension in Fremont, who will share valuable insights on pollinators and land management. Registration Required.

Event by Conservation Nebraska

Volunteers will visit local prairie remnants and learn how to identify which plants are available for seed collection. The hand-collected seed will then be used for local prairie restoration and reconstruction projects.

Event by Golden Hills RC&D

Hitchcock Insect Club is a grassroots club made up of local individuals who are passionate about bugs, and they want YOU to join in the fun!

Event by Hitchcock Nature Center

Volunteers will visit local prairie remnants and learn how to identify which plants are available for seed collection. The hand-collected seed will then be used for local prairie restoration and reconstruction projects.

Event by Golden Hills RC&D

When the sun goes down, the high-pitched songs of crickets, katydids, grasshoppers, and cicadas are a prominent element of the summer landscape. Join Dr. Ted Burk for a guided evening exploration of the garden, when the insect chorale is at its peak. See what insects are active and learn to identify insects by their song. Registration and Fee Required.

Event by Lauritzen Gardens

Start your journey to a more sustainable garden with this two-day workshop (Also on September 3), where you'll learn how to integrate native Nebraska plants into your landscape. As a bonus, each participant will receive native plant seeds and a "Native Planting in Progress" yard sign to proudly display. Registration and Fee Required.

Event by Lauritzen Gardens

Volunteer Event: Planting 19 native, pollinator-friendly trees and shrubs at the inCommon Community Development Skate Ramp Park.

Event by Bumbling Bee Native Wildflowers and inCommon

Night Life at Glacier Creek Preserve offers a chance to explore the fascinating world of animals that become active after sunset.

Event by UNO Glacier Creek Preserve

How are U.S. bee species faring in light of the major threats they are facing? What more do we need to know to protect them? There are over 3,600 species of bees in the United States, but we only know the conservation status of about 20% of those species. This makes it difficult to make decisions about how to prioritize bee conservation. Join Saff Killingsworth, Xerces Endangered Species Conservation Biologist and State of the Bees Initiative, to discuss how conservation biologists decide which bees are imperiled and which bees are safe, highlight some interesting bees of conservation concern, and talk about the Xerces Society’s effort to understand the conservation status of all U.S. bee species. Registration Required.

Event by Xerces Society

Join Conservation Nebraska and speaker Lindsey Chizinski to learn more about some of Nebraska's biologically unique landscapes outlined in the Nebraska Legacy Project. Learn about how biodiversity strengthens ecological relationships and how you can help promote biodiversity yourself. Available both online and in person. Registration Required for Webinar.

Event by Conservation Nebraska