Are you passionate about conservation? Does community science pique your interest? Are you curious about bioluminescence? This might be the program for you!  

Come enjoy dusk at the Forest as we learn about fireflies, including the ones in your own backyard! These flashing, flickering insects need our help as their populations have been declining over the years – but scientists and citizens like you can help change that! Whether you call them fireflies or lightning bugs, this is your opportunity to join our naturalist educators as we learn about the nation-wide Firefly Atlas project, participate in counting fireflies on site, and take home the resources you need to continue this important work at home.  

This program is geared toward adults and families with science-minded children due to the upper-level concepts and meticulous activities we will be engaging with. Parents and guardians are responsible for any children in their care. Please bring a flashlight or headlamp, or borrow one of ours on a first-come, first-served basis. Hiking to count fireflies on-site will be on easy-to-moderate, on the Boardwalk and surrounding trails. 

Date: June 21
Time: 8:30 - 10:30 PM  
Location: Fontenelle Forest Nature Center
Program Fee: This program is $15 for members and $25 for non-members (price includes daily admission). Pre-registration is required. Members must sign in to receive discount. 

Questions or need to cancel your registration? Call the Fontenelle Forest Nature Center at 402-731-3140 or email info@fontenelleforest.org. 

Have you ever seen an ear growing out of a tree? Gray fingers sticking out of the ground? Or red cups lining the edge of the trail? These fascinating fungi – and more! - all grow here at the Forest! Join a Naturalist Educator and a member of the Nebraska Mycological Society as we explore the myriad of mushrooms that grow throughout the year. This is a program you “mush” make “room” for in your schedule!  

Bring your hiking boots, a water bottle, and a sense of adventure as we traverse easy-to-moderate terrain looking for fungus. This event will occur twice per year; once at the Nature Center in June to look at early-season fungi, and once at Camp Wa-Kon-Da in October to look for fall fungi.  

Date: June 22
Time: 2:00 - 3:30 PM
Location: Fontenelle Forest Nature Center
Program Fee: This program is $10 for members and $25 for non-members (price includes daily admission). Pre-registration is required.  Members must sign in to receive discount. 

Questions or need to cancel your registration? Call the Fontenelle Forest Nature Center at 402-731-3140 or email info@fontenelleforest.org. 

Are you passionate about conservation? Does community science pique your interest? Do you enjoy watching rolling logs and seeing what creatures are underneath? This might be the program for you! 

Are you curious about what critters live under logs? What creepy crawlies come out at night? Join us in the Wetlands as we’re joined by entomology enthusiast, Andy! Plan for a night hike on easy terrain as we search for beetles that come out at night in the Wetlands. Once we catch beetles and other insects, we’ll identify them and record the data on iNaturalist. Long pants and bug spray are HIGHLY encouraged. We recommend that participants bring their own flashlights or headlamps; we will have a limited number of flashlights and lanterns available.  

This program is geared toward adults and families with science-minded children due to the upper-level concepts and meticulous activities we will be engaging with. Parents and guardians are responsible for any children in their care.  

Date: June 27
Time: 8:30 - 10:30 PM
Location: The Wetlands
Program Fee: This program is $15 for members and $25 for non-members (price includes daily admission). Pre-registration is required. Members must sign in to receive discount. 

Questions or need to cancel your registration? Call the Fontenelle Forest Nature Center at 402-731-3140 or email info@fontenelleforest.org.