Nebraska Science Festival

Wings Over the Platte
2026-04-25 09:00 - 17:00, 2026-04-26 10:00 - 17:00, 2026-04-27 09:00 - 17:00, 2026-04-28 09:00 - 17:00, 2026-04-29 09:00 - 17:00, 2026-04-30 09:00 - 17:00 (America/Chicago) | Stuhr Museum, 3133 West Highway 34, Grand Island, NE, 68801
Flowing across the heart of the Great Plains, the Platte River has long been a source of life, movement, and inspiration. Wings Over the Platte celebrates the landscapes, waterways, and wildlife that define this region through the vision of artists connected to the Platte River Valley.
From sweeping prairie horizons and ever-changing skies to intimate studies of plants, animals, and waterways, this juried exhibition captures the spirit of a place where nature and people have been intertwined for generations. Artwork in painting, photography, sculpture, and more invites visitors to experience the river not just as scenery, but as a living force that shapes Nebraska’s land, history, and community. Many works will also be available for purchase, offering a chance to take home a piece of the river’s story.
Join The Stuhr Museum in honoring the connection between art and nature, and the timeless role the Platte River plays in shaping both.

Science Sunday
2026-04-26 13:00 - 14:00 | Omaha RiverFront, 1001 Douglas Street, Omaha, NE, 68102, United States
Join the Nebraska Science Festival for Science Sunday from 1-2pm in April at the Omaha RiverFront by the slides. This is a free family friendly hour for you to learn about nature, astronomy, chemistry, medicine and more with hands-on science activities (while supplies last).
Science Sunday Activities:

April 12 – Pi Bracelet Making

April 19 – Constellation Making

April 26 – Seed balls (please note we will be moving to the Lewis & Clark Landing for the Earth Day celebration on this day)

North Platte Hatchery
2026-04-27 08:00 - 16:30, 2026-04-28 08:00 - 16:30, 2026-04-29 08:00 - 16:30, 2026-04-30 08:00 - 16:30 | The North Platte Fish Hatchery, 444 E State Farm Rd., North Platte, NE, 69101, United States
The North Platte Hatchery is open to the public and tours may be scheduled during normal working hours. Hatchery information is on display at the hatch house.
The North Platte Fish Hatchery opened in 1943. The facility utilizes the adjacent Nebraska Public Power District irrigation canal to feed 43 earthen ponds, water that ultimately is returned to the canal after being used for fish production.
The North Platte Hatchery produces a variety of coolwater and warmwater fish species including regular production of walleye, white bass, blue catfish and channel catfish. On demand, the hatchery also produces yellow perch, black and white crappie, wiper, striped bass, bluegill, muskellunge, tiger muskie, smallmouth bass, largemouth bass, northern pike, sauger and saugeye. North Platte hatchery staff also makes annual collections of walleye and white bass eggs and milt from regional water bodies.
In addition to the hatchery, this property houses the Aquatic Conservation Facility where our team conducts mussel propagation research, as well as other aquatic work.
To prevent the spread of disease and reduce stress to fish, some areas of the facility may not be open to visitation. Contact the hatchery in advance to schedule a tour.

Butterfly Royalty of Nebraska Prairies: Monarchs and Regal Fritillaries
2026-04-29 18:30 - 20:00 | UNO’s Barbara Weitz Community Engagement Center, 6400 South, University Drive North, Omaha, NE, United States
Join Conservation Nebraska for an engaging presentation on monarchs and regal fritillaries — two butterfly species of great conservation interest that are vital to ecosystem services like pollination.

Joined by Dr. Ted Burk, Creighton University Professor of Biology, who will share insights into the biology and population trends of these butterflies. He’ll also discuss findings from more than 25 years of surveys tracking their populations and flower visitation patterns across Eastern Nebraska’s tallgrass prairies. Attend in person at UNO’s Barbara Weitz Community Engagement Center (Room 230) or virtually via Zoom. In‑person attendees may park in Lot E.
