Above and Beyond
2023-04-21 09:00 - 17:00, 2023-04-22 09:00 - 17:00, 2023-04-23 09:00 - 17:00, 2023-04-24 09:00 - 17:00, 2023-04-25 09:00 - 17:00, 2023-04-26 09:00 - 17:00, 2023-04-27 09:00 - 17:00, 2023-04-28 09:00 - 17:00 (America/Chicago) and 2 more dates | Strategic Air Command & Aerospace Museum, 28210 W Park Hwy, Ashland, NE, 68003, United States
Stop by the Strategic Air Command & Aerospace Museum to view their latest exhibit, Above and Beyond.
Above and Beyond celebrates the power of innovation. Packed with interactive challenges; vehicle concept models and prototypes; immersive media presentations; and inspiring innovator stories, this exhibition invites you to experience what it takes to make impossible dreams take flight.
Regular museum admission.

Hall of History Hands-On Weekly Activities
2023-04-21 15:00 - 16:30 | Boys Town Hall of History, 14057 Flanagan Blvd., Boys Town, NE, 68010, United States
This April, visit the Boys Town Hall of History and learn about various science topics with weekly activities. Each week the Hall of History will host staff-led science activities from 3:00 p.m. to 4:30 p.m. Plus, our hearing display including a hearing simulator will be featured throughout the month to teach visitors young and old about the science of hearing, what causes hearing loss and what hearing loss sounds like to a person with no hearing concerns.
Monthly feature: Hearing Display, available during Hall of History open hours
Weekly features:
Marble Run (physics, gravity) M-F April 3-7, 3:00pm – 4:30pm
Printer Press (ink pressing) M-F April 10-14, 3:00pm – 4:30pm
Molding Process (molds, statues) M-F April 17-21, 3:00pm – 4:30pm

SCC Family Science Night
2023-04-21 17:30 - 20:00 | Southeast Community College, 8800 O Street Lincoln, Lincoln, NE, 68520, United States
Join Southeast Community College on April 21 from 5:30-8:00pm for their SCC Family Science Night. Lots of GREAT activities such as DNA Extraction, a Fungus Scavenger Hunt, Reptiles & Herps, Arthropods, Telescope viewing, Augmented Reality Sandbox, Robots and more. There also will be free food (pizza) available for those that attend. Come celebrate Earth Day and have some science fun!
Free event, though tickets are recommended.

Science Saturday Storytime
2023-04-22 10:00 - 11:00, 2023-04-29 10:00 - 11:00 | A.V. Sorensen Branch, 4808 Cass St., Omaha, NE, 68132, United States
Join Omaha Public Library for Science Saturdays at A.V. Sorensen all April long! In celebration of NE Science Fest and City Nature Challenge, Science Saturdays will offer a science-themed storytime at 10am followed by a family-friendly hands-on activity from 10:30-11am.
Storytime children of all ages are welcome, as storytimes will be tailored for the age of the children present. We explore the early literacy skills of singing, playing, reading, talking and writing in each storytime.
Childcare groups and other groups larger than 10, please call in advance.

Sunday Science with The Bad Astronomer, Phil Plait
2023-04-23 16:00 - 17:00 | Site-1 Brewing, 2566 Farnam Street, Omaha, NE, 68131, United States
Come out to Site-1 Brewing on Sunday, April 23 at 4pm to hear from The Bad Astronomer, Phil Plait.
Join Phil as he talks about his new book, “Under Alien Skies.” Following his presentation, you are invited to ask Phil all your science questions. Books will be available for purchase at this event.
Have you ever wondered what it would be like to travel the universe? How would Saturn’s rings look from a spaceship sailing just above them? If you were falling into a black hole, what’s the last thing you’d see before getting spaghettified? While traveling in person to most of these amazing worlds may not be possible—yet—the would-be space traveler need not despair: you can still take the scenic route through the galaxy with renowned astronomer and science communicator Philip Plait.
Philip Plait, PhD, is an astronomer, sci-fi dork, TV documentary talking head, and all-around science enthusiast. The author of Bad Astronomy and Death from the Skies!, he writes the Bad Astronomy newsletter and lives in Colorado.
This is a free, all ages event. Tickets are required due to venue capacity.

Day Camp – Master Builders – LEGO
2023-04-27 08:00 - 16:30 | Lincoln Children’s Museum, 1420 P Street, Lincoln, NE, 68508, United States
Join the Lincoln Children’s Museum on April 27 for a school-out CAMP PLAY! day: “Master Builders – LEGO”
Everything is awesome during this LEGO day camp! Campers can look forward to S.T.E.A.M. activities incorporating LEGOs, building their own creations and hands-on activities that are sure to inspire the master builder in everyone.
Themed activities and play time will include exhibit floor time where public visitors may be present.
Schedule:
Check-In: 8:00am – 8:30am
Check-Out: 4:00pm-4:30pm
Day Camp Pricing: Member $48/ Non-Member $63
Registration required.

Day Camp – Celebrate Arbor Day
2023-04-28 08:00 - 16:30 | Lincoln Children’s Museum, 1420 P Street, Lincoln, NE, 68508, United States
Join the Lincoln Children’s Museum on April 28 for a school-out CAMP PLAY! day: “Celebrate Arbor Day.”
Campers will celebrate Arbor Day as they learn about trees through hands-on activities, Museum play in our Arbor Day Exhibit, and more. Kiddos are sure to have a tree-mendous time!
Themed activities and play time will include exhibit floor time where public visitors may be present.
Schedule:
Check-In: 8:00am – 8:30am
Check-Out: 4:00pm-4:30pm
Day Camp Pricing: Member $48/ Non-Member $63
Registration required.

Superhero Science at The RiverFront
2023-04-28 17:00 - 19:00 | Omaha RiverFront, 1001 Douglas Street, Omaha, NE, 68102, United States
Join NE SciFest under the canopies on Friday, April 28 from 5-7pm to make Superhero Slime as we celebrate National Superhero Day at the Omaha RiverFront! Unleash your inner superhero as you visit a face painter to dress up as one of your favorite characters, test your super knowledge with a superhero trivia game, visit one of the delicious local food trucks and pick up your very own, superhero themed cupcake! Enjoy an action-packed afternoon with all of your favorite superhero characters at The RiverFront.

*Please note, this event begins at 4pm, NE SciFest will be there from 5-7pm.

Meet an Astronaut Day
2023-04-29 10:00 - 14:30 | Strategic Air Command & Aerospace Museum, 28210 W Park Hwy, Ashland, NE, 68003, United States
Come out to the Strategic Air Command & Aerospace Museum on April 29 from 10am – 2:30pm for their ‘Meet an Astronaut Day’ for NE SciFest.

Starting at 10am they will have educational booths open with interactive STEM activities along with special items from the archive for limited time viewing. Plus, join the OPS science team to launch water rockets.

At 12pm the museums CEO & President and Nebraska’s Astronaut Clayton Anderson will host a Q&A along with a meet and greet.

Then at 2pm view a star show in the planetarium.

Free admission.

Become A Storm Spotter
2024-03-26 19:00 - 21:00 | Thompson Alumni Center, 6705 Dodge Street, Omaha, NE, 68182, United States
Presented by the National Weather Service and hosted by the Emergency Management Departments from UNO, UNMC, Douglas County, and Sarpy County, this Storm Spotter training will show you how to identify hazardous weather as it approaches, either by looking at the sky or at weather radar.
Open to the general public.

An Evening with Temple Grandin
2024-03-26 19:30 - 21:00 | The Garden Theater, 3125 Oak View Drive, Omaha, 68144, United States
Autism self-advocate Temple Grandin, PhD, will share her unique perspective on animals when she headlines the 2024 Nebraska Science Festival this spring.
A professor of animal science at Colorado State University, Dr. Grandin also is a pioneer in improving the handling and welfare of farm animals.
Dr. Grandin will kick off the festival March 26 with her presentation, “Visual Thinking and Animal Behavior.” The 7:30 p.m. presentation will be at The Garden Theater, 3125 Oak View Drive in Omaha. Grandin’s talk will help attendees better understand animals in their sensory-based world as well as provide insights into solving problems. General admission tickets are free but required for admittance; tickets (first-come, first-served basis) will be available March 1 via Eventbrite. The program is suggested for ages 12 and older.
The Nebraska Science Festival, which runs throughout April, features an array of science- and technology-related activities in communities across the state – all designed to make science accessible, interactive, relevant and fun for all ages.
Dr. Grandin’s achievements are remarkable. At age 2 she had no speech and signs of severe autism. She learned speech after many hours of therapy and intensive teaching. Later, inspired in part by her high school science teacher, she pursued a career as a scientist and livestock equipment designer. Half the cattle in the U.S. and Canada are handled in equipment she has designed for meat plants. She has developed animal welfare guidelines for the meat industry and consulted with companies on animal welfare. Widely published, she continues her research at Colorado State University and teaches courses on livestock handling and facility design.
In her latest book, Navigating Autism: 9 Mindsets For Helping Kids on the Spectrum, Dr. Grandin presents nine strengths-based mindsets necessary to successfully work with young people on the autism spectrum. Her book Animals in Translation was a New York Times best seller, and her book Livestock Handling and Transport is in its fourth edition. In addition to a popular TED Talk, she has authored Thinking in Pictures, Emergence Labeled Autistic, Animals Make us Human, Improving Animal Welfare: A Practical Approach, The Way I See It, and The Autistic Brain.

Space: It's Out of This World
2024-03-30 13:00 - 14:00 | Milton R. Abrahams Branch, 5111 N. 90th St., Omaha, NE, 68134, United States
Become a Space Cadet at Omaha Public Library! Join the Omaha Children’s Museum as we tour our solar system and learn important physics, chemistry, and engineering concepts. Blast off with a combustion reaction, find out what happens when there is no air pressure, and watch as we make our own version of a comet!
This program is designed for kids grades K-5, but all ages are welcome.
Registration begins March 1. To register for this program, please email amhamernik@omahalibrary.org or call 402-444-6284.

NE SciFest Essay Contest
2024-04-01 - 2024-04-30 | NE
The NE SciFest Essay Contest is back again. This year we want you to write an essay answering the question below and be entered to win a NE SciFest swag package.
This year’s SciFest essay question: In honor of our keynote speaker – and her high school science teacher and mentor, Mr. Carlock, who encouraged her interest in science – tell us about an important science mentor in your life.

Contest is open to all Nebraskans 19 years and younger. Essays must be emailed to nescifest@gmail.com by April 30, 2024.

NE SciFest Art Contest
2024-04-01 - 2024-04-30 | NE
Back for a fourth year is the NE SciFest Art Contest.
Using our keynote speakers’ background in animal behavior as inspiration, create artwork that reflects your favorite animal.
Three winners will receive a swag bag of NE SciFest goodies.
All entries must meet the following requirements:

All entrants must live in the state of Nebraska
Each participant may only submit one image. However, a teacher/coach/parent may submit multiple images
Must be able to email a clear, well photographed image of creation to NE SciFest

BRICKLIVE Brickosaurs
2024-04-01 09:00 - 17:00, 2024-04-02 09:00 - 17:00 | Lauritzen Gardens, 100 Bancroft Street, Omaha, NE, 68108
On display for the first time in the United States, experience BRICKLIVE Brickosaurs, an adventure of Jurassic scale at Omaha’s Lauritzen Gardens. Marvel at 30 iconic dinosaur sculptures made from more than 1.5 million bricks and witness firsthand what it would have been like to come face-to-face with a herd of incredible reptiles, while discovering prehistoric plants in the garden’s collection. This dino-mite brick sculpture exhibit is included with garden admission and is FREE for garden members.

StoryWalk®: “Dig In!”
2024-04-01 09:00 - 17:00, 2024-04-02 09:00 - 17:00 | Lauritzen Gardens, 100 Bancroft Street, Omaha, NE, 68108
Take a stroll through the Lauritzen Gardens arboretum and explore all of the creepy, crawly, dirty, muddy, green, and growing things that can be found in the garden. Following along with the story “Dig In!” by Cindy Jenson-Elliott, your family can take part in some fun activities. StoryWalk® combines the love of reading with healthy, fun activities that fit the theme of the story to exercise your brain and body. Included with paid admission or with garden membership.

Boys Town Hall of History Hands-On Weekly Activities
2024-04-01 10:00 - 16:30 | Boys Town Hall of History, 14057 Flanagan Blvd., Boys Town, NE, 68010, United States
Visit the Boys Town Hall of History and learn about various science topics with weekly activities. Each week, the Hall of History will host staff-led science activities during regular business hours. Stop by each week to check out the rotating activities!
Weekly Features:

April 1 – 7: Comic Book Station

Make your own comic book and take photo with our 6 ft 2 in Captain Marvel.

April 8 – 14: Magnifying

Learn about and explore with different magnifying glasses and microscopes.

April 15 – 21: Windmills

Learn about our windmill and make your own windmill.

April 22 – 30: Blueprints

Learn about blueprints, make your own blueprint and do Lego construction.

Business Hours:
Monday – Saturday 10:00 a.m. – 4:30 p.m.
Sundays 11:00 a.m. – 4:00 p.m.

Mudpies
2024-04-02 09:30 - 11:00 | Fontenelle Forest, 1111 Bellevue Blvd. N., Bellevue, NE, 68005, United States
Looking for a unique setting in which to have fun with your child while learning about the natural world?
Mudpies is a structured program for children ages 3-5, at Fontenelle Forest, that encourages exploration of nature and interaction between a child and their caregiver. Each week, a natural science theme is explored through crafts, outdoor exploration, songs, stories, hikes and more! Each session will feature a different craft or activity, along with storytime and a guided hike. Come discover the joy of sharing nature with your child!
This program is for children ages 3-5 accompanied by a caregiver. Registration required.
