Nebraska Science Festival

Spring Wildflower Hike
2023-04-15 14:00 - 15:30 (America/Chicago) | Fontenelle Forest, 1111 Bellevue Blvd. N., Bellevue, NE, 68005, United States
After a long winter, it’s finally greening up! Come look for spring’s early arrivals with plant enthusiast and volunteer Eric Scholar. This exploration walk will mostly stick to the Riverview Boardwalk and nearby trails while you look for the first flowers of spring. Keep your eyes open for Spring Beauties, Bloodroot, Dutchman’s Britches, Trout Lilies, and others on this stroll!
Led by plant enthusiast and longtime volunteer Eric Scholar, this hike is perfect for those looking to expand their knowledge of the flora of Fontenelle Forest!
$5 for members and $15 for non-members.
Registration required.

Mueller Planetarium
2023-04-15 15:00 - 16:00, 2023-04-16 13:00 - 14:00, 2023-04-16 15:00 - 16:00 | University of Nebraska State Museum – Morrill Hall, 645 North 14th Street, Lincoln, Nebraska, 68588
Mueller Planetarium is located inside Morrill Hall. Shows are available to the public on Fridays, Saturdays, and Sundays. Tickets may be purchased on site at Morrill Hall.
The following are the currently available shows:
The Little Star That Could: Saturdays at 11am
A Starry Tale: Fridays at 1pm, Saturday and Sundays at 1pm
Dream to Fly: Fridays at 4pm, Saturday and Sundays at 3pm

Astronomy Night
2023-04-15 17:00 - 21:00 | University of Nebraska State Museum – Morrill Hall, 645 North 14th Street, Lincoln, Nebraska, 68588
Join Morrill Hall for a night filled with all things space on April 15 from 5-9pm. Be a part of our “Community Gallery” by creating your own masterpiece from space using the Observing With NASA kiosk; view a planetarium show (tickets are separate); Meet Lincoln’s NASA ambassador and find out how celestial objects are named; explore how data from space telescopes is represented using visible light; participate in a space themed scavenger hunt; and enjoy hands-on activities from community partners.
Pricing: Included with admission (members get in free). Current admission discounts including Museums for All ($1 for those qualifying for WIC/SNAP/EBT) are valid for this event.
Parking: Free parking in lot outside Morrill Hall
Tickets: Advance tickets are encouraged to streamline admission process, but not required.

Above and Beyond
2023-04-16 09:00 - 17:00, 2023-04-17 09:00 - 17:00, 2023-04-18 09:00 - 17:00, 2023-04-19 09:00 - 17:00 | 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.

Washed Ashore: Art to Save the Sea
2023-04-16 09:00 - 17:00, 2023-04-17 09:00 - 17:00, 2023-04-18 09:00 - 17:00, 2023-04-19 09:00 - 17:00 | Lauritzen Gardens, 100 Bancroft Street, Omaha, NE, 68108
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 a set of eye-catching sculptures, these thought-provoking pieces are designed to inspire conversations about conservation and generate positive changes and behaviors towards the environment.

StoryWalk®: "Living Things Need Water"
2023-04-16 09:00 - 17:00, 2023-04-17 09:00 - 17:00, 2023-04-18 09:00 - 17:00, 2023-04-19 09:00 - 17:00 | Lauritzen Gardens, 100 Bancroft Street, Omaha, NE, 68108
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 the theme of the story to exercise your brain and body. Included with paid admission or membership.

Hall of Heroes
2023-04-16 12:00 - 16:00 | The Durham Museum, 801 S 10th Street, Omaha, NE, 68108
Stop by The Durham Museum now until April 16 to see the Hall of Heroes exhibit.
This popular traveling exhibition celebrates and explores both the history and science behind America’s fascination with superheroes and how they impacted our popular culture throughout the 20th century and beyond. Visitors of all ages are encouraged to explore, learn and test their heroic abilities at engaging and challenging interactive stations.
Ever wonder how your favorite super-powered characters were created? Hall of Heroes provides an immersive experience for visitors to understand the world of heroes, crime-fighters and gadgets. Their journey takes them through several themed environments with surprises around every corner. Visitors will explore the histories of heroes and the circumstances that created them, while discovering the ideals that make them the heroes that we know and love.
Regular museum admission.

Valentine Fish Hatchery Tours
2023-04-17 08:00 - 17:00, 2023-04-18 08:00 - 17:00, 2023-04-19 08:00 - 17:00 | Valentine Fish Hatchery, 90164 Hatchery Road, Valentine, NE, 69201, United States
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 are welcome during normal working hours. The hatchery also houses largemouth bass and bluegill year round. These species are allowed to spawn naturally in the hatchery ponds, and fingerlings are collected for distribution in the fall.
Contact the hatchery in advance – 402-376-2244 – to schedule a tour of the facilities. The hatchery is open to the public during normal working hours.
Government Canyon, located on the north end of the property, offers a variety of opportunities for hikers, bikers, bird watchers and wildlife photographers.

Boys Town Neuroscience Research Tours
2023-04-17 12:00 - 14:00 | Institute for Human Neuroscience, 14090 Mother Teresa Lane, Boys Town, NE, 68010, United States
Join Boys Town National Research Hospital for an educational walking tour of the Institute for Human Neuroscience and Center for Human Performance Optimization! During this tour you will see state-of-the-art scientific imaging equipment and learn about the brain and how the brain is studied – from infancy to adulthood. Please wear closed toe, flat shoes for this tour.
Tours offered at 12pm and 1pm.
Register at: https://www.signupgenius.com/go/8050C4AADAB2BA4FD0-institute

Hall of History Hands-On Weekly Activities
2023-04-17 15:00 - 16:30, 2023-04-18 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

Third Tuesday Bird Outings
2023-04-18 08:00 - 10:00 | Spring Creek Prairie Audubon Center, 11700 SW 100th Street, Denton, NE, 68339, United States
The popular third Tuesday bird outings return for a new year at Spring Creek Prairie Audubon Center. Join a knowledgeable bird guide on an outing around the accessible trails. Meet fellow birders and learn the birds of the prairie. Free admission!
The center does ask for on-line registration so they know who and how many are coming and can email any weather cancellation information. Registration info will be posted soon. Binoculars will be available.

Genealogy Quest
2023-04-18 14:00 - 15:00 | City of Kearney Public Library, 2020 1st Avenue, Kearney, NE, 68847, United States
If you love digging into your ancestral past, this is the study hall for you. Use the Kearney Library‘s resources to help you in your quest. This class won’t teach you what to do, but volunteers from the Buffalo County Historical Society and library staff will be there to give assistance when needed. So, if you enjoy delving into your ancestry but haven’t been finding time to work on it — come search with us!

Wildlife & Whiskey
2023-04-18 18:00 - 20:00 | Mercury, 329 S 16th St #3, Omaha, NE, 68102, United States
Do you love whiskey? Do you love wildlife? Have you ever thought it would be fun to drink whiskey and talk about wildlife? Well, this is the event for you!
Before the whiskey is poured, Wildlife Encounters will talk all things animals. Come early to see these glorious wildlife creatures up close and personal – just please no touching.
After the wildlife, Clark Ross, owner at Mercury, will end the evening with the science of whiskey. Attendees can purchase a sampler and taste along for $25.
This is a free event (unless you are purchasing a tasting sampler), though tickets are required due to space being limited.

Build, Connect, Create
2023-04-18 18:30 - 19:30 | City of Kearney Public Library, 2020 1st Avenue, Kearney, NE, 68847, United States
Let your imagination run wild as you explore the Kearney Library‘s collection of STEM toys, including Blocks Rock, Domino Race, KEVA Planks, Snap Circuits, and more! What is STEM? It stands for Science, Technology, Engineering, and Mathematics. There is a push for youth to start learning about STEM early to empower them with skills to succeed and adapt to our increasingly complex and changing technological world.

Tinker Tots
2023-04-18 18:30 - 19:30 | City of Kearney Public Library, 2020 1st Avenue, Kearney, NE, 68847, United States
Join the Kearney Library for a hands-on STEM program designed especially for you and your preschooler. Help your child develop important math, science, and learning readiness skills while having fun!
An adult caregiver must remain with the participating child.

Science and History Coffee Chat with Thomas Lynch
2023-04-19 09:00 - 10:00 | Boys Town Café, 13628 Flanagan Blvd., Boys Town, NE, 68010, United States
Boys Town invites you to join Boys Town historian, Thomas Lynch for coffee as he discusses the science of historical relics at Boys Town. Thomas will discuss the relics of potential Father Flanagan, followed by an open Q&A session. Complimentary coffee will be available with breakfast options for purchase.
