July 2025 • Nebraskaland 33
snails and slugs.
•
Spotting bright yellow chicken
of the woods mushrooms growing
on a tree and sharing the excitement
of my fi rst fi nd with the homeschool
students.
•
Looking for animal scat and
instead fi nding a huge owl pellet on
the trail. We dissected it on the trail
and found it contained the skull of a
squirrel.
•
"Borrowing" horse poop from
the stables at Platte River State Park
to bait dung beetles for students to
observe, and then successfully fi nding
dung beetles in it during our hike!
Through the program, we hope
to create space for families to make
memories and fi nd community, and
to learn new information and practice
their science skills at the park.
Learning in nature allows for deep,
meaningful connections to take
place. As any "ologist" will tell you,
observing nature in the fi eld makes
concepts much more memorable and
understandable than reading about
them in a textbook.
Science is all about asking and
investigating your own questions,
letting your curiosity lead the way, and
the pleasure of making conclusions
through observation and trial and
error.
N
Homeschool Hikes are open to
everyone. To view upcoming events,
visit Calendar.OutdoorNebraska.gov and
search "Homeschool Hikes."
Janna O'Mally of Omaha, left, and Katelynn Moore of Seward
learn with their children during a Homeschool Hike program.
Homeschool Hikes is a
monthly nature exploration
program hosted by Schramm
Education Center geared
toward homeschool
families. During the
program, participants are
encouraged to ask questions,
draw, observe and make
discoveries in nature.
The cost to participate is $5
per person per program. This
includes admission to the
Schramm Education Center
after the hike. Schramm
Family Pass members
participate free.
Homeschool Hikes are
recommended for ages 5
and up. Participants should
dress in season-appropriate
layers and wear closed-toed
shoes that can get dirty.
Register in advance so
naturalists can estimate
attendance at Calendar.
OutdoorNebraska.gov.
Note that there are no
Homeschool Hikes in June
and July for summer break.
Join Us
