Visit Crawdad Creek
Throughout the month
Platte River State Park
Enjoying nature is truly a hands-on experience at Platte
River State Park's new Crawdad Creek feature. At these
series of shallow ponds, kids can dip their toes in the
water, feel mud run through their fi ngers, or catch a
crawdad, dragonfl y, tadpole, reptile or fi sh.
The new attraction is part of Game and Parks' Venture
Parks complex, which greatly expands opportunities
for visitors at four parks, including Platte River. More
attractions are opening this summer. Learn more at
OutdoorNebraska.gov/ventureparks.
By Renae Blum
PHOTO
BY
JEFF
KURRUS
See Fossil Digs at
Ashfall Fossil Beds
State Historical
Park
Starting Memorial Day
weekend
Ashfall Fossil Beds State
Historical Park
Ashfall Fossil Beds State Historical Park,
located 2 miles west and 6 miles north of
Royal, is one of the few places in the world
where the public can watch a live fossil
dig. Paleontologists are still uncovering
new fi nds at the site, where hundreds of
skeletons of extinct rhinos, camels, three-
toed horses and other vertebrates are
buried in volcanic ash.
Starting Memorial Day weekend, paleontology students will be on-site conducting digs that visitors can watch. The park is also open
on a more limited basis starting May 1. During your visit, make sure to stop at the interpretive displays and the fossil preparation
laboratory, where you can ask the paleontologists about their work. Learn more and plan your visit at ashfall.unl.edu.
28 NEBRASKAland • MAY 2018
PHOTO
BY
JON
FARRAR
Time Well Spent
What to Do in May
J
ust on the cusp of summer, May is the perfect time to get excited about being
outdoors and staying active. Great fishing continues, as well as spring turkey season.
Read on for more ideas of things to do this month. For a complete list of upcoming
events across the state, or for more information on activities listed here, visit
Calendar.OutdoorNebraska.gov.
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