Homeschool Hikes is a monthly nature exploration program hosted by the Schramm Education Center geared towards homeschool families. Each month, families can join a naturalist for a guided hike on the Schramm Park State Recreation Area hiking trails. During the program, participants will ask questions, draw, observe, and make discoveries in nature. Participants will have the opportunity to observe local phenomena, plants, and animals while exploring concepts such as patterns, cause and effect, and structure and function. For the first half of 2023, the series will be held the third Wednesday of the month from 9:00 – 10:30 am and the third Thursday of the month from 2:00 – 3:30 pm.

Participants are encouraged to RSVP in advance to help staff plan for attendance: https://forms.gle/Vjg38GEqXHgGEkLFA . The cost to participate is $4 per child and $5 per adult per program. This includes admission to the Schramm Education Center after the program. Schramm Family Pass members participate free. This program is recommended for ages 5 and up.

Participants should dress in season-appropriate layers and wear closed-toed shoes that can get dirty. Hats and water bottles are recommended. The day of the program, come to the Schramm Education Center and check in and pay at the front desk upon arrival.

Topics for the spring/summer 2023 schedule include:

January – Fish: We’ll hike to the canyon ponds to spend some time observing trout in their habitat and then spend the rest of the program in our classroom creating art for the 2023 Fish Art Contest.

February – Eagles: We’ll hike the river trail and investigate habitat along the river.

March – Evergreens: We’ll hike on the main hiking trails, compare and contrast conifers, and look closely at evergreens, from their special leaves to their pinecones.

April – Bird Language: We’ll hike on the main hiking trails and observe bird sounds and behaviors as we hike. We’ll listen to birds from a sit spot and create a sound map.

May – Wetlands: We’ll hike the river trail with dip nets to see what’s swimming in the wetland area near the river. We’ll collect water samples to look at with a microscope and talk about the importance of wetlands.

June – Pollinators: It’s National Pollinator Week! We’ll hike the prairie and take an inventory of the pollinator species we spot on flowers.

No park permit is required in the center’s parking lot. For questions about the program, please contact Jen Ruyle, Outdoor Education Specialist, at 402-332-5022 or jennifer.ruyle@nebraska.gov.