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Preserve Events

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Special Events at Glacier Creek Preserve

Events at Glacier Creek Preserve are open to the public and all ages are welcome. There are no associated fees to attend, but an RSVP may be required for some events. For more information contact us at unoglaciercreek@unomaha.edu.


Upcoming Events:

Join us for a Golden Hour Hike

Date: Wednesday, August 20, 2025

Time: Guided hike begins at 7:15 pm (please arrive by 7:10 pm)

Golden Hour: Approximately 7:29 -8:11 pm

Location: The Barn at Glacier Creek Preserve
14810 State St., Bennington, NE 68007

Have your eyes and your camera ready! Golden hour casts a warm, golden glow across the landscape, transforming the prairie into a dreamscape of light and shadow. With its soft, golden tones, it’s the perfect moment for slowing down and soaking in the beauty around you.

Do you want to walk, talk, and learn with others? Then these guided hikes are for you!

  • Meet in the parking lot at The Barn for all guided hikes.
  • Hikes will average 1 hour and range from 1-2 miles.
  • All ages are welcome.
  • Pets are not allowed at the Preserve, so leave those buddies at home.
  • Hikes will be cancelled in the event of severe weather or rain.
  • Recommended clothing: Closed-toe shoes, long pants, and hats.
  • Bring plenty of water.
  • Available on-site: Water bottle refill stations, insect repellant, and restrooms.
  • RSVPs are appreciated by not required.
  • Contact info: Please email unoglaciercreek@unomaha.edu with any questions or to check on cancellations.
  • We look forward to seeing you at the Preserve!

Night Life at Glacier Creek Preserve

Date: Friday, August 15, 2025

Time: 8:00 pm – 11:30 pm; Introduction at 8:00 pm

Location: The Barn at Glacier Creek Preserve
14810 State St., Bennington, NE 68007

Experience the wild after dark!

  • Night Life at Glacier Creek Preserve offers a chance to explore the fascinating world of animals that become active after sunset.
  • Light traps and other methods used to attract moths, beetles, and other invertebrates will be set up at various locations around the Barn with bat nets set up nearby to allow for observation of this group of night-time animals. Individuals with special knowledge of the various night-time animals will move throughout the stations taking notes, sharing observations, and answering questions.
  • Visitors are encouraged to move freely between the stations to observe the diversity of animals that are active at night and to ask questions about them.
  • Animal specialists for the evening include Dr. Ted Burk (Creighton University), Loren and Babs Padelford, Dr. Jeremy White (UNO), Dr. Amanda Roe (College of St. Mary) and Tracy Coleman (Glacier Creek Preserve, UNO).
  • If you have them, headlamps or flashlights will be helpful should you wish to take an evening or night hike along one of the Preserve’s mowed fire trails.
  • Optional guided hikes related to bats, insects, and snakes will be provided.
  • The Barn will be open for walk throughs and restroom use. Insect repellent will be available on site.
  • This relaxed, come-and-go event, is free and open to the public - feel free to arrive any time after 8:00 PM. No RSVP required
  • Questions? Contact us at unoglaciercreek@unomaha.edu or call 402-554-6300.

Join us for Monarch Tagging

Dates/Times:

Tuesday, September 16, 2025 – 1:30 to 4:30 pm

Sunday, September 21, 2025 – 1:30 to 4:30 pm

Location: Glacier Creek Preserve, 14810 State St. Bennington, NE 68007

Learn. Tag. Discover.

Join Dr. Ted Burk, expert entomologist from Creighton University, and Tracy Coleman, Glacier Creek Preserve's event host, for a hands-on monarch tagging experience. Ted has studied the butterfly population at Glacier Creek Preserve for over 20 years recording 57 species of butterflies during that time. Ted and Tracy will demonstrate how to use a net to capture butterflies and how to safely handle and properly tag Monarch butterflies using official Monarch Watch tags. We have plenty of tags to use between the two days, so we encourage your assistance in capturing and tagging during these events!

🦋 All ages welcome – whether you're a curious beginner or a butterfly enthusiast!

🦋 We'll provide butterfly nets, but feel free to bring your own.

🦋 Meet at The Barn at Glacier Creek Preserve to begin.

🦋 Come learn more about Monarchs, their incredible migration, and how you can contribute to real-world citizen science.

Reminders:

  • Wear closed-toe shoes and long pants for walking through the prairie.
  • Water bottle refill stations and restrooms are available in The Barn.
  • Pets are not allowed at the Preserve.
  • In case of rain or severe weather, the event will be postponed or canceled.
  • RSVPs are appreciated but not required: unoglaciercreek@unomaha.edu
  • Please email or call 402-554-6300 with any questions or to check for cancellations.
  • This is a come-and-go event -- arriving late or leaving early is absolutely fine.
  • We look forward to seeing you at the Preserve!


The Bouteloua LitART FEST is scheduled for September 28, 2025.

Check back for more details.


Past Events:

The Bouteloua LitART FEST

The LitART FEST is a celebration of authors and artists held at UNO’s Glacier Creek Prairie Preserve that includes book readings and signings, writers’ discussion panel, local artists exhibition, and prairie walks. This event was a collaboration of the UNO Creative Nonfiction Writing Program, Moonrise Gallery, and Glacier Creek Preserve.

Past event dates: 22 September 2024, 1 October 2023 (past event details), and 11 September 2022 (past event details).

A promotion for the Bouteloua LitART Fest showing the different speakers and schedule of events.


Guided Hikes at Glacier Creek Preserve

Guided hikes provide the opportunity to walk, talk and learn about the prairie with other interested individuals. Come enjoy the beautiful landscape and the breathtaking sunsets.

Researchers hike across the prairie.


Night Life at Glacier Creek Preserve

The Night Life events provide an opportunity to experience the sights and sounds of animal activities that go on after dark. Light traps and other collection methods are used to observe insects. The songs of crickets, katydids, and cicadas increase as the evening progresses. Check out the moth species list that has developed from this event.

Overhead, we observe bat activity while looking and listening for other sights and sounds of the night-time preserve. Local scientist provide tools and knowledge to guide attendees through the evening.

Past event dates include: 2 August 2018, 21 July 2019, 17 August 2019, 17 July 2021, 18 June 2022, 19 August 2022, 23 June 2023 (flyer), 18 August 2023, and 14 June 2024 (flyer).

Hikers gather together at night to look at their plans for the evening.

Attendees observe the bugs landing on a white drop cloth.


Research Conversations at Glacier Creek Preserve

Research Conversations is an opportunity for those conducting research at the Preserve to share either the results of their efforts to date or plans for future research at the Preserve. The event is also intended to provide a venue to encourage discussions among those attending for possible future projects. For others, the event is an opportunity to learn about the kinds of research being conducted at the Preserve. Research Conversations at Glacier Creek Preserve is an annual meeting and an opportunity for Preserve users to share their present work, initiate ideas about future research and projects, and for others to hear about ongoing research at the Preserve. The most recent Research Conversations event was on 8 March 2025. Future events will be held in February or March annually. Click here for the 8 March 2025 flyer.

Research Conversations is open to faculty, students and interested individuals. Watch the 2021 Research Conversations at Glacier Creek Preserve event below.


Spring Strings at Glacier Creek Preserve

Spring Strings at Glacier Creek Preserve Featuring The Rangbrook Ensemble, a mix of cello, viola, and violin. Spring Strings is an event that connects the melodies of great composers with the beauty of the spring prairie. The next Spring Strings will be held June 7, 2025 so check back next year for details.

Past event dates include: 2 June 2018, 7 June 2019, 11 June 2022, 17 June 2023 (flyer), 8 June 2024 (flyer), and June 7, 2025 (flyer).

A musician speaks at an event in the Glacier Creek Barn.

About the Rangbrook Ensemble:
Founded in 2011, the Rangbrook Ensemble is a string trio and string sextet made up of Omaha and Lincoln-based professional musicians. Members of the ensemble are active in the Omaha and Lincoln Symphonies and various music education programs throughout the Southeast Nebraska area.

The Rangbrook Ensemble’s members come from a variety of educational backgrounds including studies at the Cleveland Institute of Music, Boston University, and the Oberlin Conservatory. The Ensemble has performed their self-presented series in a wide variety of locations throughout Lincoln and Omaha, as well as performing on local concert series, including Lincoln Friends of Chamber Music and Vesper Concerts.

Musicians stand with their instruments.

Links to individual bios:
(Bill Wolcott) https://www.rangbrookensemble.org/violins.html
(Jesse Griggs) https://www.rangbrookensemble.org/violas.html
(Sophia Potter) https://www.rangbrookensemble.org/cellos.html

Announcements

  • Check out upcoming events at Glacier Creek Preserve
  • Check out the self-guided hike at Glacier Creek Preserve
  • Golden Hour Guided Hike - 20 August 2025
  • Night Life at Glacier Creek Preserve - 15 August 2025
  • Join us for Monarch Tagging - 16 and 21 September 2025
Donate to UNO Nature Preserves
Native plants bloom in the prairie.

Help Protect Prairies

Your donation can help ensure that scenes like this are around for younger generations to appreciate.

Contact Us

  • Glacier Creek Preserve: 14810 State Street | Bennington, Nebraska 68007
  • Preserve Email: unoglaciercreek@unomaha.edu
  • Phone: 402.554.6300

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