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.
We look forward to seeing you at the Preserve!
Upcoming Events:
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.
Additional Information:
- 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.
- This is a come-and-go event -- arriving late or leaving early is absolutely fine.
- RSVPs are appreciated but not required: unoglaciercreek@unomaha.edu
- Please email or call 402-554-6300 with any questions or to check for cancellations.
Join us for Seed Collection Workdays
Location: The Barn at Glacier Creek Preserve, 14810 State St., Bennington, NE 68007
Seed Collection Dates/Times:
September 9, 2025 | 9:00 AM -12:00 PM
September 20, 2025 | 9:00 AM -12:00 PM
September 25, 2025 | 9:30 AM -12:30 PM
October 9, 2025 | 10:00 AM -12:30 PM
October 12, 2025 | 1:00 PM - 3:30 PM
October 15, 2025 | 1:00 PM - 3:30 PM
Additional Information:
- We recommend wearing long pants and closed toe shoes
- Bring a refillable water bottle if you have one
- Restrooms and water refill stations on site in The Barn
- Snacks will be provided, but feel free to bring your own
- Work supplies will be provided
Interested in Volunteering?
An RSVP to unoglaciercreek@unomaha.edu or 402-554-6300 is appreciated but not required.
If you have questions, please reach out to us!
The Bouteloua LitART FEST
A Celebration of Prose, Poetry, and Pottery
A PARTNERSHIP BETWEEN
UNO English Department/Creative Nonfiction Writing Program, Thompson Learning Community, Glacier Creek Preserve, Barbi Hayes, and The Linden Review.
Location: Glacier Creek Preserve, 14810 State Street, Bennington NE
Date: Sunday, September 28, 2025
Time: 2:00 - 6:00 pm
Schedule:
2:00 pm - Opening
2:15 pm - Authors' Panel: "Keepin' the Romance Alive: The Relationships Between Writing and Teaching"
Authors are Daniel Gathman, Jen Stastny, Jeff Lacey, and Jewel Rodgers
3:30 pm - Group Pottery Project for All Ages
4:30 pm - Ross Gay, Reading & Conversations (Best-selling author of THE BOOK OF DELIGHTS, INCITING JOY, and THE BOOK OF (MORE) DELIGHTS
* Complimentary food provided!
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: 11 September 2022 (past event details), 1 October 2023 (past event details), and 22 September 2024.
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.
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, 14 June 2024 (flyer), and 20 August 2025.
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).
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.
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