Preserve Events

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. All events are located at Glacier Creek Preserve, 14810 State St. Bennington, NE 68007.

We look forward to seeing you at the Preserve!

Click HERE for information about Volunteer Workdays.

Upcoming Events:

Research Conversations at Glacier Creek Preserve

Research Conversations is an opportunity for those conducting research at Glacier Creek Preserve to share
with other investigators either results of their efforts to date or plans for future research. For others, the event is an opportunity to learn about the kinds of research being conducted at the Preserve. The event is also intended to provide a venue to encourage discussions among those attending for possible future projects. Among research topics this year are those on soils, fire effects, and distribution, diversity, and habitat use of biota including mammals, snakes, birds and butterflies.

Event Details
Date: Saturday, March 28, 2026
Time: 9:00am to ca 2:00 pm
Location: The Barn at Glacier Creek Preserve
14810 State St.
Bennington, NE 68007

This event is open to Faculty – Staff – Students – Interested Public

Coffee – Juice – Snacks starting at 8:30 am

Pizza served around 12:30 pm

RSVP appreciated but not required. Questions? Contact us at: unoglaciercreek@unomaha.edu or 402-554-6300.

Earth Day at Glacier Creek Preserve

Event Details
Activity: Trash clean-up along State Street
Date: Wednesday, April 22, 2026
Time: 12:00-1:30 pm
Location: The Barn at Glacier Creek Preserve
14810 State St.
Bennington, NE 68007

Guided Hike – After the Burn

Event Details
Date: Tuesday, May 19, 2026
Time: 6:00-7:30 pm
Location: The Barn at Glacier Creek Preserve
14810 State St.
Bennington, NE 68007

Spring Strings at Glacier Creek Preserve

Save-the-date for Spring Strings on June 6, 2026. Check back for more information!

Guided Hike - Pollinator Week!

Event Details
Date: Monday, June 22, 2026
Time: 6:00-7:30 pm
Location: The Barn at Glacier Creek Preserve
14810 State St.
Bennington, NE 68007

Night Life at Glacier Creek Preserve

Save-the-date for Night Life on July 31, 2026. Check back for more information!

Guided Hike - Golden Hour

Event Details
Date: Tuesday, August 25, 2026
Time: 7:00-8:15 pm
Location: The Barn at Glacier Creek Preserve
14810 State St.
Bennington, NE 68007

The Bouteloua LitART Fest

Check back for the fall 2026 event details.

Monarch Tagging Events

Check back for details. We will host Monarch Tagging on two dates in mid-September 2026.

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, 1 October 2023, 22 September 2024 and 28 September 2025.

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.

A researcher leads a guided 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, 18 August 2023, 14 June 2024, and 20 August 2025.

Event attendees gather around a researcher to observe and learn more about the bat species at the prairie.

Attendees observe insects 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. This event is scheduled annually during February or March.

Research Conversations is open to faculty, students and interested individuals.

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 Saturday, June 6, 2026 so check back for more details.

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

A musician speaks to an audience at an event in the Loft of the Barn at Glacier Creek Preseve.

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.

The Rangbrook Ensemble 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