Exploring the Community

Omaha Highlights

You can check out current events in Omaha at Visit Omaha.

For Music Lovers:

• Sokol Underground: Punk, indie rock, and more.
• Waiting Room Lounge: Indie rock, local and national bands, shows every week.
• The Slowdown: Named in honor of the forerunner to Cursive, the biggest label with Saddle Creek Records.
• The Holland Performing Arts Center: Draws world-class performers in all genres, classical to rock.

For Outdoor Enthusiasts:

• City of Omaha Parks: Trails, pools, picnic spots, frisbee golf, and more.
• Papio-Missouri River Natural Resources: Hiking, biking, boating, and more.
• Fontenelle Forest: Hiking trails, river walks, and raptor viewing.

For Food Connoisseurs:

• Omaha World Herald Dining: Reviews of Omaha's best food, not just the most expensive.

For Sports Fans:

• Baxter Arena: UNO's brand new arena, home to UNO hockey, basketball, and more!
• CenturyLink Center: See the Olympic Swim Trials, basketball games, and many other events. World-famous music performances, too.
• TD Ameritrade Park: Home of the College World Series of baseball.

For Everyone:

• Henry Doorly Zoo: The top-rated zoo in the United States.
• Aksarben Village: Shopping, dining, movies, night life, free outdoor concerts - a short walk from campus.
• Omaha Farmers Markets: Fresh produce and crafts from local farmers and artisans.
• The Old Market: Shopping, dining, night life, holiday festivals, art shows, and walking trails linked to the restored riverfront.
• Midtown Crossing: Movies, shopping, lunch, outdoor jazz concerts, and night life.
• The Holiday Lights Festival: Ice skating, Christmas lights, and hot chocolate in the winter months.
• The Durham Museum: History of the area's Wild West and 19th Century roots, housed in the former train depot.
• The Joslyn Art Museum: Fine arts from antiquity to contemporary; outdoor concerts in the sculpture garden.
• Lauritzen Gardens: A living botanical museum; many hectares of green tranquility

Volunteering and Service Learning

Volunteering is a great way to hone your English abilities outside the academic environment, share your culture with other residents of Omaha, and learn about philanthropy as a major component of U.S. culture. Some scholarship students may also be required to complete service hours as a condition of their awards. Omaha has many rewarding volunteer opportunities, including:

• Durham Museum
• Habitat for Humanity of Omaha
• Omaha Community Playhouse
• The Salvation Army
• Open Door Mission

Many international students also participate in UNO's Three Days of Service each October and the Seven Days of Service during spring break in March. For more on these events, check out UNO's Service Learning Academy.

The International Student Advising office can help you find volunteer opportunities and record your service for reporting to scholarship sponsors. Contact Advisor Connor Willingham, 1.402.554.2293, cwillingham@unomaha.edu.

Beyond Omaha

With a car or a ride from a friend, international students can explore Nebraska beyond Omaha. The International Advising office frequently organizes trips to some of these sites as well. Check for periodic newsletters from Advising with event announcements and details.

• Nebraska Travel and Tourism: Statewide events, historical sites, and outdoors adventures.
• Nebraska at DiscoverAmerica.com: Best bargains, roadside attractions, trip ideas, and more.
• Nebraska County Fairs: Get to know Nebraska's agricultural roots at a nearby county fair.
• Ashfall Fossil Beds: Watch paleontologists uncover fossils at this active archeological dig and museum.
• The Lewis and Clark Trail: Markers and museums throughout the state record the findings of the U.S. government's first expedition into the unsettled West.
• Nebraska Game and Parks Commission: Search statewide for hiking, biking, fishing, and outdoor adventures of all kinds.
• The Strategic Air & Space Museum: Hundrends of artifacts and aircraft from World War II and the Cold War.
• Arbor Day Farm: A celebration of trees and institute for environmental conservation.
• Vala's Pumpkin Patch: The local center of harvest and Halloween fun - hayrack rides, haunted houses, and bonfires.