A fun challenge for you: Camp at home, Nebraska

LINCOLN, Neb. – Though Nebraskans everywhere have been practicing social distancing to prevent the spread of the coronavirus in the community, camping enthusiasts need only look to their home or backyard for the ultimate “getaway.”

“Nebraska Game and Parks Commission knows that camping is one of many people's favorite activities, and we want to encourage you to create memories with your family during this time by doing some of your favorite things at home,” said Parks Division Administrator Jim Swenson.

Until conditions allow for overnight camping at its state park and recreation areas, the Commission is encouraging people to pack up and pitch a tent at home as part of a new campaign: Camp at home, Nebraska.

Those who participate can share photos of their “at-home” adventures by using the hashtag #CampAtHomeNE in their social post, or by sending photos via direct message to the Game and Parks Facebook page. Those who do automatically will be entered into a drawing for prizes, including miniature camp lanterns and a grand prize two-night camping stay at one of our state parks after the threat of COVID-19 has diminished.

“We hope by camping at home, people can continue to foster their love of the outdoors while having a bit of fun during these stressful times,” Swenson said.

To help inspire, Game and Parks shares its top 10 tips for creating #CampAtHomeNE memories:

1. Get everyone in your household involved in the planning and work together to design your ideal camp-at-home experience.
2. Pitch your tent or make your own out of materials around the house wherever you have space — even if that means your living room.
3. Gather around the campfire, built in an appropriate and safe location, such as a fire pit, fire ring, or even a clay flowerpot or metal bucket. Don’t have a safe place? Skip it!
4. Focus on food. Roast hotdogs or tinfoil dinners. Whip out your cast-iron skillet or Dutch oven and make one-pot campfire meals. Or put all your energy into s’mores. The microwave, oven, barbecue grill and camp stove are all acceptable alternatives to cooking outdoors.
5. Invent “camping” games using everyday household items.
6. Go on a backyard scavenger hunt tailored to your interests. Moonlit scavenger hunts can add to the fun.
7. Make your backyard a movie theater. Project a movie onto a white sheet or side of the house, or just huddle behind a tablet or other electronic device for a quaint viewing experience.
8. Practice outdoors skills. Make a slingshot out of stick and rubber band, build a birdhouse, or practice casting.
9. Fix gear. Replace fishing line on reels, patch holes in tents, or season cast-iron cookware.
10. Light up the yard. Play hide-and-go seek while wearing glow sticks, or make your own camp lantern using an empty peanut butter jar and a battery operated candle.

“The important part is making the adventure your own," Swenson said. “We've given you some ideas to get started and hope you share your adventures with us to inspire others.”

For more ideas, visit OutdoorNebraska.org/CampAtHomeNE.

City Nature Challenge will be online wildlife observation effort

LINCOLN, Neb. – The City Nature Challenge annually encourages a global collaborative effort to observe and record wildlife. This year, in response to the COVID-19 health crisis, the challenge will be completed online.

The City Nature Challenge offers an opportunity to connect with nature and participate in a collective scientific effort, while safely navigating public health challenges. It calls on people to observe and submit photographs of wild plants, animals, and fungi using the free mobile app, iNaturalist. They can upload their observations to the app April 24-27. Those unable to take photos can participate by hosting a virtual identification party April 28-May 3. The results will be announced May 4.

The Lincoln City Nature Challenge will focus on observations found in Lancaster County. That can include any wild plant, animal, fungi, or any other evidence of life, such as scat, fur, tracks, found in your neighborhood, home, yard, or even through your windows. Learn more at OutdoorNebraska.gov/citynaturechallenge.

Participants must closely follow federal and local public health guidelines for social distancing in response to COVID-19. To see how the City Nature Challenge is adapting to COVID-19, visit citynaturechallenge.org/COVID19.

Information gathered at the City Nature Challenge helps authorities make informed conservation decisions that allow humans to coexist sustainably with the plants and animals in their neighborhoods.

In 2019, the City Nature Challenge tallied more than 950,000 observations made by more than 35,000 people in more than 150 cities. More than 1,100 endangered, endemic, or data-deficient species were recorded.

Partners for the City Nature Challenge in Lincoln include Nebraska Game and Parks Commission, Lincoln Parks and Recreation, Spring Creek Prairie Audubon Center, Friends of Wilderness Park, The Xerces Society for Invertebrate Conservation, Prairie Pines, Citizen Scientists of Nebraska, University of Nebraska State Museum – Morrill Hall, Nebraska Forest Service, Pheasants Forever and Quail Forever of Nebraska, and Lincoln Earth Day.

Remaining archery paddlefish permits available to residents April 20

LINCOLN, Neb. – The four archery paddlefish permits remaining after the draw will go on sale to Nebraska residents starting April 20 at 1 p.m. Central Time.

A person must be 12 years old by June 1 to buy an archery paddlefish permit, which costs $33. A person may have no more than two archery paddlefish permits per year: one earned via application and one bought over the counter. Permits and their accompanying tags are not transferable. Anyone fishing with an archery paddlefish permit also must have a valid Nebraska fish permit.

The 2020 archery paddlefish season is June 1-30. To buy a permit, visit OutdoorNebraska.org.