Events

4th Annual Wildcat Hills Wildlands Day
Saturday, May 21, 2011

8:00 a.m.

Pheasants Forever, along with its partners, the Nebraska Game and Parks Commission, and Platte River Basin Environments will be hosting the 4th Annual Wildcat Hills Wildlands Event  at the Wildcat Hills Nature Center in conjunction with Free Park Day on Saturday, May 21.  According to Brad McKinney, wildlife biologist, there will be activities for all ages and the public is invited to come spend the day in the beautiful Wildcat Hills.

 

8:00 a.m. Registration for the Annual 8K Fun Run through the State Recreation Area.

8:30 a.m. 8K run will begin near the Nature Center.

          - The 8K Fun Run is open to three age groups: 18 and under, 19 to 35, and over 36 years of age.

          - Registration for the Fun Run is $20.

          - Refreshments, water bottles and t-shirts will be provided to all participants.

          - Prizes will be awarded in all age brackets for both men and women.

          - To register for the Fun Run, stop in at the Nature Center or call 436-3777.

Runners will follow a course that will take them through the picnic area and campground, out to Old Stage Road to a turnaround point, then returning to the Nature Center. Runners will be quite impressed with the scenic vistas found along this running route.  This is a runner-friendly course with a gravel surface over gently rolling terrain.

 

Other scheduled activities throughout the day will include:

 

9:00 a.m. to noon - Birdfeeder Watch.

10:30 a.m. to 1:00 p.m. - Youth Activities to include games and crafts. 

        A small fee will be charged for some craft items.

11:00 a.m. - Wildflower Walk with Connie McKinney. 

       McKinney will also be signing her book, Wildflowers of the Wildcat Hills.

1:00 p.m. - Pine Thinning Tour.

       Foresters will lead a talk and walk through the recent pine thinning project around the Nature Center.

1:00 p.m. - Tour of the big horn sheep herd.

       Wildlife biologists will lead a caravan tour of the big horn sheep herd at Cedar Canyon.

 

- No park entrance fee will be required during this day-long celebration.

- Door prizes will be given out throughout the day

- North Platte Natural Resources District will be giving out free trees as long as the supply lasts.

- Gabe’s BBQ will be on-site selling breakfast and lunch items.

 

Partner organizations assisting with the day’s event include NGPC, Pheasants Forever, Platte River Basin Environments, Rocky Mountain Bird Observatory, and the National Park Service.

 

“This is an event for the whole family,” says Park Superintendent, Russ McKeehan.  “We’re encouraging families to stay the whole day and enjoy the food and activities.  We’ll be shining a bright light on the Wildcat Hills – a place near nature, and near perfect.”