OutdoorNebraska

Young bull elk southwest of Clearwater. ERIC FOWLER SUCCESS STORY OPPORTUNITY ACCESS CUSTOMER SERVICE INNOVATION Depredation Program Game and Parks' depredation program continues to successfully build landowner relationships while reducing agricultural damage across Nebraska. Approximately 30,000 hours have been dedicated to mitigating wildlife damage for 800 landowners since 2023. Mitigation techniques include using exclusion, scare devices, repellents, damage control permits and hunt coordination. Depredation biologists continue to develop their expertise through professional training and the evaluation of new and traditional depredation response options. The use of drones has been beneficial in inspecting and locating damage and is currently being utilized and evaluated for hazing wildlife from agricultural fields. SUCCESS STORY OPPORTUNITY ACCESS CUSTOMER SERVICE INNOVATION Outdoor Education for All The Venture Parks Education Team offers field trips, public programs, and events to meet the needs of a variety of audiences in the Omaha-Lincoln Metro Areas. They offer monthly public programs like Little Saplings for early childhood learners, Homeschool Hikes for homeschooling families, and Wise and Wild programs for ages 55+. The team offers grade-specific environmental education field trips for elementary and middle schools that support Nebraska's College and Career Ready Standards for Science. Custom field trip programs are also offered for high school and college classes. The team also host programs modified for the sensory, auditory, visual or mobility needs of people which utilize ADA accessible facilities and flexibility in programming for the needs of the group. Annual education events such as First Day Hikes, Pollinator Party, Snakes of Nebraska, Mudville, and Nature at Nightfall provide year-round opportunities for families to learn and make memories outdoors. "I helped transform the Calamus Reservoirs Pumpkin Carvers event from a small, localized one into a major community celebration that visitors from all over look forward to every year. Originally started in 1986 by a husband and wife, the event had a limited reach and few attendees. … Today, Pumpkin Carvers is a one-day event that attracts over 1,500 visitors annually, with over 300 pumpkins carved each year." — Tommy Hicks, Central Regional Park Superintendent " " The Elk Access Program is another prime example of exemplary customer service through a partnership between Rocky Mountain Elk Foundation and Game and Parks. The objective of the program is to increase hunting opportunities while assisting and compensating landowners for coordinating hunters. Staff naturalist Alena Carlson teaching families at a Homeschool Hike at Schramm Park State Recreation Area. JENNY NGUYEN-WHEATLEY 24

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