This article was originally written as a Loup Lines column by Alan Bartels, Lower Loup NRD Information and Education Coordinator.

LOUP LINES
Volume 47, No. 5 (May 2026)

Each of Nebraska’s 23 Natural Resources Districts have an Information & Education department (I&E). The people who work in that department (like me) do things like write newspaper columns (like this one), edit newsletters, write press releases, design fliers and mailings, and do other required tasks that are all very important, but to be honest, can be sort of boring sometimes.  

The specific tasks that each I&E department perform vary by NRD, but myself and most of my colleagues across Nebraska have one thing in common: the opportunity to educate the youth of our districts. A teacher asked me during a field trip on a cold, windy day a couple weeks ago,” What is your favorite part of your job?” I replied, “Working with kids.” As every teacher knows, that is never boring!

The dreary conditions didn’t dent those students’ enthusiasm for being outdoors one bit. And honestly, once the students arrived, their youthful energy warmed me to the point where I didn’t notice the 40 mph wind gusts. Whether we are hiking to the Nebraska Champion eastern cottonwood tree at Pibel Lake Recreation Area, watching birds at the LLNRD Arboretum in Ord, running a Land Judging contest, or learning about Arbor Day in a classroom, I always try to keep one important thing in mind:

Many Nebraska children get exposed to natural resources while working and living with their families on farms and/or ranches. Another segment of our youth learns about the natural world while hunting, fishing, birding, looking for mushrooms or otherwise exploring the outdoors with family and friends. And there are other youngsters whose first (and possibly only) exposure to our state’s amazing natural resources just might be through one of our field trips, attending our annual summer camp, or while learning (and having fun) during one of our other educational events. A lifelong interest in natural resources can begin with any of the aforementioned actions, but it could also start when a kid catches their first fish, when they plant a tree seedling in the fertile ground, or maybe while having a close encounter with an ornate box turtle during our annual ACE Camp summer camp at Kamp Kaleo in June. These educational programs can have a lasting impact on young students that can last a lifetime. I try to always remember that when working with our youth.

Besides educating kids, another great part of my job is working with my I&E colleagues from across Nebraska. A lot of them help with our ACE Camp. We also work together at events like the Nebraska Envirothon. That program teaches high school students about soil, aquatics, forestry, range, and wildlife. Teams of five individuals compete at regional events to qualify for state. The Lower Loup NRD provides scholarships for teams from our district that qualify for the national competition. I&E staffers from several NRDs work together to help run the regional and state Envirothon contests.

The Nebraska Children’s Groundwater Festival is another big event with a lot of NRD presence. The Central Platte NRD organizes the event. Staff members from at least seven NRDs will be there for the 2026 event in May, along with staff members and volunteers from at least 28 other partnering organizations. For more than four decades the Nebraska Children’s Groundwater Festival has allowed school students to connect with natural resources professionals in a fun and educational event teaching about the importance of groundwater. Nearly 800 students from 23 regional schools will take part this year. The Lower Loup NRD has helped with the event every year since 2009.

Adventure Camp about the Environment – better known as ACE Camp – has become a popular summer tradition since being founded in 2010 by the Lower Loup NRD and the Upper Loup NRD. ACE Camp was hosted at the State 4-H Camp near Halsey for many years. These days the Lower Loup NRD hosts Ace Camp near Burwell at Kamp Kaleo. For ACE Camp, experts from several NRDs and other partners educate campers on a variety of natural resources topics. The core subjects include water quality, soils, forestry, and range. We will also take them fishing, teach them how to hit a target with bow and arrow, and always make sure they are safe and having fun while also learning. ACE Camp will take place at Kamp Kaleo from June 21 through June 24. Learn more at LLNRD.org.

No matter how youth learn about our natural world, they will one day grow up to be the residents who will make important policy decisions on how our natural resources are either plundered or protected. Educational experiences are the key.