Blog
Tree Rush Adventures Opens at Fontenelle Forest
BELLEVUE, NE (July 22, 2019) – TreeRush Adventures at Fontenelle Forest, Greater Omaha’s newest outdoor recreation attraction, will celebrate its Grand Opening on Thursday, July 31 starting at 9:00 am. The public is welcome and can experience the ropes adventure park at a special opening day discount. Merica Whitehall, Fontenelle Forest Executive…
Turkey Vultures are “gross-ly” under appreciated
People don’t like vultures. Even naturalist Charles Darwin described the Turkey Vulture as a “disgusting bird,” but consider the more pleasant Latin term Cathartes aura, meaning “purifier.” We at Fontenelle Forest love this unique and important bird. Allow us to explain why. First, they clean the Forest for us! In…
What’s in a Wetland?
Wetlands are often referred to as the “kidneys” of the earth, and for good reason. Just like our own body, the earth as a whole is a functioning unit, with each part or “organ” playing an influential role in its prosperity. Just as kidneys filter out waste from our blood,…
Since the 1960s, volunteers have sustained our education programs
At Fontenelle Forest, our volunteer Teacher Naturalists (TNs) and Teen Naturalist Trainees (TNTs) have played an integral part in sustaining forest education programs over the past 40 years. TN and TNT volunteers teach environmental education programs at the Forest and promote appreciation of nature for a wide range of visitors,…
First Leaflet of 2018 is out! Read it here.
Leaflet Winter 2019 – Deepening and Strengthening Community Roots From the Executive Director of Fontenelle Forest, Merica Whitehall 2018 was a year of new and deepened relationships in our community. As I reflect on 2018, the path that we set out on promises to lead Fontenelle Forest’s service to…
Archaeology Lecture Series Announced
On display through December, 2018, these artifacts have not been seen since they were unearthed here nearly 100 years ago. See upcoming lectures and programs about the life of Nebraska Phase Culture and learn more about the archaeologist Robert Gilder. All programs are free for members unless otherwise specified. September…
Leading a Nature-Rich Life Luncheon with author Richard Louv
On November 7, 2018 at the Beardmore Event Center of Bellevue from 11 a.m. to 1 p.m., join us for Leading a Nature-Rich Life featuring the best-selling author of Last Child in the Woods, Richard Louv. His work has inspired the international movement to cure “nature deficit disorder.” Reserve your…
What a great week!
We were thrilled to see our members enjoying new and well-loved programs during Member Appreciation Week. We started the week with the first-ever Shrinrin-Yoku walk, a Japanese practice, is also known as forest therapy, forest bathing, or forest medicine. This practice has been shown to reduce stress and improve mood….
What summer camps can do for a child’s mental wellness
When a young person comes to the Forest for summer camp, there are a few things that are givens: They will have fun. They will get dirty. They will learn about the natural world. What is harder to measure before the experience is how life-changing their time in the Forest…
This is the perfect gift you’ve been looking for!
Looking for a unique gift? Our “Sponsor a Raptor” program offers a new and unique way to support our educational raptors, our raptor team and Fontenelle Forest! Purchase Online Birds of prey, such as eagles, falcons, hawks, owls, and vultures, have a vital role in our ecosystem. Fontenelle Forest’s Raptor…