All posts by Jenny Henningsen

Nebraska Department of Agriculture Poster Contest

Events & Contests, Other Events & Contests

Each year, the Nebraska Department of Agriculture invites students from across the state to show what Nebraska Agriculture means to them. Bring your creativity to life and participate in the 2026 NDA Poster Contest! Winning posters will be featured in various NDA publications, special events and on our website. The deadline is March 2nd, so don’t delay!

Theme: 2026 Poster Contest: “Agriculture: Building the Future!”

Who: Students in 1st -6th grade

Due Date: March 2nd

Details: Each drawing should be in color, using a medium of your choice (paint, colored pencil, crayon, etc).  Each entry should be drawn on white paper, measuring 8.5” x 11”. Entries will NOT be accepted if they are folded, rolled up, or are larger than 8.5″ x 11”.

Mail to:

Christin Kamm Nebraska Department of Agriculture

P.O. Box 94947 Lincoln, NE 68509

Important information to look over: Poster Contest Rules, Eligibility, and Criteria

2026 Entry Form-Make sure each entry is accompanied by this entry form. Entry forms must be securely glued or taped to the back of each poster.

Print out Entry Form Here

Past Contest Winners

Nebraska Department of Water, Energy, & Environment Calendar Design Contest

Events & Contests, Other Events & Contests

Recycling, composting, and keeping litter in its place are among the many ways we keep Nebraska clean.

The Nebraska Department of Water, Energy, and Environment is inviting students to put their talents to good use by submitting a drawing for the 2027 “Nebraska: Don’t Waste It!” calendar.  We’re looking for drawings that demonstrate the importance of good environmental practices and tips on reducing waste, recycling, and protecting Nebraska’s air, land, and water.

Theme-Create a drawing or painting that shows how we can keep Nebraska clean by recycling, composting, properly disposing of household hazardous waste (like old paint and cleaning products), cleaning up litter, and any other activity that will keep our air, land, and water clean.

Who: Students K-12 in Nebraska

Due Date: May 1, 2026

Artwork Info: Submit all artwork on 8 ½” x 11” unlined white paper in a landscape, or horizontal, orientation.  Please use tape (no staples or glue) to attach the label. Each piece of artwork must have a label! Mail your artwork flat—do not fold. Entries become the property of DWEE and will not be returned. Artwork may be used for promotional purposes. Fill out this Entry Label.pdf  and attach to the back of your artwork.

Media

Markers, watercolors, tempera, oils, crayons, chalk, acrylic, or colored pencils (no pen and ink, please) are accepted.

Main Contest Webpage

Additional Guidelines

2026 Winners

If your artwork is chosen for the calendar, you will:

  • Have your artwork, name and school’s name featured on a page of the calendar;
  • Be invited to an awards presentation at the State Capitol in Lincoln;
  • Receive copies of the calendar to share with family and friends; and
  • Help educate others about how to protect our environment.
Winners of the 2026 calendar contest were recognized in a ceremony at the Capitol on July 24, 2025.

 

Science of Ferns Online Workshop April 9th

Events & Contests, Other Events & Contests, Uncategorized
Ferns may seem like quiet, leafy plants, but their life cycle and adaptations are full of scientific wonder. This virtual program explores the different types of ferns found in Nebraska, how they reproduce through spores instead of seeds, and the roles they play in local ecosystems. You’ll learn how ferns survive in diverse habitats, their fascinating history dating back millions of years, and tips for spotting them in the wild.
This is a free virtual program, however, registration is required to attend. Please use this link to register: https://outdoornebraska.zoom.us/…/FyXCjT4cRaG-aQIOG7B9uw
Questions? Email monica.macoubrie@nebraska.gov, or visit the Nebraska Game and Parks Outdoor Calendar.

The SciFest Art Contest- Topic Weather

Events & Contests, Other Events & Contests, Uncategorized

Nebraska experiences some of the most dramatic and diverse weather in the country—from powerful prairie winds and towering summer storms to icy winter snow, biting cold, and intense summer heat.

Create (draw, paint, glue, sculpt) artwork that captures the spirit of Nebraska’s weather. Your artwork may reflect any season or weather event, such as strong winds, thunderstorms, tornado skies, snowfall, blizzards, heat waves, drought, or the changing moods of the prairie throughout the year.

Ages: All ages

Date Due: Image must be postmarked no later than April 30, 2026.

Prizes: Three winners will receive a swag bag of NE SciFest goodies.

All entries must meet the following requirements:

  • All entrants must live in the state of Nebraska
  • Each participant may only submit one image. However, a teacher/coach/parent may submit multiple images
  • Must be able to email a clear, well photographed image of creation to NE SciFest

For more information visit- https://www.nescifest.com/participate/art/

A CREATIVE CHALLENGE FOR TEENS WORLDWIDE-Bow Seat

Events & Contests, Other Events & Contests

Your Story, Our Ocean Prompt

The 2026 Ocean Awareness Contest – Your Story, Our Ocean – encourages you to explore the many ways our ocean sustains, protects, and inspires us. We invite you to think about your personal connection to the ocean – whether you’re coastal or landlocked – through the value it brings to your life. The benefits of the ocean are widespread and multifaceted, from food production to climate regulation to artistic inspiration. Go through the sub-themes and explore the topics that resonate with you. Share how the ocean has shaped your story through art, writing, performance, film, or multimedia. How does the ocean sustain, protect, and inspire you?

The Contest deadline is June 8, 2026
Ages 11-18
Submissions are accepted in:
  • Visual Art: Handcrafted
  • Visual Art: Digital
  • Poetry & Spoken Word
  • Creative Writing
  • Film
  • Performing Arts: Music & Dance
  • Interactive & Multimedia

Rules and guidelines to look over carefully-https://bowseat.org/programs/ocean-awareness-contest/how-to-enter/#submissionrequirements 

Past winners-https://bowseat.org/gallery/

Please reach out to the EY teacher in your school if you need assisntance.

Origami Workshops-Hosted on Zoom

Events & Contests, Other Events & Contests

Check out this exciting workshop opportunities for folders of all ages.  The events are held on Saturdays in March and April. Choose one day or multiple days to attend.

Main Event Website-https://origamiusa.org/oriuni2026

  • Introductory: March 21, 11:00 am–March 21, 5:00 pm CDT
  • Representational: March 28, 11:00 am–March 28, 5:00 pm CDT
  • Geometric: April 4, 11:00 am–April 4, 5:00 pm CDT
  • STEM: April 11, 11:00 am–April 11, 5:00 pm CDT
  • Four full days of instruction on representational, geometric, and STEM applications of origami.
  • Live classes with special guests.
  • Two-track class format includes model folding, lectures and techniques.
  • Meet and fold with well-known and aspiring origami designers.
  • Attend an origami and STEM research panel, Q&A session and workshop.

Make an account to register.

 

 

#18: My Starter Pack

SEL Mini Sparks

Create a ‘new you’ starter pack to share your goals, interests and areas of growth for the year to come.

  1. Set up your SEL mini spark recording page: #18: My Starter Pack
  2. Download Adobe Express from Mosyle.
  3. In the search bar, type “Starter Pack” to find the template for this project. 
  4. Follow the step-by-step instructions on the right side to customize your project
  5. Once complete, hit the “share activity” button and email link to your EY teacher. Also paste your project onto your mini spark recording page.
  6. Share your SEL mini spark recording page with your teacher or the EY coordinator in your building.

#114: Scientific Calculator Lessons

Math Mini Sparks

Spark your thinking!

  1. Set up your Math Mini Spark recording page: #114: Scientific Calculator Lessons
  2. Watch this video. Record 3 new learnings, 2 things you will try, and 1 question you still have. 

  1. Open this teaching page and study it for 5 minutes. Record 5 keys and what they do on your recording page. 
  2. Pretend you are a scientific calculator. Write about one of your keys and how it will help you when doing math. 
  3. Share your Math Mini Spark Mini Spark recording page with your teacher or EY Coordinator.

Mission Patch Design Contest-Send your art to space! Contest Closed

Other Events & Contests

You are invited to design a mission patch that could be flown to the International Space Station (ISS) in summer 2026! Each community participating in SSEP can fly up to two Mission Patches to the International Space Station.

What is a real mission patch?: A NASA mission patch is a special badge that astronauts wear to show their spaceflight mission. These patches have symbols that tell the story of the mission, include the crew’s names, and show important parts like the mission’s goal or where they’re going.

What: On paper, design a 3.5 x 3.5 mission patch for Mission #21

When: Patch designs due Feb. 1, 2026.

Who: K-12 students in Douglas, Sarpy, Dodge and Washington counties, including students taking dual enrollment classes with MCC and MCC students

Details: Through a partnership with the National Center for Earth and Space Science Education, MCC is participating in the Student Spaceflights Experiments Program (SSEP) Mission 21, which will send a microgravity experiment to the ISS. Microgravity sounds very technical but an experiment in microgravity is an experiment in a weightless environment, and in the case of SSEP, the experiment is operated by the astronauts in the weightless environment aboard ISS.
The winning patch design could accompany the MCC student experiment to the ISS.

Examples of patches selected: Visit this website to see a collection of patches that were chosen for mission 17 to the Space Station.

Before you get started: Read more about the project that was chosen for ISS mission 20.

Interested in participating?

Reach out to your EY coordinator to help with submissions.

Teachers and Parents: Patch designs must be accompanied by a completed submission form. For patch design questions and to get more information about submissions, email LaunchToLearn@mccneb.edu

 

 

Intl. Academic Competitions: Upcoming Tournaments for Nebraska Students

Events & Contests, Other Events & Contests

Greetings from International Academic Competitions! Our 2025-26 competition season is in full swing, with over 200 regional quiz tournaments planned across the country and over 15 separate competitions to take part in! We wanted to pass along a reminder about upcoming events in Nebraska and online so that you can mark your calendars and join us!

National Science Bee, National History Bee & National Geography Bee Regional Tournaments

Subject-specific individual quiz competitions for students in grades K-12. Each tournament below features all 3 events at different times during the day. For students in grades K-8, prior qualifying through the Online Regional Qualifying Exam in each subject is required. Register on each tournament’s page, linked below! The deadline is 12 days in advance of each event.

Upcoming In-Person Tournaments

  • Des Moines- Red Question Set Jan 31st , 2026 Waukee, IA

  • Omaha – White Question Set Sat. Feb 21, 2026, Omaha, NE

A full list of National Science, History, and Geography Bee Regional Tournaments is maintained here on the website.

Qualifying IAC events can be offered at the elementary and middle school level. Contact the EY coordinator at your child’s school with questions.