All posts by Jenny Henningsen
Celebrate Earth Day with ReadWorks and NFWF passages!
In celebration of Earth Day 2026, we invite you to join our annual illustration contest, brought to you with our content partner the National Fish and Wildlife Foundation! (NFWF)
The contest is open to all learners in grades 2 through 8. This is a wonderful opportunity for your students to combine their reading comprehension development with artistic creativity, all while learning about our planet’s incredible wildlife and conservation efforts.
How to Participate:
1. Read: Have your students read the designated passages for their grade level, focusing on topics like wolverines, burrowing owls, sea turtles, and more.
2. Illustrate: Encourage students to create original illustrations that reflect their understanding and interpretation of the passages.
3. Submit: As a teacher, parent, or guardian, submit the illustrations following the guidelines provided on our contest page.
Submission Deadline: All entries must be submitted by April 24, 2026
Prizes: Eight winning entries (one from each grade level 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, and the special education category) will be selected. Winners will receive a ReadWorks and NFWF swag bag, including an official certificate, along with two $25 gift cards. We will also publish the winning designs on the ReadWorks article for one whole year, as well as our our blog and social media channels to celebrate our budding readers and artists.
For detailed guidelines, reading passages, and submission instructions, please visit our official contest page.
Omaha City Park Challenge
We challenge you to get outdoors this Spring and explore different Omaha Parks! Register for FREE starting March 13th and you will receive a list of the parks to visit. Take a photo at each site and submit them to be entered to win prizes! Complete all 10 sites by May 10th for a chance to win a Group Pool Pass! For more information, contact Kelly kelly.maher@cityofomaha.org
When- March 13-May 10th 2026
parks.cityofomaha.org/programming-special-event/
Click to register
Young Writers Workshops-UNL campus
Each summer, the Nebraska Writing Project helps host multiple writing camps and workshops for the young writers of Nebraska. And registration is now open for all! We encourage your students and family to register and join us for a summer full of writing!
**Young Writers Camp
Grades 8-12
Dates: July 13 – 24, M-F, 10am – 1pm
The Young Writers Camp offers a two-week program (Monday through Friday, 10am-1pm) at the University of Nebraska-Lincoln. We offer workshops in slam poetry, fiction, non-fiction, fantasy, mystery, song-writing, poetry, memoir, and screen writing! Young writers work with professional writers, professors, teachers, and undergraduate interns! For grades 8-12
FOR MORE INFORMATION AND TO REGISTER, PLEASE VISIT THIS LINK: https://newp.unl.edu/youth-and-community/young-writers-camp/
***I Love to Write Workshop 1
ages 7-11: June 1-5: 8:30 – 11 AM
***I Love to Write Workshop 2
For ages 12-15: June 1-5: 12:30 – 3 PM
The I Love to Write/We Love to Write Workshops are a series of summer writing workshops for youth and families to write in a supportive environment. This year’s workshops will focus on a variety of writing styles, strategies, genres and activities. Sessions will meet on the UNL Campus for a week in June. The Celebration of Writers Ceremony is held on the Saturday at the end of the week. These workshops are led by Sandra Peter and Susan Dinsdale, experienced teachers of writing, and the camp is sponsored by the Nebraska Writing Project
***We Love to Write
(students ages 7-15 and their families or special adults)
June 1-5: 4 – 6:30 PM
TO REGISTER, PLEASE FOLLOW THIS LINK (or visit the Nebraska Writing Project Webpage): https://newp.unl.edu/youth-and-community/i-love-write-we-love-write/
Nebraska Department of Water, Energy, & Environment Calendar Design Contest
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.
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.
Science of Ferns Online Workshop April 9th
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.
Facebook event page-https://www.facebook.com/events/3734641130162843
The SciFest Art Contest- Topic Weather
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
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
Origami Workshops-Hosted on Zoom
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
Create a ‘new you’ starter pack to share your goals, interests and areas of growth for the year to come.
- Set up your SEL mini spark recording page: #18: My Starter Pack
- Download Adobe Express from Mosyle.
- In the search bar, type “Starter Pack” to find the template for this project.
- Follow the step-by-step instructions on the right side to customize your project
- Once complete, hit the “share activity” button and email link to your EY teacher. Also paste your project onto your mini spark recording page.
- Share your SEL mini spark recording page with your teacher or the EY coordinator in your building.