Step out of the classroom

Using mapping skills and handheld GPS devices, participants will learn the basics of GPS and go on a scavenger hunt using GPS Data.

This national program, developed by Nebraska Extension, partners the Positive Youth Development model with life skill development and decision-making philosophy to instill in youth participants invaluable confidence and communication skills necessary to make responsible decisions and develop the internal strength to resist risky behaviors such as tobacco, alcohol, e-cigarette/vaping and drug use.

This variation on Junkdrawer Robotics challenges learners to build a conveyance that will carry cargo down our walkable map. Sounds easy until you realize our map has topography, in addition to elevation. Western Nebraska’s geology challenges even the savviest builders to successfully move down the map. For 3rd-5th Grade, the objectives are to keep the mover together while carrying the load and to travel down the entire distance of the map.

There are few other places where you can walk from one end of Nebraska to the other in a few seconds. Here at Raising Nebraska, we not only use our walkable map to help teach physical geography, we use our map to look at human settlement and environmental geography.

This tasty experience POPS! Literally. Nebraska is Number 1 in popcorn production. Learners will get to see, smell, and taste popcorn while learning about the science behind the pop – and why some corn does NOT pop.

Every map is created for a purpose, but not every map can accurately answer the questions we have. Participants will learn about different map projections, plat maps, and road maps.  They will then use these maps to solve questions about the world around them.

Each participant will make their own pizza while learning where the ingredients come from. Vegetarian options are included. Should learners need gluten-free or vegan options, this will need to be specified at the time of making program reservations.

This variation on Junkdrawer Robotics challenges learners to build a conveyance that will carry cargo down our walkable map. Sounds easy until you realize our map has topography, in addition to elevation. Western Nebraska’s geology challenges even the savviest builders to successfully move down the map. For 6th-8th Grade, the object is to keep the mover together while carrying the load and distance down the map while saving as much money as possible.

This national program, developed by Nebraska Extension, partners the Positive Youth Development model with life skill development and decision-making philosophy to instill in learners confidence and communication skills necessary to make responsible decisions and develop the internal strength to resist risky behaviors such as tobacco, alcohol, e-cigarette/vaping and drug use.

Yes! Agriculture IS more than farming. Using the resources at Raising Nebraska, learners will explore careers in the agriculture sector. The careers covered in this experience include manufacturing, computer programming, engineering, marketing, and supply chain.

Using ESRI data, participants will use historical data to look at modern communities and neighborhoods. Learners will then transition to their communities and decide where theoretical new businesses should or should not go based on mapping data.

Who knew chemistry could taste so good – or so bad! Using the scientific method, learners will experiment with cookie ingredients and taste for themselves the successes or failures that can happen when ingredients are left out.

This variation on Junkdrawer Robotics challenges learners to build a conveyance that will carry cargo down our walkable map. Sounds easy until you realize our map has topography, in addition to elevation. Western Nebraska’s geology challenges even the savviest builders to successfully move down the map. For 9th through 12th Grade, the objectives are to keep the mover together while carrying the load, keep an accurate project budget and cost of production records.

Using research and activities published in the Journal of Chemical Engineering, learners will make their own bioplastics. This is not your typical bioplastics lesson. We will be upcycling food waste products, like orange peels and coffee grounds, to make plastics. We will also be talking about the structure of polymers and sustainability in the plastics lifecycle.

Raising Nebraska is a proud part of the University of Nebraska-Lincoln, through Nebraska Extension. We love connecting young people to the men and women who work with and for Extension. If you are interested in Manure Management, drones, hospitality, food science, youth education. Raising Nebraska has an Extension Connection for you!

Most of the programs listed above can be scaled up or scaled down in age. This allows all homeschoolers to cover the same topics, but on a level that is appropriate to their learning level.
Programs can be customized based on the needs of the learners and the educational objectives and outcomes.

Raising Nebraska’s facilities are fully mobility accessible.

Most topics listed above can be scaled up or scaled down to meet learners needs. Staff at Raising Nebraska want the experience here to be a positive one and may ask questions about the fine motor skills of participants and/or triggers (strobe lights, loud noises, smells) to insure that all can participate fully and in a meaningful way. Programs can be customized based on the needs of the learners and the educational objectives and outcomes.

Our cooking programs are customized based on season and group. These engaging programs help with occupational and physical therapy skills for learners.