The Importance of Play \ Facebook  

  

The Junior League of Omaha, the Papio-Missouri River Natural Resources District, and MORE Nature are proud to announce that the second edition of the GO! Play Adventure begins May 31.  This free family treasure hunt guide encourages families to get outside and visit local parks and other areas in search of rubbing posts.  

  

"This is not just a treasure hunt," says Christine Jacobsen of the Papio-Missouri River Natural Resources District (NRD). "This is a fabulous way to get families outside, playing and experiencing nature. Our guidebook features 25 locations all over the metro area to encourage you to visit new parks and other conservation sites. Playing and enjoying the out-of-doors is all part of the treasure."  

  

Sponsored by MORE Nature, the Papio NRD, and the Junior League of Omaha, GO! Play Adventure is in its second year in the metro area. The new guidebook gives clues where to find the posts at 25 locations and each page has a place to make a rubbing from the post graphic. 

Sites featured in the guidebook include Omaha favorites such as the Joslyn Art Museum Sculpture Garden, Omaha's Henry Doorly Zoo, Fontenelle Forest, Elmwood Park, BounceU, Mahoney State Park and Vala's Pumpkin Patch. Some of the lesser known, but interesting spots to visit include Allwine Prairie Preserve, Heron Haven Wetland, DeSoto Bend, Haworth Park and OPPD's Arboretum.  

  

Books are available for pick up at several locations throughout town including Chalco Hills Recreation Area, Joslyn Art Museum, Fontenelle Forest, Hitchcock Nature Center, Mahoney State Park and BounceU.    

  

Families have one year to complete 20 of the 25 rubbings and must also complete two sites of their own to qualify for prizes. The Papio NRD at Chalco Hills will accept the completed books.  

  

Besides a place to discover and play, all sites have one aspect in common this year: they feature conservation efforts by local groups. For example, at Mahoney State Park the post is located near the Conservatory which the Nebraska Game and Parks Commission use to grow trees for planting throughout its state park system. At Vala's Pumpkin Patch in Gretna, the post is situated near a tree which is from Johnny Appleseed heritage.  

  

The post graphics also promote the conservation aspect as they all feature native Nebraska plants and animals. 

   

As families experience sites around the metro area, the visitors are encouraged to blog or post about their GO! Play Adventures on Facebook.  

  

For more information, please contact GO! Play Adventure Coordinator, Michelle Zych at m_zych@hotmail.com.  

  

  

  

Facebook: Follow the Go! Play Adventure on Facebook!  Become a fan, post your pictures and share you experiences!   Click here to visit our page!  

  

  

  

  

  

  

MORE Nature is a collaborative initiative to bring more outdoor, nature-based play to the children of the Greater Omaha area. The project is being undertaken by a consortium of interested organizations: the Papio-NRD, The Nature Conservancy, Green Hearts Institute for Nature in Childhood, Hitchcock Nature Center, Lauritzen Gardens, Nebraska Statewide Arboretum, Omaha by Design, Audubon Society of Omaha, Sierra Club, Fontenelle Nature Association, Henry Doorly Zoo, Schram Aquarium (NGPC), National Arbor Day Foundation, National Park Service, Omaha Children's Museum and the Junior League of Omaha.