Connecting People
With Nature
Wachiska Program and General Meeting — Thursday, August 14, 2025
7:00 PM, Unitarian Church, 6300 A Street, and also via YouTube link: https://youtube.com/live/HN5HZNc0R0k?feature=share
How Not to Become a Writer:
When Nebraska, Nature, and Dumb Luck Lead to Self-Discovery
by Alan J. Bartels
Alan J. Bartels is a writer, photographer, student of nature, father, wanderer, and chronic volunteer. He has been knocked unconscious by an emu; bitten by snakes, snapping turtles, and a sandhill crane; has come home smelling of skunk, and once had a wild black-footed ferret run up his leg. He’s rescued owls, hawks, and eagles for Raptor Recovery Nebraska, and guided hundreds of sandhill crane tours for Rowe Sanctuary. He loves the Sandhills and has an appreciation for Nebraskans everywhere with strong ties to the land.
Alan's award-winning children's book, What's Going Down in Prairie Dog Town? was published in 2018. The foreword was written by renowned primatologist Jane Goodall.
Alan is president of the Friends of Gracie-a group working with Sandhills ranchers to conserve wildlife and wild places. In 2000 Alan was named Conservation Educator of the Year by the Nebraska Wildlife Federation.
In 2016, Alan received the Rank of Admiral in the Great Navy of the State of Nebraska. In 2022, Nebraska Governor Pete Ricketts appointed Alan to the Governor’s Council to Keep Nebraska Beautiful Board of Directors. In 2023 Alan joined the Board of Directors for the Sandhills Prairie Refuge Association. Alan is a self-taught writer and photographer. His photograph of a Blanding's turtle appeared in the March 2020 issue of National Geographic Magazine, and his work has appeared in the Smithsonian Institution’s Air & Space Magazine, USA Today, and dozens of other publications.
After 11 years with Nebraska Life magazine, he left the fast-paced world of magazine deadlines in September 2021 and now works as the Information and Education Coordinator at the Lower Loup Natural Resources District in Ord, a job that allows him to teach about our state’s precious natural resources in the Sandhills. In 2025, Alan received the Friend of the Byway Award from the Sandhills Journey National Scenic Byway, and was announced as the Friend of Tourism by the Nebraska Tourism Commission later that year.
Alan’s most recent book is 100 Things To Do In The Nebraska Sandhills Before You Die. He is working on a second book about the Nebraska Sandhills. The as-of-yet untitled book will be released in April 2026.
Join Wachiska Thursday, August 14, 7:00 PM at Lincoln’s Unitarian Church, 6300 A Street.
Or join us on YouTube: https://youtube.com/live/HN5HZNc0R0k?feature=share
No registration needed. Check Wachiska’s website for links to past programs.
August 2025 Calendar of Events
August 4 Education Committee via zoom, 6:00 p.m.
August 11 Conservation Committee via zoom, 6:30 p.m.
August 14 General Meeting and Speaker Series,
Alan J. Bartels, Author
7:00 p.m., in-person meeting at Unitarian
Church and also live-streamed; no
registration needed (see link above)
August 15 Newsletter Deadline, Wachiska Office, 5:00 p.m.
August 19 Board Meeting via Zoom, 7:00 p.m.
In September 2021, the Wachiska Board adopted the National Audubon’s Statement on Equity, Diversity and Inclusion as the Chapter’s own goals:
The birds Audubon pledges to protect differ in color, size, behavior, geographical preference, and countless other ways. By honoring and celebrating the equally remarkable diversity of the human species, Audubon will bring new creativity, effectiveness and leadership to our work throughout the hemisphere.
Wachiska Audubon Society's vision is to share the experience and love for nature and help protect its diversity.
Join Wachiska Today
Become a member of the Wachiska chapter of the National Audubon Society and support environmental conservation, education, and outreach in Southeast Nebraska.
Click HERE for details.
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Join friends and neighbors to show your concern about our climate and our elected officials. Stop by the Wachiska office and pick up your Climate yard sign.
Signs that say “VOTE with CLIMATE in Mind” are available for $10 each. They are made of material that will hold up well to the elements and come with a metal holder to push into the ground. You are encouraged to put your signs out now for the fall elections. Since they are so durable, they could easily last three or four years even if kept out all year.
NEW! Wachiska is on YouTube
The photos on this website were taken by Wachiska members. Many thanks to Bruce Wendorff,
Linda Brown, Paul Johnsguard, Tim Knott, Stu Luttich, John Carlini and Elizabeth Nelson.