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.

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Or join us on YouTube:  https://youtube.com/live/HN5HZNc0R0k?feature=share

No registration needed. 

Check Wachiska’s website for links to past programs.