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Join Amy Tan and John Muir Laws at Rowe Sanctuary to celebrate the Platte River’s rare braided channels—an evening of conversation, nature journaling, book signings, and hands-on support for habitat protection. Whether you attend in person or virtually, this event connects literature and field-based conservation.
Join Amy Tan and John Muir Laws at Rowe Sanctuary to celebrate the Platte River’s rare braided channels—an evening of conversation, nature journaling, book signings, and hands-on support for habitat protection. Whether you attend in person or virtually, this event connects literature and field-based conservation.
Book with Iain Nicolson Audubon Center at Rowe Sanctuary
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Operated by Iain Nicolson Audubon Center at Rowe Sanctuary · Gibbon, Nebraska
Braided in Unison brings writers, naturalists, and conservation supporters to the Platte River region at Rowe Sanctuary, an Audubon-managed preserve on the central Nebraska plains. This two-hour event, meeting at Younes Conference Center, 707 Talmadge St, Kearney, NE 68845, blends author conversation, nature journaling insight, and fundraising to celebrate the Platte’s braided river ecosystem and the cranes and other wildlife that depend on its shifting channels. The program features bestselling author Amy Tan, whose Backyard Bird Chronicles frames nature journaling as a way to deepen observation, paired with John Muir Laws, co-founder of Wild Wonder Foundation and a leader in the nature-journaling movement. Together they discuss craft and conservation, followed by book signings, light hors d’oeuvres, and opportunities to support Rowe Sanctuary’s work protecting sandbars, shallow channels, and cottonwood-lined floodplain that make the Platte a critical stopover for migrating whooping and sandhill cranes. Expect conversation that connects literary curiosity to habitat stewardship, plus fundraising options at several ticket levels ranging from a virtual pass to a platinum package that includes an evening crane tour. Why this matters: the Platte’s braided morphology — multiple interwoven channels separated by gravel bars — creates open river habitat uncommon in the Midwest and essential to staging cranes. Rowe Sanctuary has long been a center for bird conservation and public education, inviting visitors to witness the river’s seasonal shifts and the compressing flocks at dawn and dusk. For readers who prioritize experiencing conservation in action, this event offers direct support, expert context, and a chance to meet speakers who translate natural history into narrative. Practical notes: the listed meeting point is in Kearney; parking and accessibility details follow venue guidelines. The event is approximately two hours and suitable for most visitors; dress in layers for early spring or cooler evening crane tours. Bring binoculars and a notepad if you plan to attend any extended field portions; signed books are included in some ticket tiers. Virtual ticket holders can join via livestream. This gathering is both fundraiser and field school: part literary salon, part community rally for river health. Whether you come to hear Amy Tan read, to learn sketching techniques from John Muir Laws, or to put your support behind a place where river channels braid and cranes gather, Braided in Unison offers a grounded, actionable way to connect with the Platte River and the people working to keep it open for wildlife. Expect event photography opportunities at indoor and outdoor stations, plus a chance to book later guided river walks through Rowe Sanctuary during crane season. Tickets often sell quickly for premium tiers; reserve early if you want priority seating or the evening crane tour included with the platinum level and limited donor meetups.
easy.
2 hours.
Suitable for most visitors; primarily seated/standing event with optional gentle field elements.
The meeting point is Younes Conference Center, 707 Talmadge St, Kearney, NE 68845.
Yes. A $15 virtual ticket provides livestream access to the program and Q&A.
Some ticket tiers (Gold and above) include signed copies of Backyard Bird Chronicles; check ticket details for each level.
Evening crane tours are family-friendly but involve quiet viewing and sometimes walking; consider age and patience level before booking.
Dress in layers—indoor event spaces are climate-controlled but early spring evenings and crane tours can be cool and windy.
Yes. The program includes fundraising options to support Rowe Sanctuary’s habitat and education work.
Rowe Sanctuary is an Audubon-managed preserve that has served as a focal point for Platte River bird conservation and public education for decades.
Proceeds support sandbar management, habitat restoration, and education; visitors are asked to avoid disturbing roosts and to stay on designated paths.
Iain Nicolson Audubon Center at Rowe Sanctuary in Gibbon, Nebraska, is a conservation and education site operated by Audubon dedicated to protecting the Platte River ecosystem and its migrating Sandhill Cranes. The center manages habitat restoration, scientific monitoring, and public programs that connect visitors with river, wetland, and prairie species. Rowe Sanctuary hosts seasonal Crane Season events, offering guided crane viewing from accessible indoor and outdoor vantage points where thousands of Sandhill Cranes funnel along the Platte River at sunset. Programs include art workshops, accessible nature journaling, and special cultural events that blend storytelling, conservation, and hands-on learning. Rowe Sanctuary partners with artists, researchers, and community leaders to present experiences such as the MONA Art Workshop: Dances of the Cranes with Susan Hart; Birdability Indoor Crane Viewing Experience; Birdability & Rowe: Accessible Nature Journaling Workshop; and Braided in Unison, a public event featuring author Amy Tan and conservation experts. Each offering emphasizes habitat preservation, visitor accessibility, and interpretive education about migratory birds and river dynamics. Facilities at the center are designed to welcome diverse audiences, with accessible viewing areas and inclusive programming led by trained staff and volunteers. Education programs serve families, students, and conservation supporters, while fundraising events support ongoing land stewardship. Visitors can expect expert interpretation, panoramic river views, and opportunities to support the protection of the Platte River’s braided ecosystem. The visitor center includes interpretive exhibits, educational displays, staff-led programs highlighting local ecology and research initiatives, volunteer opportunities, and ways for visitors to support ongoing conservation efforts.
Book with Iain Nicolson Audubon Center at Rowe Sanctuary