ENCHANTED WOODS
GROUNDBREAKING FALL 2026
The Story Behind the Enchanted Woods
The Enchanted Woods project began with a vision introduced by former Executive Director Henry Owen, who imagined a renewed, research-informed nature play area that would better meet the needs of today’s families. The Nature Discovery Center is collaborating with TBG Partners and StudioRed Architects to design a play environment rooted in child development, nature education, and joyful exploration. With design now nearly complete, the Board of Directors is working with Forney Contruction to bring this vision to life, marking a major step as the project moves toward construction later this fall.
A Reimagined Nature Play Experience
The Enchanted Woods will transform our current nature play area into an immersive, dynamic landscape where children can climb, dig, splash, build, imagine, and discover the natural world.
Why Nature Play Matters
Nature play helps children grow in ways traditional playgrounds can’t. It sparks creativity, builds confidence, strengthens coordination, and supports emotional well-being. Most of all, it nurtures a lifelong love of the natural world. The Enchanted Woods is designed to give every child access to these powerful, research-backed benefits.
Help Us Build Something Magical
This $2.5 million project will serve the thousands of families who rely on the Nature Discovery Center each year and we have already raised 87% of our goal. With your support, we can bring the Enchanted Woods to life for our entire community. Your gift today helps build a place where children can run, climb, splash, explore, and discover the magic of nature.
The Enchanted Woods includes three signature play zones, anchored by the Cottage Classroom, with its surrounding Observation Deck.
Cottage Classroom
A welcoming, fully air-conditioned classroom acting as a launch point for nature programs, camps, school groups, and community learning.
The classroom will feature:
- Seating for 24 at tables
- 18′ of counterspace
- Sink for cleanup
- Wall-mounted TV for presentations
- Restroom for classroom use
Observation Deck
An elevated overlook for wildlife observation and nature study, leading directly into the Cottage Classroom entrance connecting exploration with hands-on learning.
The Enchanted Woods is more than a playground. It is a place where imagination flourishes, families come together, and children build meaningful connections with the natural world. As we move closer to breaking ground, every contribution helps bring this unique destination to life. Your support will create a space where generations can learn, explore, and make cherished memories. Join us in turning this vision into reality and help build a lasting legacy of wonder, discovery, and outdoor adventure.
NAMING OPPORTUNITIES
For more information, contact Darenda Dorsey, Development Director, at Development@naturediscoverycenter.org
Giving Levels
Plant your legacy for Houston’s children in the Enchanted Woods Nature Play Area at the Nature Discovery Center!
Learn more about specific naming opportunities here
Red Oak
$100,000+
Name plaque on feature and recognition at the Red Oak level & a lifetime NDC membership
Loblolly Pine
$75,000 – $99,000
Name plaque on feature and recognition at the Loblolly Pine level
Sugar Maple
$25,000 – $74,999
Donor wall recognition
Magnolia
$10,000 – $24,999
Donor wall recognition
Caddo Pecan
$5,000 – $9,999
Donor wall recognition
Bald Cypress
$1,000 – $4,999
Donor wall recognition
Yaupon Holly
Up to $999
Thank You to Our Generous Donors
as of 5/08/26.
Trees Generously Donated By:
Red Oak
Robert L Cook Charitable Fund
The Brown Foundation
The Cullen Foundation
The Elkins Foundation
The Fondren Foundation
Debbie & Chris Patton
The Williams Stamps Farish Fund
Hildebrand Fund
Loblolly Pine
Sugar Maple
The West Endowment
The Wortham Foundation, Inc.
Patrons for Bellaire Parks
Kevin and Khushbu Tzan
CenterPoint Energy
Halliburton Charitable Foundation
Magnolia
Albert & Ethel Herzstein Charitable Foundation
Marvy Finger Family Foundation
Samuels Family Foundation
The Neubek Family
Caddo Pecan
Norma Barnes
Shelley Starr
Meghan & Kenneth Lutschg
Kristen Buck
Ann Moore & Mark McCullough
Sherri Chilivetis
Chetan Bachireddy
Betsy & David Black
Jennifer & Benjamin Cowan
Sarah Fernsler & William LeBoeuf
Sarah Flournoy
Patricia & Robert Lunn
Maria Martinez
John & Laura Moffitt
Jayne & Garrett Johnston
Trisha Pollard
Bald Cypress
Henning & Christie Buchholz
Elizabeth Cosgrove & Cameron Smith
Susan & Kevin Golden
Randall & Kathleen Lake
Carol Beittenmiller
Chevron Corporate Match – Karl Poirot
Hanna Zaghloul
Rachel Cruz & Todd Auwarter
Polly & Stephen Fohn
The Hafer Family
John & Bridgette Goss
Gary Gray & Mary Ann Beauchemin
Kim Jones
Sean & Joelene Monestier McKenzie
Melissa Newton
Emily & Henry Owen
Karl & Marla Poirot
Lauren Snitzer
Daniel Sutton
Jaclyn & John Vivrett
Gigi and Brad White
Chase Findley
Susan Gail Wood
The Allen Family
Sharon Veldman
The Brackendorff Family
Lisa & Steven Derenthal
The McCormick Family
Tom & Brenda Koch
Vivek Bansal and Roopal Amin
Gerald and Iris Soparkar & Emily Wang
Iris Wellness Center
Mayra Marshall
Rebekah Sheldon
Cathleen Fishel
Brittany Hodgson
Michelle Forsten
Ana-Maria Nicolae
Anna Illner
Brian & Cindy Atlas
Jason Walker
Jenny & Justin Segool
Joel Gluskin & Talya Arbisser
Kim Rexford
Kristi Coffey & Arash Noamouz
Margaret Jackson
Teresa Duryea
Texas Instruments Foundation Corporate Match
The Bender Family
Veeral Mehta
Yaupon Holly
Win & Johnnie Frazier
Linda & David Knowles
Whitney & Marc Lawson
Marilyn Wolfe-Kirk
James Robertson
Tania & Matt Campbell
David Murphy
Cookie & Ben Portnoy
Kristin & Kevin Berry
Candi Clement
Richard Ethun
Doreen & Michael Gallevo
Cynthia Kahle
Nancy & Jim Lomax
Sheryl Mills
Judy & William Murphy
DeAndra & John Ramsey
Meredith Symonds
Paula Auerbach
Mitra Economou
Milicent Goldschmidt
Wren Ripoll
Rosemary Confer
James L Rice III
River Oaks Garden Club
Houston Garden Club
Adair Concepts LLC
Adekunle Akande
Elizabeth Garcia
Aimee & Wes Yuan
Alison M. Satterfield
Angela & Kevin Mutisya
Anjali Kohli and the Kohli Patel Family
Ashley Gordon
Ben & Patti Ramsey
Beth Liebling
Bob Orlowski
Brian & Lisa Strauss and Brandon & Jessica Strauss
British Isles & The Streatfeilds
Broderick Merritt
Bryan, Suzanne, Adam & Avery Schexnayder
Candice Da Costa
Carol Akers & John T Klug
Carol Brant
Cassandra Weaver
Cavan & Aidan Saccone
Chris & Andréa Ehlers
Cindy Gautschy Goldsberry
Cory Otis
Cynthia Edmondson
Cynthia Siegel
Darenda & Zack Dorsey
Dan Seilheimer & Barbara Reid
David & Jana Enloe
David Hensel
Deborah Lancaster
Debra Coffey
Douglas Louk
Elaine Klein
Elizabeth Cortez
Eric Neumann
Erin Bullard
Eyad & Malika Bizreh
Gabriel Lopez Berestein
Garima & Gaurav Khadse
Gay Mayeux
Genie Neukomm
Geri Maria Harris / Grayson and Jonathan
Gleeann Salazar
Hannah Hawke
Hillary Danziger
Ingrid Su
Isabella & Leonardo Nguyen
Jason & Shelley Burt
Jay & Jennifer Johnson
Jeanne & Chad Parker
Jeffrey Schultz
Jennifer & Adam Kramer
Jill Bullard Almaguer
JoAnna & Allen Burton
Jesus Alvarado
Karsy Schencker
Kathy Hinze
Katy Chea
Kelly Best Bourgeois
Kim & Chris Reichert
Kristina Rivers
Kyle E. Young Family
Lance & Margaret Brown
Lauren Robinson
Leora Semble
Leslie Hsu
Linda & Rick Rodekohr
Lindsay & Chris Eagleton
Lindsay Derman
Liu Family
Lori Lohman
Maggie Burkett
Marly Maskill
Martha & Bob Henschen
Mary Round
Mehri Nowamooz
Meredith Clarage
Meredith & Drew Wheeler
Merri-Lyn Popa
Mila Montiel
Milan Patel
Millie Naylor Hast
Misty Briggs
Mo & Faby Lopez
Mo & Obi Ihekweazu
Nasser Nowamooz
Natalie Lamont and EOG Resources Corporate Match
Nori Gabert
Orlando Piper
Pamela Bercutt
Patricia Chazen
Patricia Schornstein
Patty & Kelton Ro-Trock
Paul Holzhauer
Raymond Mody
Reese Taylor
Robert Caplan
Sandra Pritzkow
Sharon & Hank Myers
Steve Smith
Sue Otis
Susan Levy
Suzanne & Barry Kelly
The Guinns
The Henkel Family
The Macia Family
The Mellom Family
The Oden Family
The Stafford Family
The Xia Zeng Family
Tim Mann
Vidisha Prasad
Wendy Bantle
Wiley DeWeese
FAQs
or email us at Development@naturediscoverycenter.org
Interested in supporting via check?
Nature Discovery Center
Attn: Development – Enchanted Woods
7112 Newcastle St
Bellaire TX 77401
Note: Any additional funds raised will support ongoing maintenance or future enhancements of the Enchanted Woods project. Thank you for your support of our mission and for helping bring this exciting initiative to life. We are deeply grateful to our supporters and for this meaningful moment in the expansion of the Nature Discovery Center.
