Events Listing

Creepy Crawlies

2020-05-26 Maura Denman

August 17 – 21   Creepy Crawlies

Explore the world of animals without bones! The world is filled with spineless wonders: insects, spiders, worms, snails, and so much more! Every day we’ll visit with live invertebrate friends, and engage in some fun crafts and activities. As we investigate these daily themes, you’ll become a bug expert with us:

  • The Insects
  • Arachnids
  • Worms
  • Mollusks
  • Spineless Sea Creatures

Choose your own adventure this summer with our modular Camps on the Go! packages. Each package contains the materials, resources, and links needed for a week full of daily, science themed camp fun!

Daily Camp Activity Modules

Campers can complete the daily camp activity modules in any order and over as much time as they like, picking and choosing their daily camp schedule to meet their interests and attention spans. Campers could spend from 3 to 4 hours a day engaged in the hands on activities and crafts and soaking up the information and humor in recorded and live video lessons with our Head Naturalist Eric Duran.

  • 2 – 3 Video Lessons with our Head Naturalist, including live animals or demonstrations (10 – 30 min each)
  • 1 – 2 Activities, Games or Demos to try at home (5 – 20 min each)
  • 1 – 2 Crafts with instructions and materials (5 – 20 min each) that may inspire additional themed imaginative play
  • 1 – 2 Self-guided Outdoor/Indoor Scavenger Hunts or Hikes (10 – 20 min each)
  • An Interactive Zoom Discussion of the days projects with Eric and a live animal visitor (20 – 30 min)
  • A Link Out to watch a short video on the topic on another educational site (ie: BBC Earth, PBS Nature, etc.)

CAMP ON THE GO! PROGRAM DETAILS

Participants in our Camps on the Go! program will receive:

• an email with a private link to the camp wesbite “hub” for their Camp on the Go! topic. This website will house a grid with the weekly calendar of lesson and activity modules including:

  • links to lesson and demo videos
  • links to printable PDFs as needed for crafts and activities
  • links to the daily interactive Zoom discussion (this is optional for those who are Zoom-ed out, but it will be an interactive time where campers can ask questions of Eric about the day’s topic, share with other campers the things they have done and/or created that day, etc.

• a packet of additional materials and resources needed to complete camp activities, which they will pick up from the Center in advance of their registered camp week. Details of packet pick up will be sent out in a Camps on the Go! email. These packets will contain:

  • craft supplies
  • activity supplies as needed
  • printed materials as needed to accompany crafts and activities

Camps on the Go! Costs

$75 Members / $85 Nonmembers

Registration

Register for our Camps on the Go! here

Camp on the Go! packet pick up will be available the Friday through Sunday before camp on Monday between 9 am and 5 pm. Please register by 5 pm the Thursday before your camp starts to allow time for us to prepare your camp packet for pick-up.

Note: If you would like to register for a Camp on the Go! after it has already debuted (later on in the summer), we would be happy to arrange packet pick up via email. In these cases, the Interactive Zoom Discussions you will have access to will be recorded from the week the camp originally ran. If your camper has any questions about their camp, they can email Eric Duran, their Camp Instructor, at the email address provided in their initial Camps on the Go! email.

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Backboned Beasts

2020-05-26 Maura Denman

August 10 – 14 Backboned Beasts

Join us as we discover the fascinating world of vertebrate animals: fish, amphibians, reptiles, birds and mammals. We’ll visit with some live animals, discover the science behind the different groups, and engage with some fun crafts and activities. Become a junior zoologist with us this summer as we explore:

  • Fish
  • Amphibians
  • Reptiles
  • Birds
  • Mammals

Choose your own adventure this summer with our modular Camps on the Go! packages. Each package contains the materials, resources, and links needed for a week full of daily, science themed camp fun!

Daily Camp Activity Modules

Campers can complete the daily camp activity modules in any order and over as much time as they like, picking and choosing their daily camp schedule to meet their interests and attention spans. Campers could spend from 3 to 4 hours a day engaged in the hands on activities and crafts and soaking up the information and humor in recorded and live video lessons with our Head Naturalist Eric Duran.

  • 2 – 3 Video Lessons with our Head Naturalist, including live animals or demonstrations (10 – 30 min each)
  • 1 – 2 Activities, Games or Demos to try at home (5 – 20 min each)
  • 1 – 2 Crafts with instructions and materials (5 – 20 min each) that may inspire additional themed imaginative play
  • 1 – 2 Self-guided Outdoor/Indoor Scavenger Hunts or Hikes (10 – 20 min each)
  • An Interactive Zoom Discussion of the days projects with Eric and a live animal visitor (20 – 30 min)
  • A Link Out to watch a short video on the topic on another educational site (ie: BBC Earth, PBS Nature, etc.)

CAMP ON THE GO! PROGRAM DETAILS

Participants in our Camps on the Go! program will receive:

• an email with a private link to the camp wesbite “hub” for their Camp on the Go! topic. This website will house a grid with the weekly calendar of lesson and activity modules including:

  • links to lesson and demo videos
  • links to printable PDFs as needed for crafts and activities
  • links to the daily interactive Zoom discussion (this is optional for those who are Zoom-ed out, but it will be an interactive time where campers can ask questions of Eric about the day’s topic, share with other campers the things they have done and/or created that day, etc.

• a packet of additional materials and resources needed to complete camp activities, which they will pick up from the Center in advance of their registered camp week. Details of packet pick up will be sent out in a Camps on the Go! email. These packets will contain:

  • craft supplies
  • activity supplies as needed
  • printed materials as needed to accompany crafts and activities

Camps on the Go! Costs

$75 Members / $85 Nonmembers

Registration

Register for our Camps on the Go! here

Camp on the Go! packet pick up will be available the Friday through Sunday before camp on Monday between 9 am and 5 pm. Please register by 5 pm the Thursday before your camp starts to allow time for us to prepare your camp packet for pick-up.

Note: If you would like to register for a Camp on the Go! after it has already debuted (later on in the summer), we would be happy to arrange packet pick up via email. In these cases, the Interactive Zoom Discussions you will have access to will be recorded from the week the camp originally ran. If your camper has any questions about their camp, they can email Eric Duran, their Camp Instructor, at the email address provided in their initial Camps on the Go! email.

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SAP Wk3: Marvelous Mammals

2020-05-26 Maura Denman

Sneak-A Peek is a fun-tastic summer program for preschoolers (ages 3 to 5) and their parents, grandparents, or caregivers. This summer our SAP program will be a “To Go” program, with packets of take home materials for crafts and activities, and a video lesson from Ms. Mo. Private video links will be sent to registrants via email, and packets will be available for pick-up* at the Center. The program is intended to last up to 1.5 hours, but the actual length will vary each week depending on your child’s interests, abilities, and attention span. You can spread out the activities throughout a day or complete them all at once.

Costs: 

  • Members – $15
  • Non-members – $20
  • Sibling packet – $7.50 each. (You must purchase one SAP To Go program at full Member or Nonmember price to be eligible for a sibling packet. Siblings with packets will receive their own materials needed to participate in all class activities and crafts, and will have access to class video links supplied with the full price program purchase.)

Ages: ages 3 – 5 (but great for any child!)

Available Starting Dates* & Topics

Dates* Topics 
Jun 16 Lizard Life
Jun 23 Animal Homes
Jun 30 Marvelous Mammals
Jul 7 Sensational Senses
Jul 14 Wind, Wings, and Airborne Things
Jul 21 Animal Antics: Disguises and Tricks

Note:  Any Live Videos will be recorded in case participants can not watch live.

Register online here

* Packets will be available for pick-up at the Center starting at 9 am on the date above. 

* You must register by Sunday at 5 pm to ensure packets are ready for pick up on Tuesday. Registrations made after Sunday at 5 pm must arrange packet pick-up with Ms. Mo via email.

* Note: Packets may be purchased throughout the summer after their original release dates, with pick-up from the Center arranged in advance via email with Ms. Mo.

****************************

SAP PreK Science To-Go Packs will be different every week, but will contain the following basic elements:

  • A short Video Lesson – with live animal encounters, specimen spotlights, or nature walks or other content appropriate for the topic
  • An Activity – for instance, a scavenger hunt, hands-on investigation/experiment, game, or other activity related to the topic
  • A Quick Video Story Time – one story related to the topic (Note: if the week’s topic lends itself to more hands-on activities, the story time video may be cut and an additional activity added in its place.)
  • A Ready to Go Craft with Materials (with an accompanying instruction video as needed) – for some crafts, you may need scissors, glue, tape, and crayons or markers from home to complete the craft, but we will supply everything else you need.
  • A Coloring Sheet – related to the topic
  • A Resource Sheet – with things like vocabulary from the lesson, related book recommendations, video links, related poems, virtual or in person field trip ideas, other activity ideas, etc.
Sneak-a-Peek PreK Science To Go Programs would make great Birthday gifts for friends and family!  
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Rooms OPEN

2020-05-13 Maura Denman

The Center’s two Discovery Rooms will be reopening slowly, with added precautions in place, as we continue to heed the health and safety advice of City, County, and State officials. We know that each family has to weight their own personal risks in deciding whether or not to visit the Center during this transition time, but we want you to know our re-opening plans so that you can make the best decision for your family.

Our rooms will be touch free until it is safe to add interactive elements back. All hand lenses, binoculars, puzzles, books, toys, and loose specimens have been removed. But we encourage you to come in and visit our live animals and see the specimens we have on display in enclosures. The Discovery Rooms will be disinfected throughout the day with CDC recommended cleaning products for the safety of our guests, volunteers, and staff.

For now, our plan includes the following additional precautions:

  • Restricted Hours: Saturday’s ONLY beginning May 16 from 12 pm – 3 pm (possibly switching to Sundays ONLY after May 30)
  • Limited Attendance: 12 visitors at a time will be allowed inside the Center. Kids must be supervised by an adult at all times.
  • Masks will be required inside the Center.
  • One Way Flow in and out of the Center (please observe directional signs on-site)
  • Hand washing will be required in the upstairs bathroom before entry to the Discovery Rooms.
  • Individuals and groups should practice social distancing from unrelated visitors, whether inside in the Discovery Rooms, or outside waiting on the porch.

We hope to see your family when you feel comfortable returning to the Center!

Please know that we are happy to continue to welcome you and your family to the Center’s Discovery Rooms free of charge. We do welcome donations to help cover our operating costs, including staff time and animal care, and the additional costs we now face in protecting visitors, volunteers, and staff from the virus.

Touch-free donations may be made online here, or in person at the Center via the credit card “Dip Jar” located on our entry information table just inside the front door. We appreciate your support during these difficult times!

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PARK CLOSED

2020-04-09 Maura Denman

Russ Pitman Park will be closed this weekend (4/10 – 4/13) as part of the larger City and County wide park closures in support of our local “flatten the curve” effort.

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Center CLOSED due to COVID-19

2020-03-17 Maura Denman

Hello Friends and Neighbors,

As a public health precaution to help prevent the spread of COVID-19, the Nature Discovery Center is temporarily closing, effective March 17 until further notice. The health and safety of our staff, volunteers, visitors, and their loved ones is our top priority. We appreciate your understanding as we do our part to keep our community safe.

We will continue to monitor the recommendations of the CDC, WHO, City of Bellaire and the City of Houston. The exact length of our closure will be determined as we learn more from these organizations and government entities in the days and weeks ahead. Please keep an eye on our social media accounts while we’re closed for further updates. Russ Pitman Park remains open, and we encourage you to enjoy time outdoors during this stressful time.

The Nature Discovery Center building is now closed, and all programs and events through April 30 have been cancelled, suspended, or postponed. If you registered for a program, or booked a program with the Center during this closure period, we will reach out to you separately if you haven’t already heard from us. For more information email mail@naturediscoverycenter.org or call 713-667-6550. Note that we will continue to update our cancellations and postponements as this public health crisis continues and the length of our closure is more certain.

During the closure, our animals will remain under the continued care of our Animal Care Coordinator and other trained staff. With our position on the Texas Gulf Coast, we have weathered many emergency closures with animal care contingencies in place, and we are ready to provide our animals with quality care throughout the anticipated closure period. Though this virus is believed to have originated in a non-human animal host, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention has not received any reports of wildlife or animals in human care becoming sick with COVID-19, the disease caused by novel coronavirus.

Please stay healthy, spend some quality time in nature, and we’ll see you again soon!

~ NDC Staff

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Spring Break Camp

2020-03-13 Maura Denman

Send the kids (ages 5 to 10) with their lunch and a refillable water bottle and we’ll do the rest. Your children will be engaged and entertained by our science and nature themed camps, featuring hands-on activities, games, arts and crafts, new friends, and more. Weather permitting, campers will spend the majority of their time outdoors.

Camps run from 9am to 3pm. We can not offer pre or post camp care at this time.

  • March 10 – Spring Time

    Bloom into spring with our exciting camp! Join us for a day of fun, learning, and creativity as we explore what happens during the spring and exciting things we can find in this season.

  • March 11 – Bugs & Blooms

    Do insects and others animals rely on flowers, or do flowers rely on animals? Learn all about pollinators and the plants they pollinate with investigations, crafts, and games.

  • March 12 – What Animals Eat

    Description on the way!

  • March 13 – Baby Animals

    Get ready for a day filled with adorable discoveries at our Baby Animals camp! We’ll explore the amazing world of newborn creatures and learn why spring is such a special time for new life.

  • March 14 – Spineless Wonders

    Some creep, some crawl, some burrow, some swim, some fly. You can find them almost anywhere on earth you look! They have been around for over a billion years! Join us on a safari to investigate insects and other invertebrates – the spineless wonders of the world.

Age Restriction: campers must be 5 to 10 years old at the time of camp

Cost / day:  Family Level Members $70 / Nonmembers $85  (Note: You must be a NDC Family Level or higher Member at the time of your registration to receive the Member Discount.)

Advance registration is required. 

REGISTER HERE 

Registration is open for NDC Family Level (and higher) Members
Registration will open February 22 for nonmembers.

Please notify the Center via phone call (713.667.6550) and detailed email (mail@naturediscoverycenter.org) of any change in your plans or need to withdraw from camp for any reason. Read our FAQ for Camp Registrations Here (includes cancellation and refund policies)

 

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Bellaire Garden Club Meeting

2020-02-13 Maura Denman

The Bellaire Garden Club holds meetings at the Nature Discovery Center on the first Thursdays in March, April, May, September, October, and November at 7pm. Everyone is invited!

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SAP Wk6: Animal Antics: Disguises and Tricks

2020-01-30 Maura Denman

Sneak-A Peek is a fun-tastic summer program for preschoolers (ages 3 to 5) and their parents, grandparents, or caregivers. This summer our SAP program will be a “To Go” program, with packets of take home materials for crafts and activities, and a video lesson from Ms. Mo. Private video links will be sent to registrants via email, and packets will be available for pick-up* at the Center. The program is intended to last up to 1.5 hours, but the actual length will vary each week depending on your child’s interests, abilities, and attention span. You can spread out the activities throughout a day or complete them all at once.

Costs: 

  • Members – $15
  • Non-members – $20
  • Sibling packet – $7.50 each. (You must purchase one SAP To Go program at full Member or Nonmember price to be eligible for a sibling packet. Siblings with packets will receive their own materials needed to participate in all class activities and crafts, and will have access to class video links supplied with the full price program purchase.)

Ages: ages 3 – 5 (but great for any child!)

Available Starting Dates* & Topics

Dates* Topics 
Jun 16 Lizard Life
Jun 23 Animal Homes
Jun 30 Marvelous Mammals
Jul 7 Sensational Senses
Jul 14 Wind, Wings, and Airborne Things
Jul 21 Animal Antics: Disguises and Tricks

Note:  Any Live Videos will be recorded in case participants can not watch live.

Register online here

* Packets will be available for pick-up at the Center starting at 9 am on the date above. 

* You must register by Sunday at 5 pm to ensure packets are ready for pick up on Tuesday. Registrations made after Sunday at 5 pm must arrange packet pick-up with Ms. Mo via email.

* Note: Packets may be purchased throughout the summer after their original release dates, with pick-up from the Center arranged in advance via email with Ms. Mo.

****************************

SAP PreK Science To-Go Packs will be different every week, but will contain the following basic elements:

  • A short Video Lesson – with live animal encounters, specimen spotlights, or nature walks or other content appropriate for the topic
  • An Activity – for instance, a scavenger hunt, hands-on investigation/experiment, game, or other activity related to the topic
  • A Quick Video Story Time – one story related to the topic (Note: if the week’s topic lends itself to more hands-on activities, the story time video may be cut and an additional activity added in its place.)
  • A Ready to Go Craft with Materials (with an accompanying instruction video as needed) – for some crafts, you may need scissors, glue, tape, and crayons or markers from home to complete the craft, but we will supply everything else you need.
  • A Coloring Sheet – related to the topic
  • A Resource Sheet – with things like vocabulary from the lesson, related book recommendations, video links, related poems, virtual or in person field trip ideas, other activity ideas, etc.
Sneak-a-Peek PreK Science To Go Programs would make great Birthday gifts for friends and family!  
Read more

SAP Wk5: Wind, Wings and Airborne Things

2020-01-30 Maura Denman

Sneak-A Peek is a fun-tastic summer program for preschoolers (ages 3 to 5) and their parents, grandparents, or caregivers. This summer our SAP program will be a “To Go” program, with packets of take home materials for crafts and activities, and a video lesson from Ms. Mo. Private video links will be sent to registrants via email, and packets will be available for pick-up* at the Center. The program is intended to last up to 1.5 hours, but the actual length will vary each week depending on your child’s interests, abilities, and attention span. You can spread out the activities throughout a day or complete them all at once.

Costs: 

  • Members – $15
  • Non-members – $20
  • Sibling packet – $7.50 each. (You must purchase one SAP To Go program at full Member or Nonmember price to be eligible for a sibling packet. Siblings with packets will receive their own materials needed to participate in all class activities and crafts, and will have access to class video links supplied with the full price program purchase.)

Ages: ages 3 – 5 (but great for any child!)

Available Starting Dates* & Topics

Dates* Topics 
Jun 16 Lizard Life
Jun 23 Animal Homes
Jun 30 Marvelous Mammals
Jul 7 Sensational Senses
Jul 14 Wind, Wings, and Airborne Things
Jul 21 Animal Antics: Disguises and Tricks

Note:  Any Live Videos will be recorded in case participants can not watch live.

Register online here

* Packets will be available for pick-up at the Center starting at 9 am on the date above. 

* You must register by Sunday at 5 pm to ensure packets are ready for pick up on Tuesday. Registrations made after Sunday at 5 pm must arrange packet pick-up with Ms. Mo via email.

* Note: Packets may be purchased throughout the summer after their original release dates, with pick-up from the Center arranged in advance via email with Ms. Mo.

****************************

SAP PreK Science To-Go Packs will be different every week, but will contain the following basic elements:

  • A short Video Lesson – with live animal encounters, specimen spotlights, or nature walks or other content appropriate for the topic
  • An Activity – for instance, a scavenger hunt, hands-on investigation/experiment, game, or other activity related to the topic
  • A Quick Video Story Time – one story related to the topic (Note: if the week’s topic lends itself to more hands-on activities, the story time video may be cut and an additional activity added in its place.)
  • A Ready to Go Craft with Materials (with an accompanying instruction video as needed) – for some crafts, you may need scissors, glue, tape, and crayons or markers from home to complete the craft, but we will supply everything else you need.
  • A Coloring Sheet – related to the topic
  • A Resource Sheet – with things like vocabulary from the lesson, related book recommendations, video links, related poems, virtual or in person field trip ideas, other activity ideas, etc.
Sneak-a-Peek PreK Science To Go Programs would make great Birthday gifts for friends and family!  
Read more

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We are a nonprofit, tax-exempt charitable organization under Section 501(c)(3) of the Internal Revenue Code. Donations are tax-deductible as allowed by law.


Nature Discovery Center
7112 Newcastle, Bellaire, TX 77401
Directions
713.667.6550
mail@naturediscoverycenter.org

The Nature Discovery Center is located in Russ Pitman Park at 7112 Newcastle, Bellaire, TX, just inside West 610 Loop, between Bellaire Blvd and Evergreen.

Discovery Rooms:
Schoolyear Open Hours
Tuesdays – Saturdays
1 pm – 5:30 pm

Summer Open Hours
(early June – mid August)
Saturdays
10 am to 2 pm

Russ Pitman Park
7 days per week
5 a.m. to 9:30 p.m.

© 2024 Nature Discovery Center