Events – Page 15 – Nature Discovery Center

Meet the Animals: Vertebrates

2019-05-20 Maura Denman

October 13 at 2 pm – Animals with Backbones – Fish, Amphibians, Reptiles, Birds & Mammals

Get to know our animals with up close and personal animal encounters! Each family-friendly “Meet the Animals” session includes: hands-on exposure to live animals and/or specimens, an informal discussion about the animal’s basic biology and behavior, and a Q/A period with one of our Staff Naturalists.

Cost: $10/family

This is a drop in program with no advance reservations. Please be ready to pay upon arrival. We accept cash or credit.

Mud Day Celebration

2019-05-20 Maura Denman

Saturday, June 28 from 10 am to 12 pm

Come prepared for a marvelously muddy good time as we celebrate International Mud Day in our Nature Play Area. Whether you wallow in the mud, stomp in it, paint with it, build with it, or simply make mud pies, you’re sure to have a great time.

Wear old clothes and water safe shoes and bring a beach towel. You can hose down after the fun! Also bring refillable water bottles. A folding camp or sports chair might come in handy for additional adult seating if you don’t want to get in on the muddy play yourself.

Note: This is NOT a drop off event. Adult supervision is required.

This is a free event and no advance reservations are necessary. However, if you know you plan to come with a large group of more than 6 people, please call us at 713.667.6550 to let us know. Thanks!

This event is wildly popular! Plan ahead for parking.

Family Nature Night: The World of Birds

2019-05-20 Maura Denman

When: Our 2019 Family Nature Night events will be held on the following Wednesdays from 6:30-8:00pm (click dates below for more information about the tropic and presenter):

June 12 – Reptile Rendezvous with Eric Duran
July 10 – Insect Meet & Eat with Ranger
August 14 – The World of Birds: Conquering the Skies with Bethany Foshée – There are roughly 10,000 different species of birds on our planet. They come in many different colors, shapes and sizes – yet they all share some very special features – designed to help them conquer the skies! Learn all about birds’ incredible adaptations, from feathers and beaks to eggs and feet! We’ll learn about their mysterious evolution from dinosaurs and their magical migrations across our earth. We’ll then meet the NDC’s birds and make a fun bird craft to take home!

** NOTE: NEW POLICIES **

Cost: $8 / person ages 3+ (including adults). All children above age 3 must be registered and must be accompanied by a paying adult attendee for these family events. All additional persons in your party must be registered/paid as well.

Advance registration required. Limited to just 50 people.

Register online here

Family Nature Night: Insect Meet and Eat

2019-05-20 Maura Denman

When: Our 2019 Family Nature Night events will be held on the following Wednesdays from 6:30-8:00pm (click dates below for more information about the tropic and presenter):

June 12 – Reptile Rendezvous with Eric Duran
July 10 – Insect Meet & Eat with Ranger – Come say hello to our education arthropods, from spiders to insects to millipedes. For those who like to shake hands, all of these creatures can be touched or held. Learn how insects may be the answer to world hunger before the daring (or hungry) have the opportunity to munch on insects prepared using Ranger’s secret recipes.
August 14 – The World of Birds: Conquering the Skies with Bethany Foshée

** NOTE: NEW POLICIES **

Cost: $8 / person ages 3+ (including adults). All children above age 3 must be registered and must be accompanied by a paying adult attendee for these family events. All additional persons in your party must be registered/paid as well.

Advance registration required. Limited to just 50 people.

Register online here

Family Nature Night: Reptile Rendezvous

2019-05-20 Maura Denman

When: Our 2019 Family Nature Night events will be held on the following Wednesdays from 6:30-8:00pm (click dates below for more information about the tropic and presenter):

June 12 – Reptile Rendezvous with Eric Duran – Join us for a fun and interactive presentation with live reptiles. We’ll learn about the lizards, snakes, turtles, and crocodilians of the world and meet resident reptiles of the Nature Discovery Center.
July 10 – Insect Meet & Eat with Ranger
August 14 – The World of Birds: Conquering the Skies with Bethany Foshée

** NOTE: NEW POLICIES **

Cost: $8 / person ages 3+ (including adults). All children above age 3 must be registered and must be accompanied by a paying adult attendee for these family events. All additional persons in your party must be registered/paid as well.

Advance registration required. Limited to just 50 people.

Register online here

CLOSED

2019-05-10 Maura Denman

We’re closed today due to the inclement weather and local flooding.

The Nature Discovery Center follows HISD Closure Policies.

Survivor Camp for Tweens

2019-03-13 Maura Denman

Ages 11 – 13

You’re lost in the woods with no one to help! Do you have what it takes to survive? We’ll test our nature survival skills as we learn to build shelters, filter our own water, start a fire without a match, cook using the sun, and make a tasty snack from plants (and bugs!) here in our forest.

Camp Schedule: August 5 – 9, 2019: 9:00am – 3:30pm

Cost: $275 members / 345 non-members

Optional After Care is available until 5:30pm each day for an added fee of $60/week or $15/day.

Advance registration required. Register online here! Pro Tip: Filter by age to narrow down the selections.

Be sure to read our FAQ for Classes and Camps which include registration and cancellation policies and lots of other useful information.

CENTER CLOSED

2019-02-20 Maura Denman

The Nature Discovery Center will be closed today. Russ Pitman Park will be open to the public during normal park hours.

Park After Dark Owl Prowl

2019-02-20 Maura Denman

Family Night Hikes

Owl Prowl – May 17 from 8:00 – 9:30 pm

Learn about the animals that are out in Russ Pitman Park once the sun goes down. Bring your family for a guided night hike through the park. Programs include an introduction to the animals we are likely to find and the best ways to find them, followed by a guided walk through the park.

Age Restrictions: These night “hikes” are perfect for adults and families with children ages 4 and up. Every attendee must register and pay for a spot. This is not a drop off program. All children must be accompanied by a paying adult attendee.

Cost: members $10/person; non-members $12/person (Note: You must be Family Level or higher NDC members to receive the member discount.)

Registration: Advance registration is required.

REGISTER

Program Size Limit: 15 people

Bring: flashlight, bug spray

Note: Please do not leave valuables in your car. The Center is not responsible for any unattended items left in vehicles in our parking lot.

This program may be subject to cancellation in the event inclement weather could pose a risk to participants.

For cancellation, refund and other camp policies, please read our FAQ for Classes and Camps.

Walk on the Wild Side

2019-02-20 Maura Denman

Join us while we sneak up on lizards, peer into the trees for looks at birds, discover the latest blooms and their pollinators in our Pocket Prairie, spy on the secret life of animals that hide under logs, and investigate more seasonal nature surprises! Learn some tips to explore nature with your family in your own backyard or on your travels. Ages 4 and up are welcome. Walks are 45 min – 1 hr long.

Limit: 10 people total to allow for better social distancing. Please bring your mask to wear when/if social distancing is not possible.

September 20 at 4:30 pm (additional dates may be announced depending on how the pandemic progresses)

Cost: $5/person

Meet: in front of the Center

Registration is required.

Register Online

Groups: If you would like us to lead a Walk on the Wild Side for your private group of 5 to 10 people on a different date, please contact us at 713.667.6550 to discuss possible arrangements.

Events Listing

Meet the Animals: Vertebrates

Mud Day Celebration

Family Nature Night: The World of Birds

Family Nature Night: Insect Meet and Eat

Family Nature Night: Reptile Rendezvous

CLOSED

Survivor Camp for Tweens

CENTER CLOSED

Park After Dark Owl Prowl

Walk on the Wild Side

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Walk on the Wild Side