Events – Page 17 – Nature Discovery Center

Camp: Science of Art

2019-02-05 Maura Denman

June 3 – 7 WAIT LIST STATUS

With creative sparks and a bit of ingenuity, we will bring science and art together in a camp full of (potentially) messy masterpieces! Campers will use chemical reactions, the laws of physics, and other scientific principles to create artwork with Shrinky Dinks, paper mache, paints, and other media.

Ages: 5 to 10 years old

Monday – Friday from 9:00 am – 3:30 pm (optional aftercare til 5:30 pm for an extra $15/day)

Cost: $250/week members OR $320/week non-members

Kids bring lunches and refillable water bottles. We provide snacks.

Advance registration required. Join Wait List Here

Read our FAQ for Camp Registrations Here (includes cancellation and refund policies)

Bubbles and More Play Day

2018-11-19 Maura Denman

Day, Date & Time: February 8, 2025 – 1 to 3 pm. The Center’s front lawn, Pecan Grove, and the sidewalks around the Center will be set up with everything your kids need for a fun filled afternoon of outdoor play! You can feel like a kid again, too, if you join them in playing with bubbles, hula hoops, jump ropes, sidewalk chalk, and more. Kids should bring refillable water bottles. Event Location: Pecan Grove Age Restrictions: All ages, but all children must be accompanied by an adult who will stay to supervise. Cost: FREE Registration Notes: Registration is not required. This is not a drop-off program. Adult supervision is required.

This event is wildly popular! Plan ahead for parking.

Curious Kids (Fall afternoon)

2018-09-05 Maura Denman

Are you raising a Curious Kid? Join us out back at the pavilions where we’ll explore, ask, discover, experiment, and more in our pre-K science program! Our children’s programs feature science-rich, weekly, stand-alone classes that offer you the flexibility to sign-up for individual classes that meet your hectic schedules or for specific topics that inspire your children.

Covid safety precautions:

Class size limit: Limit 10 kids, and limit one adult per child to allow for social distancing. We are allowing one unregistered tag-a-long sibling this fall.
Location: This class is being held outdoors in the pavilion area behind the nature center building.
Covid screening form: All attendees will be asked to complete a screening form upon arrival.
Masks encouraged: While we may not require masks, we strongly encourage adults, and children who are able to do so, to wear masks in any situation where social distancing is not possible.
Hand hygiene: there is a large outdoor sink nearby for hand washing, and hand sanitizer will be available during class.

Cost / class: Members $15 / Nonmembers $20

Advanced registration required. REGISTER

When: Tuesdays from 10:00 to 11:30am OR Tuesdays from 4:00 to 5:30pm

Bring: A refillable water bottle so that you can stay hydrated during class.

Fall 2021 Class Schedule

Date	Topic
9/14	Fishy Fun
9/21	Frog Friends
9/28	Terrific Turtles
10/5	Incredible Insects
10/12	Beautiful Butterflies
10/19	Birds on the Wing
10/26	Nocturnal Neighbors
11/2	Sneaky Snakes
11/9	Into the Trees
11/16	Fall Nature
11/23	Magnificent Mammals
11/30	Squeaky Squirrels
12/7	Fruits and Veggies
12/14	Winter Nature

Project WILD Educator Workshop

2018-08-14 Maura Denman

An interdisciplinary, supplementary, environmental education program for teachers and other educators wishing to incorporate nature and science in their teaching. The workshop provides everything necessary to use this K-12 curriculum, which teaches how to think, not what to think

Cost: $35/teacher

Advance registration required. Register online here

Growing Up WILD Educator Workshop

2018-08-14 Maura Denman

Growing Up WILD is an early childhood education program that builds on children’s sense of wonder about nature and invites them to explore wildlife and the world around them. Through a wide range of activities and experiences, Growing Up WILD provides an early foundation for developing positive impressions about the natural world and lifelong social and academic skills.

Cost: $35/teacher

Advance registration required. Register online here

Creatures of the Night: An Adult Nature Night

2018-08-14 Maura Denman

Join us for a Halloween celebration of the various creatures and critters that prowl the night, as we learn about the lives of owls, Flying Squirrels, and other nocturnal animals! Spirits, snacks, and table games will be followed by a brief presentation and a hike. We anticipate spots to fill up quickly!

Ages 21+. Adult beverages and snacks will be provided.

Cost: $20/person

Advance registration required. Register online here

Adult Workshop: Gardening for Pollinators

2018-08-14 Maura Denman

Adult Workshop: Gardening for Pollinators Saturday, Oct 13 from 9:30 am to 12 noon
Do you like hummingbirds, butterflies and other pollinators? Join us for a hands-on morning workshop to learn how to grow and incorporate native plants into your yard or create a “pollinator garden”.

You can make a big difference for native wildlife by adding native plants to your gardens. An additional benefit of planting native plants is that they are adapted to our “gumbo” soils, and survive both drought and floods.

Mary Ann Beauchemin, our park steward, will share tips on choosing and planting native trees, shrubs and wildflowers in your yard that these animals depend on. She will discuss natives for both shady and sunny areas, blooming seasons, plant and seed sources, and where to get more information.

In the “hands on” portion of this workshop you will plant some native wildflower seeds to take home, grow out, and add to your gardens! Additional wildflower seeds for some of the species you see at the Nature Discovery Center will be available for those who want some.

Cost: $15 / person

What to wear/ bring: garden gloves; wear tie shoes and comfortable clothing appropriate for the outside portion of the workshop

Age requirements: Geared to adults, but ages 14 & up are welcome.

Advance registration is required. Register online here

Youth Naturalist Workshop: Snakes, Lizards & Turtles

2018-08-14 Maura Denman

Learn all about the common snakes, lizards, and turtles of the Houston area. The workshop will be in 3 parts; a reptile presentation with live animals, a slide show where we will learn some common species in the Houston area, and a reptile hike through the park. Snacks will be provided during breaks.

For Ages: 10 – 16

Cost: $20/member or $30/non-member

Advance registration required. Limit 12 kids. Register online today.

Sprinkler Day

2018-08-14 Maura Denman

September 7, 2024 from 2 to 4 pm (As long as we are not under water restrictions from a drought.)

School may have started, but here in Texas our summer heat is not quite over yet. Bring your children to the Center to cool off with a favorite summer pastime – running through sprinklers! The Center’s front lawn, Pecan Grove, will be set up with sprinklers and kiddie pools of water and water toys for a refreshing morning of water play! Your child may bring water toys of their own (we won’t have enough for everyone) but note that we will not be responsible for lost or broken toys.

Kids should bring or wear their bathing suit and should bring a towel and a change of clothes. Don’t forget your sunscreen and a refillable water bottle. Some kids may prefer wearing water shoes on wet grass.

This is a FREE event. Adult supervision is required at all times. This is NOT a drop-off event.

Plan ahead for parking.

Chimney Swift Talk

2018-07-26 Maura Denman

The Nature Discovery Center, Houston Audubon and Texas Parks & Wildlife are joining together to promote the awareness and conservation of Chimney Swifts in the Houston area.

Join us at the Nature Discovery Center for a talk presented by Pam Smolen about how beneficial Chimney Swifts are, their interesting natural history, and what we can do to help their declining populations. The talk and questions will last about 1 hour.

We will follow the talk by watching Chimney Swifts come in to roost at dusk at one of the Nature Discovery Center’s chimneys made specifically for Chimney Swifts to nest and roost in.

The program is free, but space is limited. Reservations are Required! Register online here.

When: Saturday, August 18 at 7 pm

Where: The Nature Discovery Center, 7112 Newcastle Drive, Bellaire TX, 77401

Events Listing

Camp: Science of Art

Bubbles and More Play Day

Curious Kids (Fall afternoon)

Fall 2021 Class Schedule

Project WILD Educator Workshop

Growing Up WILD Educator Workshop

Creatures of the Night: An Adult Nature Night

Adult Workshop: Gardening for Pollinators

Youth Naturalist Workshop: Snakes, Lizards & Turtles

Sprinkler Day

Chimney Swift Talk

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Chimney Swift Talk