Events Listing

Swift Night Out – Lakewiew

Join us for our family-friendly ‘Swift Night Out’ events in the fall. Watch chimney swifts swoop and soar over their roosts and then count them as they enter their chimneys. Mark your calendars to come help us with this citizen science project to document the numbers of chimney swifts migrating through Houston.

What to bring: A folding chair if you prefer to sit, and mosquito repellent! Binoculars are optional (the swifts are visible with the naked eye as they enter the chimney).

Swift Night Out at Lakeview Elementary (Sugar Land)
Co-sponsored by the Nature Discovery Center and Houston Audubon Society, Whole Foods Market-Sugarland, and Lakeview Elementary School.

Date: Friday, September 20   Rescheduled for October 4

Time: 7:15 pm
Location: Join us at Lakeview Elementary (314 Lakeview Dr. Sugar Land, TX 77498) for special activities and information about chimney swifts. Last fall there were over 1,100 swifts counted at this Lakeview Elementary site event!

Whole Foods Market-Sugarland will be providing refreshments.

Read more

Swift Night Out – Pershing

Join us for our family-friendly ‘Swift Night Out’ events in the late summer. Watch chimney swifts swoop and soar over their roosts and then count them as they enter their chimneys. Mark your calendars to come help us with this citizen science project to document the numbers of chimney swifts migrating through Houston.

Swift Night Out – Pershing is an annual event to count the Chimney Swifts that gather at Pershing Middle School.

Day, Date, Time: Tuesday, August 22, 2023 at 7:30 pm 

Program Location: Pershing Middle School NORTH parking lot off of Stella Link just south of Bellefontaine St.

Registration: No registration required. This is a FREE drop in program.

Bring: Bug spray, folding chair, and a water bottle. Light snacks will be available. Binoculars are optional because the swifts will be visible with be naked eye, but you may want a pair so you can take a closer look (the tower is a few stories tall).

Sponsored By: Houston Audubon, Nature Discovery Center, & Pershing Middle School

Use the parking lot entrance off of Stella Link, just south of Bellefontaine St. Go to the back of the parking lot on the north side of the school and look for the big chimney. At the end of August and early September we typically count over 500 Chimney Swifts at this location.

Read more

Yoga in the Park

Sundays at 8:30 AM, come out for weekly power yoga at the Nature Discovery Center with Laura Gabriel!

Designed to make you sweat, these classes are a great way to connect with community while enjoying this beautiful space. Laura says “Hugs and donations accepted”!

Follow “Yoga at Nature Discovery Center” on Facebook to keep up with the scheduling details.

Read more

Center CLOSED for 4th of July

The Center will be closed Monday through Wednesday, June 2 – 4, for the 4th of July holiday. Our nature park will remain open, but the building will be closed to visitors so that staff may enjoy the holiday. We hope you come out to enjoy some time in the park with family and friends this week!

Read more

Family Nature Night: Texas Snakes

What:  Animal themed Family Nature Nights are packed with opportunities for experiential learning, creative expression, and exposure to the natural world through live animal interactions and nature walks.

When: Activities begin with themed crafts and fun snacks at 6:30 pm, followed by a brief nature walk before a 7:00 pm presentation by Staff Naturalist Eric Duran or a kid-friendly guest speaker. We wrap things up at 8:00 pm.

Mark your calendars for these Wednesdays:

June 14 – Texas Turtles
July 12 – Back to the Bone: Vertebrate Animals
August 9 – Texas Snakes

Cost: $10/family

Read more

Family Nature Night: Back to the Bone

What:  Animal themed Family Nature Nights are packed with opportunities for experiential learning, creative expression, and exposure to the natural world through live animal interactions and nature walks.

When: Activities begin with themed crafts and fun snacks at 6:30 pm, followed by a brief nature walk before a 7:00 pm presentation by Staff Naturalist Eric Duran or a kid-friendly guest speaker. We wrap things up at 8:00 pm.

Mark your calendars for these Wednesdays:

June 14 – Texas Turtles
July 12 – Back to the Bone: Vertebrate Animals
August 9 – Texas Snakes

Cost: $10/family

Read more

Gateway Project Reveal Event

The Nature Discovery Center is excited to reveal our completed Gateway Project and nature park renovations at our upcoming event, Gateway to Nature: Experience our Park Transformation. We hope you join us in this celebration!

We will have a short ceremony at 10 am to thank donors and contributors.Then, our education team will lead a series of family-friendly activities throughout our renovated nature park, highlighting the various improvements.

Read more

Spring Break Day Camp

Day long camps during the week of Spring Break for kids ages 5 – 10. Day camps meet from 9 am – 3:30 pm each day. Kids bring a lunch and we provide snacks and water.

Register online.

Cost/day: Members $49  / Nonmembers $59
After Care is available until 5:30 pm for $15/day.

Mon, March 12 Animals of Texas
Tue, March 13 Wiggly Worms
Wed, March 14 Feathered Friends
Thu, March 15 Flowers & Friends
Fri, March 16 Creepy Crawlies

Read more

Curious Kids (Win/Spr)

What: Preschoolers ages 3 to 5 and their parents or adult caregivers will learn basic science concepts in hands-on classes that encourage and celebrate natural curiosity! Curious Kids lessons may incorporate live animals, plants, natural objects, crafts, puppets, stories, songs, and nature walks.

When: Tuesdays from 10 am – 11:15 am OR 4 pm – 5:15 pm

Cost/Class: Members $15 OR Nonmembers $20

Members-only semester Discount Price: $225

Register online

Dates & Topics:
01/08 – Furry Friends
01/15 – Homes and Habitats
01/22 – Horns and Hooves
01/29 – No class
02/05 – Awesome Owls
02/12 – Toxic Tricks
02/19 – The Deep Blue Sea
02/26 – Life in a Log
03/05 – Light & the Sun
03/12 – SPRING BREAK
03/19 – Creepy Crawly Inverts
03/26 – Fantastic Fish
04/02 – Totally Turtles
04/09 – Magnificent Mushrooms
04/16 – Wonderful Worms
04/23 – Terrific Trees
04/30 – Springtime: Wildflowers
05/07 – Springtime: Birds
05/14 – Springtime: Butterflies
05/21 – Springtime: Frogs

Read more

Chimney Swift Counts

What: Center Staff, volunteers, and visitors participate in a number of chimney swift counts. Stop by to take part in some citizen science with us!

When: Tuesdays, April 7 – May 5, from 7:15pm to dusk   some counts may be cancelled due to COVID-19
Where: Meet us at one of the two Chimney Swift Towers in the park.

Read more