Events – Page 5 – Nature Discovery Center

Camp: Messy Nature Play

2023-02-20 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, art projects, new friends, and more. Weather permitting, campers will spend the majority of their time outdoors.

Ages: 5 to 10 years old

Days & Times: Monday – Friday from 9am – 3pm

Camp Cost (includes a t-shirt): Wildlife Family Level and above Member Discount $295/week or Nonmembers $375/week

Advanced registration is required. REGISTER

Please read our FAQ for Camp Registrations here before you register (includes cancellation and refund policies).

2023 Dates and Topics

Jun 5 – 9	Into the Trees – WAIT LIST
Jun 12 – 16	Into the Trees – WAIT LIST
Jun 19 – 23	Tracks and Scat – WAIT LIST
Jun 26 – 30	Tracks and Scat – WAIT LIST
July 4 week	Break Week – no camps this week
Jul 10 – 14	Creepy Crawlies – WAIT LIST
Jul 17 – 21	Creepy Crawlies – WAIT LIST
Jul 24 – 28	Messy Nature Play – WAIT LIST
Jul 31 1 – Aug 4	Messy Nature Play – WAIT LIST
Aug 7 – 11	World of Water – WAIT LIST
Aug 14 – 18	World of Water – WAIT LIST

Camp Size and Structure: Limit 20 total campers per week. Campers will be divided in two groups of 10 campers that will have separate camp spaces at the Center. Each group will have the same camp instructor and teen counselor for the entire week. Note: At the time of registration, you must list the first and last names of any friends that your child would like in their camp group. We can not guarantee that any two kids will be placed in the same group without this information up front.

What to Bring: lunches and water bottles.

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.

Camp: Creepy Crawlies

2023-02-20 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, art projects, new friends, and more. Weather permitting, campers will spend the majority of their time outdoors.

Ages: 5 to 10 years old

Days & Times: Monday – Friday from 9am – 3pm

Camp Cost (includes a t-shirt): Wildlife Family Level and above Member Discount $295/week or Nonmembers $375/week

Advanced registration is required. REGISTER

Please read our FAQ for Camp Registrations here before you register (includes cancellation and refund policies).

2023 Dates and Topics

Jun 5 – 9	Into the Trees – WAIT LIST
Jun 12 – 16	Into the Trees – WAIT LIST
Jun 19 – 23	Tracks and Scat – WAIT LIST
Jun 26 – 30	Tracks and Scat – WAIT LIST
July 4 week	Break Week – no camps this week
Jul 10 – 14	Creepy Crawlies – WAIT LIST
Jul 17 – 21	Creepy Crawlies – WAIT LIST
Jul 24 – 28	Messy Nature Play – WAIT LIST
Jul 31 1 – Aug 4	Messy Nature Play – WAIT LIST
Aug 7 – 11	World of Water – WAIT LIST
Aug 14 – 18	World of Water – WAIT LIST

Camp Size and Structure: Limit 20 total campers per week. Campers will be divided in two groups of 10 campers that will have separate camp spaces at the Center. Each group will have the same camp instructor and teen counselor for the entire week. Note: At the time of registration, you must list the first and last names of any friends that your child would like in their camp group. We can not guarantee that any two kids will be placed in the same group without this information up front.

What to Bring: lunches and water bottles.

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.

Camp: Tracks & Scat

2023-02-20 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, art projects, new friends, and more. Weather permitting, campers will spend the majority of their time outdoors.

Ages: 5 to 10 years old

Days & Times: Monday – Friday from 9am – 3pm

Camp Cost (includes a t-shirt): Wildlife Family Level and above Member Discount $295/week or Nonmembers $375/week

Advanced registration is required. REGISTER

Please read our FAQ for Camp Registrations here before you register (includes cancellation and refund policies).

2023 Dates and Topics

Jun 5 – 9	Into the Trees – WAIT LIST
Jun 12 – 16	Into the Trees – WAIT LIST
Jun 19 – 23	Tracks and Scat – WAIT LIST
Jun 26 – 30	Tracks and Scat – WAIT LIST
July 4 week	Break Week – no camps this week
Jul 10 – 14	Creepy Crawlies – WAIT LIST
Jul 17 – 21	Creepy Crawlies – WAIT LIST
Jul 24 – 28	Messy Nature Play – WAIT LIST
Jul 31 1 – Aug 4	Messy Nature Play – WAIT LIST
Aug 7 – 11	World of Water – WAIT LIST
Aug 14 – 18	World of Water – WAIT LIST

Camp Size and Structure: Limit 20 total campers per week. Campers will be divided in two groups of 10 campers that will have separate camp spaces at the Center. Each group will have the same camp instructor and teen counselor for the entire week. Note: At the time of registration, you must list the first and last names of any friends that your child would like in their camp group. We can not guarantee that any two kids will be placed in the same group without this information up front.

What to Bring: lunches and water bottles.

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.

Camp: Into the Trees

2023-02-20 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, art projects, new friends, and more. Weather permitting, campers will spend the majority of their time outdoors.

Ages: 5 to 10 years old

Days & Times: Monday – Friday from 9am – 3pm

Camp Cost (includes a t-shirt): Wildlife Family Level and above Member Discount $295/week or Nonmembers $375/week

Advanced registration is required. REGISTER

Please read our FAQ for Camp Registrations here before you register (includes cancellation and refund policies).

2023 Dates and Topics

Jun 5 – 9	Into the Trees – WAIT LIST
Jun 12 – 16	Into the Trees – WAIT LIST
Jun 19 – 23	Tracks and Scat – WAIT LIST
Jun 26 – 30	Tracks and Scat – WAIT LIST
July 4 week	Break Week – no camps this week
Jul 10 – 14	Creepy Crawlies – WAIT LIST
Jul 17 – 21	Creepy Crawlies – WAIT LIST
Jul 24 – 28	Messy Nature Play – WAIT LIST
Jul 31 1 – Aug 4	Messy Nature Play – WAIT LIST
Aug 7 – 11	World of Water – WAIT LIST
Aug 14 – 18	World of Water – WAIT LIST

Camp Size and Structure: Limit 20 total campers per week. Campers will be divided in two groups of 10 campers that will have separate camp spaces at the Center. Each group will have the same camp instructor and teen counselor for the entire week. Note: At the time of registration, you must list the first and last names of any friends that your child would like in their camp group. We can not guarantee that any two kids will be placed in the same group without this information up front.

What to Bring: lunches and water bottles.

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.

Mess Makers (Win/Spr) Sun AM

2022-12-01 Maura Denman

Messy, sensory play is an important part of child development. Together with NDC staff and volunteers, you will explore and create with messy materials, making works of ephemeral and take-home art as well as just making good old messy fun. After we make messes together, you’ll go home *relatively* clean!

We’ll meet at the Pavilions behind the Center and plan to hold class outdoors.

Ages: 3 – 7 yrs old with an adult caregiver

Class Limit: 15 children with their adult caregiver

Cost/Class: $22 Family Level Member / $27 Non-member

Advance registration is required.

REGISTER

Days & Times: Choose from Sundays at 10 am OR Sundays at 1 pm

Dates & Topics:

01/12 – Snow & Ice
01/26 – Feathers & Fish
02/16 – Bubbles & Foam
03/9 – Painting Nature
03/23 – Fairy Fun
04/13 – Colorful Messes
05/04 – Sand & Soil

*= greatest potential for head to toe mess

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

Mess Makers (Win/Spr) Sun PM

2022-12-01 Maura Denman

Messy, sensory play is an important part of child development. Together with NDC staff and volunteers, you will explore and create with messy materials, making works of ephemeral and take-home art as well as just making good old messy fun. After we make messes together, you’ll go home *relatively* clean!

We’ll meet at the Pavilions behind the Center and plan to hold class outdoors.

Ages: 3 – 7 yrs old with an adult caregiver

Class Limit: 15 children with their adult caregiver

Cost/Class: $22 Family Level Member / $27 Non-member

Advance registration is required.

REGISTER

Days & Times: Choose from Sundays at 10 am OR Sundays at 1 pm

Dates & Topics:

01/12 – Snow & Ice
01/26 – Feathers & Fish
02/16 – Bubbles & Foam
03/9 – Painting Nature
03/23 – Fairy Fun
04/13 – Colorful Messes
05/04 – Sand & Soil

*= greatest potential for head to toe mess

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

Swift Night Out – Whole Foods Market

2022-08-22 Maura Denman

Swift Night Out – Whole Foods Market is an event to count the Chimney Swifts that gather at the Whole Foods Market on Bellaire Blvd. Last Tuesday we watched and counted 305 Chimney Swifts enter the AT&T Chimney there, viewed from the west side of the Whole Foods Parking Lot. We’ll be gathering Tuesday, August 23 at 7:45 pm for another count and you’re invited to join us!

The swifts are gathering and preparing to make their annual migration to South America. Join other bird enthusiasts and learn about these amazing aerial insectivores. For more information visit www.houstonaudubon.org

Sponsored By: Houston Audubon, Nature Discovery Center, & Whole Foods Market

Willow Waterhole Bird Survey (8a)

2022-08-01 Maura Denman

The Nature Discovery Center partners with Houston Audubon to conduct monthly surveys at Willow Waterhole Conservation Reserve, a 290-acre park on the site of a Harris County Flood Control District retention pond project. Participants can help by either spotting birds or helping to identify them on this 2.5 hour long survey. This is a great way to get involved with Houston’s citizen science community. To see the results from past surveys at the site, visit eBird. These surveys are open to experienced and beginning birders alike. Experienced birders lead groups of participants to try to cover as much of the park as possible.

Survey Day, Date & Time: 3rd Saturdays of every month except December.

April through September at 7am, October through March at 8 am

Meeting Location: Meet in the parking lot of the Gathering Place at 5310 South Willow Drive, Houston TX 77035

Cost: FREE

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

Bring: Binoculars

Fall Break Day Camps

2022-08-01 Maura Denman

Kids delve into science and nature related topics over Fall Break and on other school holidays through themed day camps designed with hands-on experiments and investigations, active games, inventive crafts, and more! Volunteer teen counselors support the teacher and give lots of personal attention to each child.

Age Restrictions: 5 to 10 years old

Cost: members $70; non-members $85 (Note: You must be Family Level or higher NDC members to receive the member discount.)

Advance registration: Required. Link below schedule.

Program Size Limit: 10 – 20 kids in groups of 10

Bring: refillable water bottle, lunch

Wear: play clothes that can get dirty

2024 Fall/Winter Break Day Camp Class Schedule

Date	Topic
09/02	Birds of a Feather
09/03	Flutterby Butterflies
10/03	Great Migration
10/04	When I Grow Up
11/08	Slithery Snakes
11/25	Skip & Scoot
11/26	Fall Nature
11/24	Small Bug, Big Dreams

REGISTER

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

Tree ID Walk

2022-08-01 Maura Denman

Any season is a great season to learn about trees! Jim McKee, a Master Naturalist, tree lover, and bird watcher will be leading more walks throughout the year to teach us how to identify the trees that live here in Russ Pitman Park. You’ll learn how to use leaf, bark, twig characteristics, and more to identify local trees.

Day, Date & Time: Monthly, First Saturdays from 10 – 11am

Program Location: Meet in front of the Center

Cost: FREE

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

Events Listing

Camp: Messy Nature Play

2023 Dates and Topics

Camp: Creepy Crawlies

2023 Dates and Topics

Camp: Tracks & Scat

2023 Dates and Topics

Camp: Into the Trees

2023 Dates and Topics

Mess Makers (Win/Spr) Sun AM

Mess Makers (Win/Spr) Sun PM

Swift Night Out – Whole Foods Market

Willow Waterhole Bird Survey (8a)

Fall Break Day Camps

2024 Fall/Winter Break Day Camp Class Schedule

Tree ID Walk

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Tree ID Walk