FAQ for Classes & Camps

An adult caregiver must stay with their child for preschool classes (Curious Kids and Sneak-a-Peek) and for Nature Story Time. Adults may leave during Junior Scientist classes and return promptly at the end of class.

You may bring siblings to class. If they become disruptive to the class we may ask you to remove the from the classroom. if they participate in class, whether using class materials, interacting with live animals, or asking/answering questions, we ask that you pay for their participation even if their age falls outside the range for the class in question.

Please park in the parking lot at the north end of the park by the nature center building (entrance off Newcastle). If this lot is full, additional parking is available at the south end of the park in the lot off Evergreen Street, and on side streets in the neighborhood.

First, navigate to the program you are interested in and find the Register link or button. After clicking it, you will be prompted to login. If you are a Member, the only way to get your Member discounts is to login using your existing Member account. Use the Password Reset option with your email on file with us if you do not remember your login. (Members, DO NOT create a new login, as you will not receive Member benefits with a new account.) Once you login, you will see the list of available programs for registration.  Follow the links and make sure to submit your registration and payment to secure your spot.

General Registration Payment and Refund Policies

All forms must be completed in their entirety.

Full payment at time of registration is required to secure a reservation for a class, camp, program, or event.

If you have any special concerns about any of the requested information or about making payments, please contact the NDC prior to registering.

Please be sure to read any restrictions that may apply to the class, camp, program, or event for which you are registering.

The NDC is not responsible for errors made in registration. Falsifying or deliberate exclusion of information about any attendee on a registration form or other associated form may result in the immediate termination of participation. No refund will be issued in such an instance.

Registrations are not transferable to a different child or program. Nature Discovery Center Memberships are also non-transferable and membership fees are non-refundable.

Wait Lists

If there are cancellations for a program that is on wait list status, participants will be invited to enroll in the program in the order in which their wait list registration is received. Once a wait listed registrant has been contacted, their registration and payment must be completed in writing using the online forms we email them.

Cancellations by Program Participants

Written notice is required no later than 10 business days prior to the program start date to receive a 50% refund. Please send cancellation requests to pdunker@naturediscoverycenter.org and include CANCELLATION in the subject line of your email.

There are no refunds for programs cancelled fewer than 10 business days prior to the start of the program, unless they are due to a physician verified medical emergency. Absences due to medical emergencies (including COVID-19 symptoms by the program participant or person in contact with the participant), accompanied by a physician’s written verification, may receive a refund less a 10% administrative fee.

Other Guidelines:
• NDC Staff reserve the right to dismiss any student whose influence and conduct becomes detrimental to the best interests of the class. A pro-rated refund will be made for dismissed students.

Cancellations by the NDC

Minimum Enrollment: The Nature Discovery Center reserves the right to cancel any class, camp, or program if the minimum number of registrants have not been met. A full refund or a full value credit will be issued if we cancel for this reason. Credits may only be applied to the same program category and are not transferable between different programs. Credits valid for 1 year from date of issue.

Unforeseen Circumstances: If it is necessary to cancel a class for an unforeseeable reason and it is impossible to reschedule the class, either a refund or a credit will be issued at the discretion of the Nature Discovery Center.

Inclement Weather: Programs are held rain or shine. Refunds or credits will not be given due to weather unless the cancellation is made by the Nature Discovery Center for safety concerns. If severe weather or dangerous weather is a possibility, the Nature Discovery Center will make every effort to contact affected parties regarding either a cancellation or a rescheduling. If classes are cancelled by HISD, the Nature Discovery Center will not be open.
*All credits expire after 1 year from the date the credit was issued.

If your camper is still 4, you might try our mini-camps for kids ages 4 to 7 offered at the beginning of the summer.  Out schoolyear Day Camps and our Summer Science Camps are for kids ages 5 to 10.

If your camper throws up, begins running a fever, OR has a bathroom accident (even if not related to sickness), your child will be sent home for the rest of the day. Center staff will call you or the emergency contact on file to pick up your child.

Your child should bring a lunch and a refillable water bottle. Week long summer camps include a “water play activity”. For those days, campers will need a bathing suit and a towel. Camp instructors will tell campers whether or not water toys may be brought to camp for water play.

Your child should wear weather appropriate clothes and, preferably, close toed shoes for outdoor activities.

Camp drop off is from 8:45 to 9:15. Campers will NOT be allowed in the building before 8:45. The building will remain closed until that time as instructors and counselors prepare for the day’s activities. At this time we do not offer pre-camp care. Guardians MUST come to the check-in table located next to the porch to sign their campers in for the day.

Our camp instructors determine their daily activity plan based on the camp topic, the weather, and camper ages and abilities. Campers will spend part of their day inside and part of their day outside weather permitting. Each camp will include a mixture of activities from crafts, to hands-on exploration and experimentation, to live animal encounters, nature walks, active games, and self-selected “down time” activities. Weather permitting campers also spend some time at the playground after lunch each day.

Yes. Our camps are indoor/outdoor camps. Please have your camper dress appropriately for the weather.

Please apply sunscreen and bug spray before dropping your child off for camp. We have bug spray on site and can reapply during the day as needed.

Our camps are taught by NDC Educators and fully vetted and background checked camp staff. There are no more than 10 campers per camp group. We will have a maximum of 2 camp groups in our building at a time, resulting in 20 children in the building. Each group of 10 campers will have 1 adult assigned to them and up to 2 trained teen volunteers.

We do occasionally have summer camp scholarships. Please contact DeAndra Ramsey at 713.667.6550 to inquire about the availability of these opportunities.

Yes. Students with allergies are welcome in our camps. Please make notes of specific food allergies when registering your child. And be sure to leave allergy medications (including epi-pens when necessary) with camp staff. You are encouraged to send a snack that is safe for your child if the ones we provide are not suitable

Absolutely. All children deserve a chance to learn about the wonders of nature and the world around us. However, we maintain the requirements that 1) your child be able to attend camp without your supervision, and 2) be able to follow camp rules in a class setting that encourages socialization and independence. Lastly, your child should be able to respect the inherent risk of learning in an outdoor setting without the tangible barriers of four walls. Call our Director, DeAndra Ramsey, at 713.667.6550 to discuss your child’s attendance further.

Camp Rules are introduced by the camp teachers and discussed by campers on Monday morning and are emphasized throughout the week. In the event of a serious behavior problem, we will call you to pick up your child. At our discretion, your child may be allowed to return to camp the following day.Children are expected to understand how to follow rules and manage their own choices in order to be responsible and safe in an outdoor learning environment. If children cannot make safe choices in an outdoor, less structured setting, our camps and classes are not the best fit for them.

Please call the NDC Office at 713.667.6550 and a staff member will deliver your message.