Calendar
Nature experiences for preschoolers!
Science Sprouts is an exciting series for curious kids who love nature and science. Classes will include a short lesson on the topic of the day, followed by a nature walk on the trails of the Arboretum. Each class will have a fun mixture of games, live animals, biofacts, crafts, story time, or music. Parents are welcome to participate with their child or simply drop them off.
Dates and Topics
- February 1 – Cool Critters
- February 8 – Rock N Roll
- February 22 – Parts of a Plant
- March 1 – Beautiful Birds
- March 8 – Egg’stravaganza
- March 15 – SPRING BREAK – NO CLASS
- March 22 – Mammal Babies & More
- March 29 – SSSS Snakes
- April 5 – Leapin’ Lizards
- April 12 – NO CLASS
- April 19 – Far Out Frogs
- April 26 – Totally Turtles
- May 3 – Interesting Insects
- May 10 – Pond Pals
Cost: $225 members*/$350 non-members for the semester
*Must be a Family Tree Member or above for member rate.
Note: You must enroll for the entire semester in order to participate
Register Now!
For more information, visit houstonarboretum.org.
610 Entrance now open. Woodway Entrance closed until late Spring 2018. Map and directions available.
Looking for a place to get your children outdoors? ABNC’s EcoClasses will allow your child to explore, discover and observe (STEM). Join them for some great nature experiences! Check out their website at abnc.org for details or call 713-274-2668 to reserve your spot.
EcoTots are for children 18-36 months with an adult every Friday.
EcoKids are for children ages 3-6 every Wednesday and Friday.
EcoSchoolers are for homeschool children ages 7-10 every Wednesday and Friday.  EcoAdventurers are for children ages 11-14 every Wednesday.
Please bring a Snack, Refillable Water Bottle, mask, closed toe shoes and dress for the weather.
Free to attend, donations appreciated. Work on your bird watching skills while helping the Arboretum monitor bird populations on a fun, relaxed morning walk. Join the Houston Arboretum and Nature Center on the second Saturday of each month at the front door of the building for a two-hour bird walk led by Kelsey Low and Theo Ostler, a resident bird enthusiast. We welcome all levels of bird watching skill and all ages (as long as you’re quiet) – but no dogs, please! If you have binoculars of your own, please bring them. We do have some binoculars available to borrow. For more events with the Houston Arboretum & Nature Center, visit their Events Calendar!
Workdays are held once a month, October through March on the second Saturday of the month. We start work around 8:30 AM and work until about noon, when we break for lunch, provided by Houston Audubon and prepared by the lunch crew. Lunch at the picnic area of Boy Scout Woods is a good chance to visit with other volunteers and recharge from a morning of exercise and work. After lunch, we take about an hour to tie up any loose ends and clean up.
Come be a part of sanctuary maintenance, habitat restoration, and Houston Audubon’s amazing volunteer workforce. Email Pete Deichmann at pdeichmann@houstonaudubon.org for more information or to be put on the email list.
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November 10
- December 8
- January 12
- February 9
- March 9
Square Foot Gardening is a simple method for planting seeds in a specific way in a raised bed garden. However, this class is designed for Houston’s deluge/drought rainfall, heat, and humidity; information not included on the internet when you read about square foot gardening. Instructor Angela Chandler will teach about alternative methods for making a raised bed, what soils and augmentations to utilize, and then specific planting methodologies which will allow you to maximize your garden’s productivity in a small space. There are no refunds on classes.
For more information, visit urbanharvest.org.
The Houston Renewable Energy Group is offering a a free workshop for people to learn the basics of owning a solar system and saving on the purchase through Solarize Houston, with selected installer KW Solar.The workshop will be held May 12, 2018, from noon-1:30 p.m. at the Green Building Resource Center inside the City of Houston Permitting Center, 1002 Washington Ave. For more information, visit houstonrenewableenergy.org.
Held on the “2nd Saturdays†of each month, they will enjoy a delicious vegan potluck and meeting, along with a discussion, film screening, food demo or speaker presentation on intersectional issues of veganism, animal rights, environmentalism, nonviolence, health and more. Each month will be something new! Their new venue is at the HCC Conference Center.
They are asking for a donation of $5 per person to help cover our facility rental expenses. All attendees must bring a vegan entree to share at the potluck (serving size to feed 10 people)!
Please remember to bring a vegan dish to share with the group! Their events are always vegan, so please only vegan or raw vegan foods (no animal-derived ingredients). Also bring reusable dinnerware and plates to keep the event earth-friendly. If you have questions on ingredients, feel free to contact them.
They will also feature a new discussion topic on inter sectional issues each month, such as: animal rights, ethical vegan living, vegan health & nutrition, cooking, world hunger solutions, eco-friendly living, nonviolence and more! Some months will also include film screenings and/or guest speakers and food demos.
Houston Community College Conference Center is located at 3100 Main St, 3rd Floor, Houston, TX 77002. See below for map. Free Parking is available on level 7 & 8 of the HCC Administration parking garage at Main & Elgin. Use elevator from parking garage to 3rd floor breezeway, which leads to the Conference suites. You must enter the building through the parking garage and not street-level.
All attendees must sign in at the Security Desk.
RSVP is appreciated for seating!
Our home school classes are offered on Mondays from 1:00-3:00 p.m. for students ages 5-12. A different three-week science unit is taught each month, with classes consisting of instructional time, hands-on activities, and outdoor activities. Extension ideas will be provided to parents so they can follow up with lessons and activities at home.
Visit our Home School Blog at www.HouArbHomeSchool.wordpress.com to see what Home Schoolers have been up to!
Schedule: Three Mondays a month from 1:00 – 3:00 p.m. (classes for ages 5, 6 – 7, 8 – 9, and 10 – 12)
Fees per student:Â $60 member** / $90 nonmember per three-week unit
**Must be a Family Tree Member or above for member rate.
Please note: Additional Parents and siblings may not attend class. Those who wish to go out on a nature hike may do so on a special basis by discussing with instructors. *Attendee(s) must be mature enough to participate in the program(s) without parental or guardian supervision.Â
Registration note:Â Parents, when registering for multiple months, please register your child in the same age group for the entire semester. Â Thank you!
As part of your registration, you will also receive email updates from our Home School Blog with information and pictures showing you what the students did in class, take home activities to continue learning at home, and updates about the Home School Program in general.
January 8, 22, 29: Body Systems I
The human body is amazing! Come learn how our body systems compare to other animal’s bodies – like a frog! We will dissect a frog in class to examine the different body parts. Register Online
February 5, 19, 26: Body Systems II
This month we continue learning more about body systems. Do mammals breathe the same way as fish? Does a sheep’s heart look like ours? Join us as we explore more about bodies! Register Online
March 5, 19, 26: Urban Farming
Chickens in your backyard? Fresh vegetables from your own garden? Urban farms are sprouting up all over the city! Learn how you can be eco-friendly, save money, and reconnect with nature by creating an urban farm of your own. Register Online
April 9, 16, 23: Geology Rocks!
Rocks, soil, and water are all a part of our physical environment here on earth. This month we will explore how rocks and soil are formed, use stream tables to study geomorphology, and even make our own crystals! Register Online
May 7, 14, 21: Curious Concoctions
Chemistry isn’t just for scientists in labs! Chemistry can be found even in your home and the natural world just outside the door. Find out where you can see chemistry in action as we conduct experiments using the scientific method. Register Online
Looking for a place to get your children outdoors? ABNC’s EcoClasses will allow your child to explore, discover and observe (STEM). Join them for some great nature experiences! Check out their website at abnc.org for details or call 713-274-2668 to reserve your spot.
EcoTots are for children 18-36 months with an adult every Friday.
EcoKids are for children ages 3-6 every Wednesday and Friday.
EcoSchoolers are for homeschool children ages 7-10 every Wednesday and Friday.  EcoAdventurers are for children ages 11-14 every Wednesday.
Please bring a Snack, Refillable Water Bottle, mask, closed toe shoes and dress for the weather.
The films presented by the Houston Green Film Series are free to public and funded by volunteer efforts, in-kind contributi
In general, the series is screened on the third Wednesday of each month.
For current films, visit the Houston Green Films website or Facebook page.