Calendar
Are you over 50 and eager for birding and natural history adventures? Are you tired of driving through Houston traffic to reach a birding destination? We have the solution! Our monthly senior bus trips with buses provided free of charge by Harris County Precinct 3 as a senior service by Harris County Precinct 3 Commissioner Steve Radack can easily satisfy your “natural” side. Houston Audubon books a bus every month for our Houston Audubon members who are 50 and over. We provide snacks, refreshments and an experienced tour guide at our destination.
Reservations are required and attendance will be limited to the bus capacity. The buses are provided by Precinct 3 free of charge. A small fee is charged by Houston Audubon to cover snacks, water, and any entry fee at destination. Participants will be required to sign Precinct 3 and HA liability release forms for the trip. Precinct 3 regulations require that all participants must be 50 years or older. Remember to bring your binoculars, insect protection, sturdy shoes, and raingear if necessary. For more information and trip updates, contact Mary Anne Weber at maweber@houstonaudubon.org.
Monday, January 8, 2018
100 Acre Wood Preserve & Kickerillo-Mischer Preserve
Register online for the January bus trip.
Monday, February 5, 2018
Rio Villa Nature Trails & Sheldon Lake State Park
Monday, March 5, 2018
Cullinan Park, Sugar Land Memorial Park, Brazos River Corridor
Register online for the March bus trip.
For more information, please visit houstonaudubon.org/birding/field-trips-travel.
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.
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.
In a total of 10 classes (25 hours of instruction), this series covers everything you want to know about growing vegetables. Topics include the advantages of organic and ecological approaches over chemicals; vegetable garden design; irrigation and drainage; soil fertility, mulches and composts; organic pest control; seeds, transplants, where to get them and how to plant them. The last half is a detailed discussion of selecting, growing and using the many varieties of vegetables, annual herbs, and melons.
Those who complete the class will become certified Organic Vegetable Specialists.
This is a series of ten classes and may not be taken individually. Assignments for the class include the reading of Dr. Bob Randall’s book, Year Round Vegetables, Fruits and Flowers for Metro-Houston. Cost of the book is $45.
SCHEDULE
Thursdays, 2018 from 6:30pm to 9pm
Class 1 – January 18
Class 2 – January 25
Class 3 – February 8
Class 4 – February 22
Class 5 – March 8
Class 6 – March 22
Class 7 – April 5
Class 8 – April 19
Class 9 – May 3
Class 10 – May 17
For an in-depth schedule, go to Spring 2018 class schedule and description.
DIRECTIONS AND PARKING
I-45 S, exit Cullen, go south, enter University of Houston campus, proceed through Elgin, Holman, Entrance 14 and Entrance 13, Cougar Place, turn left at Wheeler, take first right into driveway – park to the left of Lot 9C(although it says permit required, we have permission) Follow Urban Harvest signs back to Wheeler at Cullen. Walk north along Cullen, pass entrance 13 Cougar Village and follow the Urban Harvest signs to the classroom
For more classes by Urban Harvest, view their Upcoming Classes.
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
March 10, 2018: Spinning & Weaving
Learn how early settlers spun plant and animal fibers into thread and woven fabrics as volunteers bring the Redbud Hill Homestead to life.
April 14, 2018: Natural Dyes
Volunteers and staff bring the headstead to life as they demonstrate natural methods of dying fabrics and other daily activities of early Texas settlers.
Programs are for all ages unless otherwise noted.
All Jesse H. Jones Park & Nature Center programs and events are free of charge unless otherwise noted and open to the public regardless of socioeconomic level, race, color, sex, physical ability, national origin, or religion. Anyone requiring special assistance to participate in these programs should contact the nature center. Programs meet at the Nature Center unless otherwise noted. Call 281-446-8588 for more information.
Monday: Jr. Master Gardener 10 a.m. Ages 7-12
Tuesday: Jr. Angler 9-2 p.m. Ages 8+
Wednesday: Texas Bound 9-2 p.m. Ages 7-12
Thursday: Jr. Canoe Training 9-2 p.m. Ages 10-15
Friday: Geocaching 9-2 p.m. Ages 7+
Reservations required beginning Feb. 28, 2018.
All Jesse H. Jones Park & Nature Center programs requiring reservations are limited in size and open to one family per phone call. Group reservations are not allowed unless otherwise indicated. Preferential reservations are given to Harris County residents. Persons not residing in Harris County may attend a space-limited program if spaces are available.
All programs and events are free of charge unless otherwise noted and open to the public regardless of socioeconomic level, race, color, sex, physical ability, national origin, or religion. Anyone requiring special assistance to participate in these programs should contact the nature center. Programs meet at the Nature Center unless otherwise noted. Solid shoes are recommended for all walks. Call 281-446-8588 for reservations or information.