Houston Arboretum & Nature Center Calendar of Events
November 2011
The Houston Arboretum & Nature Center, a lush 155-acre nature preserve, is one of the city’s greatest natural treasures. Located in Memorial Park, at 4501 Woodway Drive, the Arboretum is home to more than 75 varieties of native trees, 160 species of birds, 16 species of turtles, 10 species of frogs and 33 kinds of butterflies. Visitors can explore and enjoy five miles of walking trails to experience nature at its most dramatic and in exquisite detail. The Arboretum grounds are open to the public daily from dawn to dusk.
The Nature Center building is open daily from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. The Discovery Room is open every day except Mondays, from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. and provides fun, hands-on activities and exhibits to explore nature up close. Admission is free, but donations to support this nonprofit organization are appreciated.
A bustling schedule of year round activities and courses are available for adults, children and families to create a sense of wonder and appreciation for nature. For more information, call 713-681-8433 or visit www.houstonarboretum.org.
Pre-registration is required for the following activities/events. Call 713-681-8433 or visit www.houstonarboretum.org for more information!
Register now for Winter Nature Camp: Fabulous Forests
Tuesday, Dec. 27- Friday, Dec. 30, 2011
9 a.m. – 3 p.m.
Ages 5 – 12
Join Arboretum naturalists for a four-day camp to explore the different types of forests in the world and the plants and animals that live in each. Children will learn to estimate a tree’s height, create their own tree and shrub identification guide, make a piece of recycled paper, learn about the plants of the rainforests and find out how animals can survive in the subarctic climates of the boreal forests. Camp classes include nature walks and hands-on activities indoors and outside on the Arboretum’s 155 acres. Children are divided into classes by age: 5 & 6 yrs; 7 & 8 yrs; and 9-12 yrs.
Cost for full day camp: (9 a.m. – 3 p.m.) is $215 for Arboretum members; $265 for non-members; Cost for half day camp (9 a.m. – 12 p.m.) is $95 for Arboretum members; $130 for non-members
Wine Tasting and Music
Saturday, Nov. 12
7 – 9:30 p.m.
Sommeliers from The Tasting Room in Houston will guide participants through a comparison of wines of several varietals, as well as a blind tasting. For an interesting exercise, a portion of the class will be spent testing the theory popularized by California vintner Clark Smith that listening to different types of music affects the tastes of different wines. The evening will finish with wine and cheese sampling to the live acoustic music by Houston trio Traveler. Cost is $40 for Arboretum members; $55 for non-members. Registration is limited.
Home School Program: Earth Science
Wednesdays, Nov. 2, 9 & 16
9:30 – 11:30 a.m.
Designed especially for home schoolers, the fall classes will focus on a different study unit with three weekly classes each month. November classes will explore soil composition and the impact weather has on earth. Cost is $50 for members; $80 for non-members
Yoga on the way Home
Thursdays, Nov. 3, 10 & 17 (no class 11/24)
5:45–6:45 p.m.
Why fight the traffic? Slow down and relax in the peaceful beauty of the Arboretum during a one-hour yoga session in the Arboretum’s classroom overlooking the forest. Cost is $15 per session or $12 per session when registering for a month.
Basic Wilderness Life Support
Saturday, Nov. 5
9 a.m. – 5 p.m.
Basic Wilderness Life Support® certification is a one-day, fast-paced, hands-on course providing preparation for the prevention and management of real emergencies that can occur in the wild (or even in your backyard). The course covers a wide range of outdoor and back-country topics and will teach participants to assess and handle medical situations with limited resources. The course time will be divided between lectures and hands-on practice. Basic Wilderness Life Support (BWLS) was created for all outdoor enthusiasts including scout leaders, hikers, bikers, skiers, climbers, kayakers, hunters, fishermen and trail runners. Participants will receive a textbook, field guide and upon completion, a BWLS certificate.
Instructors: Drs. Jane Corboy and John Rogers are certified in family medicine, sports medicine and advanced wilderness life support. They have extensive experience in mountaineering, whitewater rafting and backpacking, and are award-winning teachers. Cost is $120 for members and medical students; $150 for non-members Fee includes $50 for BWLS Certification
Designing Your Backyard Wildlife Habitat
Sunday, Nov. 13 or 20
2 – 5 p.m.
Learn how to evaluate your existing yard and implement minor changes so it qualifies for certification by Texas Parks and Wildlife as a Backyard Wildlife Habitat. Participants should bring sketch or photos of their existing backyard as well as a current plant inventory. Arboretum conservation director Joe Blanton will teach this interactive and informative class. Cost is $30 for members; $45 non-members
Tadpole Troopers: Owl Prowl
Friday, Nov. 18 or
Saturday, Nov. 19
9 – 10:15 a.m. OR 10:45 a.m. – 12 p.m.
Ages 3 – 5 with an adult
Tadpole Troopers is a nature class for 3, 4 and 5 year olds with an adult. These fall classes will explore animals of the night. In November students learn about owls and their nocturnal hunting abilities.
Cost is $15 for members; $28 for non-members.
Naturalist Explorers: Armored Armadillos
Saturday, Nov. 19
9 – 11 a.m. OR 1 – 3 p.m.
Ages 5 to 8
This fall, Naturalist Explorers explore the world of nocturnal mammals. In November students will study the adaptations of our state small mammal, the armadillo.
Cost is $18 for members; $33 for non-members.
November 24 and 25:
Building closed
