Beginner Bird Photography
2024-10-05 09:30 - 12:30 (America/Chicago)
$35 member / $50 nonmemberInstructor: Rosemary BrooksAges 12+

Join author and photographer Rosemary Brooks for an introduction to bird photography! Learn tips for getting out in nature and capturing those special moments. Please bring your camera.

register online

Please dress for the weather and wear walking shoes.

Instructor bio: Rosemary Brooks, a devoted Arboretum volunteer and the published author of “Texas Birds and Inspirational Quotes,” brings a wealth of knowledge and a decade of experience in wildlife photography.

Second Saturday Bird Survey
2024-10-12 08:00 - 10:00, 2024-11-09 08:00 - 10:00, 2024-12-14 08:00 - 10:00, 2025-01-11 08:00 - 10:00, 2025-02-08 08:00 - 10:00, 2025-03-08 08:00 - 10:00, 2025-04-12 08:00 - 10:00, 2025-05-10 08:00 - 10:00 and 4 more dates
2nd Saturday of the month8:00 – 10:00 amFree, but donations appreciatedAll ages, minors must be accompanied by an adult

Work on your bird watching skills while helping the Arboretum monitor bird populations on a fun, relaxed morning walk. Join us on the second Saturday of each month in front of the Nature Center building for a two-hour bird survey led by Arboretum staff members Kelsey Low and Theo Ostler. 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 have a limited number of binoculars available to borrow

Sip & Stroll
2024-11-01 17:30 - 19:30
$40 members / $45 nonmembersAges 21+

Enjoy a quiet evening out on the Arboretum trails. Your sunset walk will include a curated nature hike, two glasses of wine or Saint Arnold beer, and delicious cheese and charcuterie offerings from GRAZE HTX.

register online

Please dress for the weather and wear walking shoes.

dietary options

Charcuterie cups may include allergens such as dairy, gluten, and nuts. A limited number of vegetarian cups will be offered upon request. Please email us before the event to request vegetarian or vegan options.

parking

Parking is free for all Arboretum Members, but you must enter your Member parking code in the kiosks or on the Park Mobile or Park Houston apps. Nonmembers must pay a $6.00 parking fee which directly supports the Arboretum’s mission of nature education and conservation. All guests are subject to ticketing if they do not enter their Member parking code or pay the parking fee. Please do not leave valuables in your car. Outside restrooms are located at the Nature Center building.

rain & cancellations

This event is rain or shine. If the event is cancelled, the ticket price is non-refundable and considered as a donation to the organization.

sponsors

Photo credit Anthony Rathbun

Starry Night
2024-12-21 18:00 - 20:00
$35 member / $50 nonmember / $20 child (ages 5-12)Instructor: Houston Public LibraryAges 5+

On the longest night of the year, let’s celebrate the stars! Join us for a night of wintry family come-and-go fun under the night sky: hot chocolate, coffee, beer for the adults, star-themed crafts, a self-guided hike, and a peek through a real astronomical telescope brought by our friends at the Houston Public Library.

Please dress for the weather and wear walking shoes. We will reach out to participants if we need to switch to the rain date of Saturday, December 28.

sold out

The Language of Birds
2025-03-01 09:30 - 11:30
$20 member / $35 nonmemberAges 12+, all minors must be accompanied by an adult

From the sweet whistle of a cardinal to the harsh caw of a crow, birds sure make a lot of noise – but what does it all mean? In this class we’ll explore the difference between songs and calls, general call types and their meanings, and examples of Houston bird “lingo.” You’ll learn how to eavesdrop on bird conversations and gain a new perspective on your local natural community.

Please dress for the weather and wear walking shoes.

Register Online

Birds, Bees, and Butterflies
2025-03-16 11:00 - 12:00
$8 per personAll Ages

Join us for ‘Birds, Bees, and Butterflies,’ as Megan Conley, former Principal Harpist of the Houston Symphony and founder of Ocean Music Action, presents a program of music that takes flight! This event begins with an interactive musical performance, featuring music for harp and violin inspired by these wonderful, winged creatures. The concert will be followed by family-friendly activities designed to promote pollinator-friendly home and garden practices. Every Ocean Music Action concert includes the popular ‘instrument petting zoo’, where children are invited to try out the harp for themselves!

sold out

Please come dressed for the outdoors, including closed-toe shoes. This is a family program; parents are required to attend.

Drink Your Garden
2025-03-22 15:00 - 17:00
$30 member / $45 nonmemberAges 12+, all minors must be accompanied by an adult

Let’s say “cheers” to spring with a delicious drink from the garden! Join us to learn how to use herbs, flowers, and even veggies to make refreshing botanical beverages like a color-changing Butterfly Pea Lemonade, a Cucumber Mint Cooler, and a Hibiscus Agua Fresca.

Please dress for the weather and wear walking shoes.

Register Online

Earth Day Celebration
2025-04-19 10:00 - 14:00
FREEAll ages

This Earth Day we’re celebrating our amazing planet through art! Join us for a day of creativity as we explore nature through poetry, drawing, photography, and more. Make your own nature journal, learn from our community partners, go on nature hikes, and enjoy all kinds of Earth-friendly crafts and activities.

Program will be held rain or shine – please dress for the weather. Crafts and other activities will run while supplies last.

Earth Day Activities

Food Trucks

Berry’s Ices

Homies HTX

Parking

Free parking will be available at the Arboretum’s 610 and Woodway Entrances until 2 pm. Parking is limited and will be available on a first-come, first-served basis.

sponsored by

Beginner Botany
2025-04-26 10:00 - 12:00
$20 member / $35 nonmemberAges 12+, all minors must be accompanied by an adult

There are about 5,000 species of flowering plants in Texas – that’s pretty intimidating for beginner botanists! If you’ve always wanted to identify flowers but don’t know where to start, this is the class for you. We’ll give you a simple introduction to botanical terms and an overview of our most common flower families as we look at plants along the trails.

Please dress for the weather and wear walking shoes.

Register Online

City Nature Challenge Scavenger Hunt
2025-04-26 17:00 - 19:00
$15 member / $25 nonmemberAges 16+, all minors must be accompanied by an adult

Have fun and help our city win the iNaturalist City Nature Challenge! Work alone or with a team to complete a scavenger hunt that will test your powers of observation. Along the way, you’ll learn how to use the iNaturalist app to turn your scavenger hunt into useful scientific data – and help Houston make more observations than other cities around the world. Enjoy beer and nonalcoholic refreshments from Saint Arnold Brewing Company. We’ll be handing out prizes for participating!

Please dress for the weather and wear walking shoes.

this event has been cancelled

Adult Owl Prowl
2025-05-24 19:00 - 21:00
$35 member / $50 nonmemberInstructor: Wildlife Center of TexasAges 16+, all minors must be accompanied by an adult

Enjoy a unique night out in nature! Enjoy some refreshments (light snacks, hot chocolate, coffee, and Saint Arnold Brewing Company beer) while you meet live owl ambassadors. You’ll learn all about these wise and wonderful birds, and then you’ll join our Naturalists for a hike on our nighttime trails.

Please dress for the weather and wear walking shoes.

SOLD OUT

Miss this one? Check out our Family Owl Prowl on 5/31/2025!

Family Owl Prowl

Instructor bio: The Wildlife Center of Texas is one of the largest rehabilitation centers in the country, admitting nearly 10,000 wild patients each year. Its mission is to care for all injured, orphaned, ill, and oiled wildlife through wildlife rehabilitation, public education, and oiled wildlife response.

Family Owl Prowl
2025-05-31 19:00 - 21:00
$35 member / $50 nonmember$20 child (5-12 yrs)Ages 5+

Looking for a family adventure? Come and enjoy refreshments (light snacks, hot chocolate, coffee, water, and – for the grown-ups – Saint Arnold Brewing Company beer) while you meet live owl ambassadors. You’ll learn all about these wise and wonderful birds and then you’ll join our Naturalists for a hike to search for nocturnal animals.

sold out

Please dress for the weather and wear walking shoes.

Instructor bio: The Wildlife Center of Texas is one of the largest rehabilitation centers in the country, admitting nearly 10,000 wild patients each year. Its mission is to care for all injured, orphaned, ill, and oiled wildlife through wildlife rehabilitation, public education, and oiled wildlife response.

Butterfly Tea Party
2025-06-07 14:00 - 16:00
$35 member / $50 nonmemberInstructor: Kelsey LowAges 12+, all minors must be accompanied by an adult

Celebrate our plants and pollinators with a delicious afternoon tea. Enjoy light bites like finger sandwiches and sweets while you learn how to make your own tea blend using wild and garden botanicals. Bring home a packet of wildflower seeds to feed your local butterflies and even make your own beautiful butterfly memento!

There is no dress code for this event – it’s meant to be fun and relaxed – but we do encourage creativity and celebrating the theme! If you have any fun tea party outfits, hats, or butterfly-themed attire, this is your chance to show them off.

Please dress for the weather and wear walking shoes.

Register Online

Free Summer Thursdays
2025-06-12 17:00 - 19:00, 2025-07-17 17:00 - 19:00, 2025-08-14 17:00 - 19:00
FREE, with free parking on ThursdaysAll ages, minors must be accompanied by an adult

Join us on select Thursdays this summer for our Free Summer Thursdays series!Cool down and connect with nature while enjoying family-friendly fun on the trails and Nature Playscape. Bring the kids for outdoor adventures and enjoy a free sweet treat to beat the heat (while supplies last). Plus, food trucks will be on-site with tasty bites for purchase.

Free Summer Thursdays are rain or shine! In the event of severe weather, Free Summer Thursday activities will be cancelled, but we encourage you to join us the following month.

Please RSVP to help us plan enough goodies and activities for everyone!

June 12

july 17

august 14

food truck schedule

All Dates – Yeti Sunshine, free shaved ice while supplies last

June 12 – Foreign Policy, International

July 17 – Peppaz HTX, American Fusion

August 14 – Homies HTX, American

Escape the Arboretum
2025-06-28 18:00 - 20:00
$35 member / $50 nonmemberAges 16+, all minors must be accompanied by an adult

Something is hunting at the Arboretum – and you need to escape before you become the next victim! Work together (while you enjoy beer and light snacks) to discover the identity of the mysterious hunter and gather the clues you need to escape the Arboretum. Every station has a “crime scene” to examine or puzzle to solve; for every correct answer you’ll get puzzle pieces that you can assemble to help you reach the final solution.

Please dress for the weather and wear walking shoes.

Register Online

Cooking with Honey
2025-08-23 15:00 - 17:00
$35 member / $50 nonmemberAges 12+, all minors must be accompanied by an adult

A great way to support pollinators is to cook with local honey! Join us for this fun cooking class and learn how to make a surprisingly savory honey grilled cheese sandwich and simple cocoa honey truffles. We’ll also taste different types of local honey to explore the flavor possibilities of this versatile ingredient.

Please wear clothes you don’t mind getting messy and dress for the weather.

register online

Gardening with Native Grasses
2025-08-30 10:00 - 12:00
$20 member / $35 nonmember (per person)Instructor: Rafael RenteriaAges 12+

Experienced gardeners and landscape designers know: grasses are an essential part of a native garden! In this class you’ll learn how to use native grasses to benefit wildlife and add beauty and dimension to any space – even containers. Weather permitting we’ll also go on a walk to see different grass species in garden settings.

Please dress for the weather and wear walking shoes.

register online

Instructor Bio: Rafael Renteria is a Certified Arborist who has worked with trees since graduating from Texas A&M in 2019. He has worked as a park ranger, tree climber, and tree farm manager with Trees for Houston, and now works as the Arboretum’s Forest Ecologist.
