Fort Worth Nature Center & Refuge Education Programs

Fort Worth Nature Center & Refuge Education Programs offers A Monarch's Journey, Backyard Birding, Bison on the Brink, Career Day/Info Booth, Endangered Texans, Gator Talk, Lone Star Bats, Nature's Pollinators, Neighborhood Wildlife, Radical Reptiles, Reading the Wild, and Skullduggery. The programs cover butterfly life cycles, adaptations, and migration; birds; bison; conservation careers; endangered and threatened animals; American alligators; bats; pollinators; urban wildlife; reptiles; animal tracks and other signs; and animal skulls.

Programs

• A Monarch's Journey — Delve into a Monarch butterfly life’s journey by exploring their life cycles, adaptations, and migration. In addition, find out ways to help them through their life’s journey.
• Backyard Birding
• Bison on the Brink — Learn why bison almost disappeared, what is being done to preserve them, and how the Nature Center manages its bison herd.
• Career Day/Info Booth — An education naturalist will join your event and discuss everything that it takes to get a career in the conservation field.
• Endangered Texans — Discuss endangered or threatened animals, reasons for their status, state and federal guidelines, and success stories of animals that were on the brink but are now thriving.
• Gator Talk — Discuss the life history of the American Alligator, what led it to become endangered, how it has bounced back, and see some live specimens.
• Lone Star Bats — Learn more about the common bats that live in the area, their plight, and how important they are for survival on earth.
• Nature's Pollinators — Explore North America’s pollinators, from bees to hummingbirds, and learn about their importance to fruits, vegetables, and biodiversity of plants.
• Neighborhood Wildlife — Discover where and how animals live in an urban environment and learn about behaviors, adaptations, habitat requirements, and characteristics of urban wildlife.
• Radical Reptiles — Learn about reptiles, their adaptations, and examples including alligators, geckos, and snakes.
• Reading the Wild — Learn to detect, interpret, and identify tracks, scats, and other animal signs left by wildlife.
• Skullduggery — Explore animal skulls, learn how to identify predators and prey, and look for adaptations that make each animal unique.

At a glance

• General schedule: Programs are offered throughout the year; October - December 2026 programs are listed.
• Facility hours: Refuge Hours October-April, 8 a.m. - 5 p.m.; May-September, 7 a.m. - 5 p.m.; Hardwicke Interpretive Center 9 a.m. - 4:30 p.m.

About the provider

The program’s mission is to enhance the quality of life by enrolling and educating the community in the preservation and protection of natural areas while standing as an example of these same principles and values in North Central Texas. In 1980, it was designated a National Natural Landmark by the U.S. Department of the Interior, and in 2009 it received a Lone Star Land Steward award from the Texas Parks and Wildlife Department. Staff offer programs throughout the year, and outreach programs can visit schools or groups.

All professional photography requires a permit. Please keep dogs on leash at all times and dispose of waste appropriately; not on trails. Bison are currently in the Oak Motte Pasture. No Entry after 4 p.m. to provide suitable and sufficient time on the Refuge.

Last updated November 1, 2026.