About
Houston Arboretum & Nature Center Children’s Programs include activities such as Little Explorers, Fourth Saturday Phenology Walk, Painting with Plants, Opossums & Popsicles, Second Saturday Bird Survey, Summer Preschool Programs, and Animal Tales. Little Explorers sessions are scheduled on July 23 from 9:30 am to 10:30 am and from 11:00 am to 12:00 pm. The program also offers a Fourth Saturday Phenology Walk on July 25 from 9:00 am to 11:00 am, Painting with Plants on July 25 from 3:00 pm to 5:00 pm, and a Second Saturday Bird Survey on the second Saturday of every month.
• Ages: 2–4 years old
• Schedule: Grounds & Trails open daily from 7:00 am to 7:30 pm, and the Nature Center open daily from 9:00 am to 4:00 pm; additional children’s activities offered on specific dates and on the second Saturday of every month
• Price: Parking is $6.50, with free parking on Thursdays and the Second Sunday of each month for all guests and year-round for Arboretum Members; admission is free
The mission of the Houston Arboretum & Nature Center is to provide education about the natural environment to people of all ages and to protect and enhance the Arboretum as a haven and as a sanctuary for native plants and animals. The organization was established in 1967 and has undergone multiple phases of development, including a name change to Houston Arboretum & Nature Center in 1992, the grand opening of a remodeled and expanded building with the Discovery Room in 1995, and implementation of a large-scale master plan between 2017 and 2021. Houston Arboretum & Nature Center has been awarded Level 1 Accreditation by the ArbNet Arboretum Accreditation Program and The Morton Arboretum. Memberships and donations support nature education and conservation programs, and operations are funded primarily through grants, earned income, and donations from corporations and individuals while operating City of Houston land under an agreement with the City of Houston Parks and Recreation Department.
Last updated July 23, 2026.
• Ages: 2–4 years old
• Schedule: Grounds & Trails open daily from 7:00 am to 7:30 pm, and the Nature Center open daily from 9:00 am to 4:00 pm; additional children’s activities offered on specific dates and on the second Saturday of every month
• Price: Parking is $6.50, with free parking on Thursdays and the Second Sunday of each month for all guests and year-round for Arboretum Members; admission is free
The mission of the Houston Arboretum & Nature Center is to provide education about the natural environment to people of all ages and to protect and enhance the Arboretum as a haven and as a sanctuary for native plants and animals. The organization was established in 1967 and has undergone multiple phases of development, including a name change to Houston Arboretum & Nature Center in 1992, the grand opening of a remodeled and expanded building with the Discovery Room in 1995, and implementation of a large-scale master plan between 2017 and 2021. Houston Arboretum & Nature Center has been awarded Level 1 Accreditation by the ArbNet Arboretum Accreditation Program and The Morton Arboretum. Memberships and donations support nature education and conservation programs, and operations are funded primarily through grants, earned income, and donations from corporations and individuals while operating City of Houston land under an agreement with the City of Houston Parks and Recreation Department.
Last updated July 23, 2026.
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