Harris County Street Olympics

Traveling Naturalist Program

The Traveling Naturalist Program presented by Harris County Precinct One, is an exciting educational program that brings nature to life.

Designed to enhance the curriculum of science and biology classes, the goal of the Traveling Naturalist Program is to establish an understanding of the natural world and its inhabitants. Participation in the entire Traveling Naturalist series ensures a broad understanding of various habitats and characteristics. Children learn to appreciate nature and their environment by interacting with exotic and native animals. The sessions are designed to meet varying needs for class sizes, ages and schedules. Call the Learning Center for a list of programs and select a Traveling Naturalist session that is most appropriate for your on-site visit. The program is an exciting way to build understanding and awaken the natural curiosity of young minds.

Sessions are approximately 45 minutes in length.

Program Descriptions

AMPHIBIANS

Adaptable Amphibians
Discover the smallest, but most colorful and vocal group of vertebrate animals. Learn about some of the adaptations that help them survive. Meet and listen to some live local amphibians.

FISH

Sensational Sharks – Power Point Presentation
Learn about the largest and often most ferocious fish in our oceans. Watch a slide presentation on these fascinating animals. Feel a shark’s teeth and touch a piece of shark’s skin. Compare a shark tooth from Megaladon and a Great White. Learn how big Megaladon was and so much more!

Fantastic Fish – Power Point Presentation
What is the largest group of vertebrate animals? Why are they so important? Watch a slide presentation that includes video clips of some of our awesome ocean and fresh water dwellers.

MAMMALS

Mysterious Mammals
Identify local mammals, study their characteristics, see live mammals up close, learn what our state mammal is and meet the only type of marsupial found in North America.

Bodacious Bats – Power Point Presentation
Learn about the only mammal capable of true flight. Explore the myths about these mysterious night flyers. An excellent informative and stimulating program without a live specimen.

Marsupial Magic
What is a mammal and what unique mammal do we have in North America? Learn about the myths, misunderstandings and benefits of our only marsupial. Meet a live marsupial.

REPTILES

Radical Reptiles
Discover the different groups of reptiles and what makes them unique. Learn about the facts and myths of these ancient animals. Meet live reptiles from the various groups.

Leaping Lizards
Learn about the largest group of reptiles and what special adaptations they have to survive. Learn about our state reptile and what “endangered” means. Observe live local and exotic species.

Alligator Attitudes
Explore these fascinating reptiles that have changed very little since prehistoric times. Learn about some of their amazing adaptations. Meet a live alligator! Program depends on availability of alligator.

Slithering Serpentines
Identify local poisonous and non-poisonous snakes. Get the facts about these animals. Observe live snakes and learn about their fascinating adaptations!

Turtle Tales
Hear some amazing tales about our slow and not-so-slow moving friends who carry their homes on their backs. Meet some live turtles including one of our endangered species.

BIRDS

Beautiful Birds – Power Point Presentation
Learn about the most successful vertebrate land dwelling animals that took to the sky in this comprehensive slide presentation. Discover the secret of flying. Witness some of the incredible adaptations birds have by observing a live specimen.

Flights of Fancy
What is the only other group of warm-blooded animals besides mammals? What is the secret to flight besides feathers and wings? What characteristics and amazing adaptations do our feathered friends have?

Raptors of the Night (Depending on availability)
What is a raptor? Which raptors are common in the local area? Answer these questions and meet a live raptor. (Program depends on availability of raptor.

INVERTEBRATES

Shell I or Shell I not?
What is a mollusk? Can you eat them? Do all mollusks have shells? Where does the shell come from? Meet some “shelled” and “unshelled” mollusks.

Slimy Snails & Slugs – Power Point Presentation
What is an invertebrate? Where are snails or slug’s eyes? What kind of mouth do they have? How do they travel? What good are they? The answers to these will amaze you

Simply Spineless
Learn what an invertebrate animal is, some of the different types of invertebrates there are, what their importance to the natural world is and meet some “spineless critters”!

Mini Beasts
Find out what lies beneath your feet and under rocks, logs and leaves. Discover the world of “mini beasts’ and how important these animals are to the web of life. Meet some interesting creatures that live “down under”.

ARTHROPODS

Amazing Arthropods
Enter the fascinating world of arthropods. Learn about the five groups of arthropods including spiders and insects. Meet and touch live local and exotic species.

Awesome Arachnids
Study our eight-legged friends up close. Learn what makes these creepy crawlers important to us. Identify local spiders and observe a live tarantula.

Incredible Insects
Become fascinated with the largest group of animals on Earth! Meet live local and exotic species. Insect netting can be included as part of this program with advanced notice.

Outrageous Crustaceans
What is a crustacean? What is an arthropod? Learn about this important food source for animals (and people too!). What special adaptations do these remarkable creatures have? Meet some live “crusty” critters!

VERTEBRATES X INVERTEBRATES

A Bone to Pick
Learn the difference between vertebrate and invertebrate animals. What characteristics do invertebrate groups have? What are the five vertebrate groups, their characteristics and where do we fit in? Meet a collection of live animals and see if you can tell what group they belong to.

HABITAT & ADAPTATIONS

City Critters
What animals may be “lurking” in your neighborhood? Why are they there? Are they helpful or harmful? Learn about many wild animals that are trying to adapt to city living and why. Meet some of these “adaptable” critters.

Wild World of Wetlands
What is a wetland? Why do we need them? What is an estuary? Answer these questions and more. Observe live aquatic wetland creatures and plants. Learn about their role in the wetlands.

Desert Dilemmas
What is a desert? Are all deserts hot? Is there water in a desert? What kind of animals and plants live in a desert? Learn these answers and interact with live desert animals.

Little Home on the Prairie
What is a prairie? Is a grassland or meadow a prairie? Why are they disappearing? Do animals in a prairie always stay in a prairie? What is an eco-tone? Meet some animals you might find in a prairie!

Familiar Forests
What is a forest? Is a jungle a forest? Why are forests important? Have you seen a forest lately? What animals live in a forest? Meet some forest animals and discover their secrets to survival.

Have Water Will Travel
Discover the variety of aquatic critters associated with ponds, wetlands and other bodies of water. Why can some aquatic animals live in fresh water but not salt water and vice versa? What animals can always be found in or around fresh water? Meet a variety of live aquatic creatures and observe some of their amazing adaptations.

Astounding Adaptations (Can be combined with Habitat)
All living things have adaptations that help them survive. Learn about camouflage, mimicry, defensive, attracting and behavioral adaptations. See live examples of some of the amazing “tricks” animals have to survive.

Home Sweet Home (Can be combined with Adaptations)
What is a habitat? What do all animals need to survive? Learn about different kinds of habitats and what kinds of animals live in each. Meet live animals from various habitats.

Simply Symbiotic
Are our bodies alone?! Are we habitats for other animals? (Is that good or bad?!) Explore the symbiotic relationship that we have with many organisms that thrive in or on our own bodies. Meet a live animal that shares its body with other little “friends” who help take care of it!

ADAPTATIONS

Hide and Sneak (Camouflage and Mimicry)
Learn about the single most used adaptation that animals use to survive – camouflage. What are the two types of camouflage and why do some animals “mimic” one of them? Meet some masters of camouflage and/or mimicry!

It’s Only Skin Deep
What is the largest organ the body has? Learn how our skin protects us and different animal skin helps them survive in their environment. Experience the feel of scales, fur, and other skin types. Learn about the special adaptations each type of skin has and why.

Foot Fetish
How many feet do a millipede really have? Are feet just for walking? Learn the answers to these and more. Meet some animals with interesting feet!

Mind Your Mouth
Where is your mouth? Are mouths just for eating with? Who has the longest tongue in proportion to its body? Meet some animals who have specialized mouths!

Whose Tail Is It?
What are tails good for? Do snakes have tails? What does “prehensile” mean? Meet some animals that use their tails in many different ways. Wouldn’t you love to have a tail too!

Who Needs Water?
Can animals survive without water? From a drop of water to an ocean life can be found. Explore different types of water habitats from oceans to ditches. Meet some creatures that depend on water.

Animal “Adaptabilities”
What is the difference between adaptations and adaptability or to adapt? Which animals have been able to adapt to a changing environment and what happens to those who don’t? What can we do to help the “un-adaptable” ones?

ANIMAL SENSES

Come to your senses
How do our senses work? What senses do animals have that we don’t have and how do they use them? Meet some live animals that use their senses in ways that will surprise you!

The Eyes Have It
How do we see? How do animals see? Learn how animal eyes differ from ours. Participate in some experiments about eyesight that will have you “seeing double”! Meet live animals whose eyes work in awesome ways.

Lend Me Your Ears
Ears are good for more than just hearing. Learn how our ear works and how we use them. Learn how animal ears differ from ours. Meet some live animals who have “extraordinary” ears!

Totally Touching
Learn how our sense of touch works. Discover that there is much more to touch than just “touching”. Meet some live animals who have special “touch receptors” in wild places.

Partners for Life; Taste & Smell
Learn how these senses are connected and which comes first. Discover that not all animals use their tongues to taste with or their noses to smell with. Learn about what they do use and meet some of these interesting animals.

The Scoop on Poop
What is the scientific name for poop? What is a “Scatologist”? Why is studying “scat” so important? What can scat tell us? How do animals “use” their scat? What are some ways we use scat? Get the scoop on poop!

You Are What You Eat
What can teeth tell us about an animal? Who has the most teeth? How many teeth do we have? Who has the sharpest teeth? Who has the strongest teeth? What are an Herbivore, a Carnivore and an Omnivore? Bite into this program and discover amazing facts you never knew!

Where in the World?
Learn the difference between native and exotic animals. Find out what an invasive animal is. Learn the consequences of animals in places they shouldn’t be. Discover the origin of some well known exotic animals. Meet both native and exotic animals in person!

Hide and Seek
Learn how important camouflage is to almost every animal in the world. Play a game that teaches first-hand the value of good camouflage and challenges your observation skills.

TREES

Tree Condos
Learn about the different tree levels and how living things use each. (animals and other forms of life) Discover the interdependency of these living organisms in our trees. See or meet live examples of some of the “inhabitants” found in these living condos – our trees!

Trees Are Terrific (The Inside Story)
What defines a living organism? Are trees alive? Learn about what a tree is, what the parts of a tree are and what function they perform. Discover that although trees are stationary the systems they have are similar to ours in what they do. Learn why people and trees have a “symbiotic” relationship.

What Has a Tree Done For You Lately?
Learn how we use everyday products made from trees and the natural ways trees help us as they are in nature. Discover some things that come from trees that you may not know about. Learn about some of the most important trees we have around here are and how to keep them safe.

Tree Leaves
Learn about photosynthesis, leaf shapes and types, leaf veins, leaf textures and identifying a tree by its leaves. See how different leaf textures have a purpose. Try some “leaf” sanding. Create a work of art with leaf rubbings.

Winter Twigs ID
There’s more to see on a bare twig than you think. Looking at bare twigs can help you identify the tree they come from, give an estimate of the trees age, and indicate a good or bad growing season and more. Learn how a tree breathes and the many adaptations trees have to protect themselves. (Leaf scars, bundle scars, lenticels, thorns, growth rings…)

ELECTRICITY

All things have an electrical “charge”. Learn what electricity is, how animals use electricity to locate food or exchange information and what a “Lateral Line System” is. Witness some “hair rising” experiments to demonstrate movement of electricity and electron “charging”. Learn how wind can be harnessed to make electricity.

MOLECULES & MATTER

What are all things living and non-living made of? How do molecules combine to make different things? How does temperature affect molecules? Do some molecules bond tighter together than others? Learn the answers to these and more through a variety of visual aids.

BLOWIN IN THE WIND

What is wind? Why is wind so important to our planet, the plants and the animals? How do we use the wind? How can wind be turned into energy? Learn the answers to these questions and more.

TAKS related materials included. Please call to check availability of the classes offered. For more information about The Traveling Naturalist program or to schedule a visit, contact:

THE TRAVELING NATURALIST
Challenger Seven Memorial Park
2301 W. NASA Boulevard
Webster, Texas 77598

Phone : 281.332.5157
Fax: 281.332.5576