Austin Nature & Science Center Camps & Community Programs

The Austin Nature & Science Center offers nature based programs for members of the community, such as school break camps, seasonal festivals, animal programs, and more. Currently, all programming offered is virtual.  In the future, we plan to return to offering programming at the Austin Nature & Science Center.  For questions about a camp or community program, please call Visitor Services at 512-974-3888.

Summer Program Registration Postponement

Due to the unknown, future status of COVID-19 infections and vaccine distribution, summer programming for both Austin Parks and Recreation Department's (PARD) summer camps and aquatic (pool) programming is delayed. 

Typically, registration for summer camps begins in February and aquatic (pool) programming in April. While the distribution of a COVID-19 vaccine continues to evolve and provide hope for the future, the unknown length of the local Stage 5 Risk declaration provides uncertainty as it relates to summer program planning.

The postponement allows PARD, in cooperation with the Austin Public Health Department, to consider the local characteristics of the virus as vaccine distribution evolves. At the appropriate local Risk Stage, PARD can offer in-person programs safely; however, this timeframe is not yet known. Delaying registration until there is a path forward for the safe delivery of programming can eliminate concerns related to program cancelations and refunds.

At this time, PARD has not determined new registration dates for summer programs. PARD intends to notify families prior to registration dates to allow ample preparation time. PARD continues to work closely with state and local health authorities to make operational decisions that ensure both the health and safety of participants, families, and PARD employees.

PARD continues to offer free, virtual lesson plans and activities that families can access on PARD's YouTube channel - youtube.com/austincityparks. Updates on summer programming will be released as conditions change. 

Virtual Camps and Events

Make the most of your time off from school! Join us on Zoom as we explore all things nature and science together with games, hands-on activities, and animal visitors!

Virtual Spring Break Camp - Ages 5-12

Register on RecTrac.

Time Travelers & Space Searchers

Did you know that when you look at the stars, you are looking back in time? It takes six years for the light from the North Star (Polaris) to reach our eyes here on Earth! Did you know that Mayan astronomers created the first almanac more than 5,000 years ago, which was 4,722 years before the invention of the telescope?! Join us on a journey through time and space as we peer back in time and look to the stars for answers!

March 15^th -18^th

Session 1 – Ages 5-7 at 10:00 AM to 11:00 AM

Session 2 – Ages 8-12 at 11:30 AM to 12:30 PM

Lunch and Learn - Teens and Adults

Register on Eventbrite.

Want to spend your lunch break learning about nature, science, and natural history? Log onto our Lunch & Learn programs geared towards high school and college students, professionals, and citizen scientists. These programs will run throughout the spring season of 2021 on Tuesdays at 12:00 PM and will feature speakers from multiple exciting scientific fields!

Virtual Programs

Zoom and Eventbrite interactive programs both during the week and on weekends!

Animal Ambassadors - Ages 7-9

Registration begins Monday, December 14^th at 10 am on Eventbrite.

Animal Ambassadors is a Zoom program created for 7-9 year-olds. This program will take place Tuesdays from 4:00 - 4:30 pm. Austin Nature & Science Center Instructors Kat and Caroline will introduce a different ANSC animal each week and then lead a related activity.

Creature Feature: Animal Storytime - Ages 3-6

Registration begins Monday, December 14^th at 10 am on Eventbrite.

Creature Feature: Animal Storytime is a Zoom program designed for children 3-6 years old, which will take place every Friday from 11:00 to 11:30 am. Austin Nature & Science Center Instructors Caroline and Elizabeth we lead an open-ended art activity, read a book, and present an animal ambassador.

 

 

Nature Journaling Club - Ages 7-13

Registration begins Monday, December 14^th at 10 am on Eventbrite.

Nature Journaling is a live Zoom program designed for 7-13 year-olds. This program will take place Wednesdays from 4-4:45 pm. Austin Nature & Science Center Instructors Caroline and Kat will lead creative activities to help participants connect to nature through artistic expression.

Nature Show and Tell - Ages 3-6

Registration begins Monday, December 14^th at 10 am on Eventbrite.

Join us beginning in October for our Nature Show & Tell!

Show and Tell is a Trade Counter experience designed for 3-6 year-olds that take place Tuesdays from 11:00 am to 12:00 pm. Austin Nature and Science Center Naturalists Kristi, Sharon, and Emily will be available for you to share your interesting nature finds and help you learn more about them.

Items for trading can include rocks, bones, seeds, nature photographs and drawings, and much more! Limit 2 items per trade experience.

In return for sharing your natural objects and knowledge, our Naturalists will reward you with points to spend at our Naturalist Workshop when ANSC reopens.

Suppertime Star Party - All Ages

Registration begins Tuesday, December 29^th at 10 am on Eventbrite.

Suppertime Star Parties is a live Zoom event designed for families. This program takes place two Tuesdays a month from 5:30-6:00 pm. Grab your dinner and sit down with instructors Emily and Mary as we enter our "virtual planetarium" for some stargazing!

Virtual Trade Counter - All Ages

Register at Eventbrite.

Live Virtual Zoom Trading Sessions

Wednesday - Friday at 1pm and 3pm | Saturday at 2pm.

How it Works

Find or make a cool item from nature!  Items accepted include: rocks, minerals, fossils, shells, bones, insects, insect parts, plant parts, nature art, drawings, photos taken, nature journal entries, etc.  Items not accepted include: anything from birds, anything collected from a preserve or area where collecting is not allowed, human artifacts such as arrowheads, intentionally killed animals, or whole plants.  

Register for a Zoom Virtual Trading Session for your selected time.  After you register on Eventbrite, you will receive a link to the Zoom page to log in at your time.  Register on Eventbrite.

Share your nature item with our virtual traders at your trade time on Zoom.  We will record your name, birthdate, and how many points you receive for your item and keep it for when we re-open the Trade Counter.  

Visit the Trade Counter at the Austin Nature & Science Center when we re-open and select items from our cool nature items "to buy" with the points you earned!

 

Young Scientists - Ages 3-6

Registration begins Monday, December 14^th at 10 am on Eventbrite.

Young Scientists is a live Zoom program designed for 3-6 year-olds that takes place Mondays from 11:00 to 11:30 am. Instructors Elizabeth and Sharon will lead sensory-based science experiments and explore the scientific method.

Videos

Tiny Tours

Join us on Facebook and YouTube for ANSC Tiny Tours!  Catch a glimpse of our beautiful site and learn all about the animals, exhibits, and natural spaces that surround us.  Videos will be posted daily Fridays-Sundays this fall.

Weekday Wake Up Daily Videos

Visit our Facebook page Mondays-Fridays beginning in November for our Daily Posted Videos!

Join Caroline for Mindfulness Mondays as she teaches you a variety of ways to slow down and engage your body and mind.

Learn with Mary and Emily on TEKS Tuesdays as they investigate TEKS objectives for grades K-3.

Watch Ms. Kat on Wild Wednesdays as she shows you some of nature’s most interesting creatures!

Follow Ms. Elizabeth as she takes you into the Zilker Nature Preserve to read some of her favorite stories for Tales from the Trails Thursdays.

Explore your sense of sight, taste, touch, smell and hearing with Ms. Elizabeth on Five Senses Friday.