Guided Hikes & Field Experiences
Field Trips at the Fort Worth Nature Center & Refuge offer exciting opportunities for participants to learn about the wildlife and native plants of North Central Texas. Select and Wildlife Ambassador Encounter, field investigation, nature-themed activity or any combination of the above. In this beautiful outdoor setting participants learn about basic, natural, scientific concepts.
| Knee High Naturalist | Habitat Naturalist | Bio-Naturalist | Field Naturalist | Eco-Naturalist | |
| Fees | $10/child | $5 / $7 / $10 | $5 / $7 & $125 | $10 / $15 | $20 |
| Ages | Preschoolers ages 3-5 | Kinder & Up | Kinder & Up | 3rd Grade & Up | 3rd Grade & Up |
| Tour Length | 1.0 hours | 1.5 hours | 2 hours | 3 hours | 4 hours |
| Group Size | 5 - 20 children | 10 - 60 people | 15-120 people (RQD @60+) | 15 - 60 people | 15 - 60 people |
| See Below For More Details & Larger groups please call for options. | |||||
Knee High Naturalists
This program designed specifically for preschoolers includes a variety of different activities on a single topic. Activities may include a live animal encounter, games, crafts, storybook reading, hikes, and more. This experience is extremely customizable and we can offer a wide range of different learning concepts and topics. All activities are highly interactive with an additional focus on helping young children learn to enjoy the outdoors safely.
| Grades: | Pre-K (3-5 years) |
| Time: | Avaiable upon request (1 hour in length) |
| Group Size Limit: | 20, not including chaperones. |
| Fee: | $ 10/person, adult chaperones pay general admission |
| This program requires 1 chaperone per 5 children. A tour fee is required for each child in your group. | |
Learning Objectives:
- Become familiar with the outdoors and learn to identify hazards such as cactus.
- Practice classroom skills such as walking in a line, following the leader, and following directions.
- Observe plants and animals and make observations about their physical or behavioral characteristics.
- Practice fine motor skills.
Please fill out a Private Tour Request Form or call 817-392-7410 to request a date.
Habitat Naturalists
Naturalist will discover the Nature Center while taking part in one of the three different themed hikes (customizable tours are also available). Click the boxes below for tour descriptions.
Students will be treated to a hike with a focus on adaptations. We will explore the Refuge and discuss what an adaptation is, the many types of adaptations, and how they help an animal survive. Additionally, we will engage students in conversations about how plants and wildlife use the different habitats found at the Nature Center and how we protect these natural areas. *K-5 group tours will be supplemented with an Adaptations activity sheet that includes a “back in the classroom” component as well.
A simple scientific principle is that all things are connected. Hike with us and learn how plants and animals are connected through food webs. Be ready to learn about producers, consumers, and decomposers and how they interact with each other. These networks are essential for an ecosystem to remain balanced and provide the needs for plants and animals. *K-5 group tours will be supplemented with an Food Chains activity sheet that includes a “back in the classroom” component as well.
The Refuge is home to a great diversity of wildlife. Some of these animals include armadillo, woodpeckers, deer, and many more. When hiking, you may not always see them. On this walk, students will learn about the many forms of wildlife and become detectives by searching for evidence of wildlife in the form of tracks, animal homes, and other signs. *K-5 group tours will be supplemented with an Animal Tracks and Signs activity sheet that includes a “back in the classroom” component as well.
| Grades: | All ages, geared for Kinder and up |
| Time: | One and a half hour |
| Group Size Limit: | 10 - 60 (divided into groups of 10-12), including chaperones. |
| Fee: | $ 5/person for Public & Private Schools |
| $7/person for home schools, scouts and other community groups | |
| $10/person for adults | |
| 2:10 ratio of adult/child is allowed for this program. A tour fee is required for each adult and child in your group. | |
Learning Objectives:
- Identify the components of a grassland, forest, or aquatic habitats.
- Learn to differentiate between the different habitats found at the Nature Center.
- Define adaptation as a behavioral or structural feature that helps a plant or animal to survive or reproduce in its native habitat.
- Understand the function of observed plant or animal adaptations.
- Hypothesize about the consequences of human actions, climate change, pollution, or other stressors on the observed ecosystems.
Please fill out a Private Tour Request Form or call 817-392-7410 to request a date.
Bio-Naturalists
Come explore with us! In this 2 hour program designed for 1st graders and up, students will participate in a themed guided hike (see below & custom avaliable), and a live animal encounter with our native wildlife ambassadors.
Students will be treated to a hike with a focus on adaptations. We will explore the Refuge and discuss what an adaptation is, the many types of adaptations, and how they help an animal survive. Additionally, we will engage students in conversations about how plants and wildlife use the different habitats found at the Nature Center and how we protect these natural areas. *K-5 group tours will be supplemented with an Adaptations activity sheet that includes a “back in the classroom” component as well.
A simple scientific principle is that all things are connected. Hike with us and learn how plants and animals are connected through food webs. Be ready to learn about producers, consumers, and decomposers and how they interact with each other. These networks are essential for an ecosystem to remain balanced and provide the needs for plants and animals. *K-5 group tours will be supplemented with an Food Chains activity sheet that includes a “back in the classroom” component as well.
The Refuge is home to a great diversity of wildlife. Some of these animals include armadillo, woodpeckers, deer, and many more. When hiking, you may not always see them. On this walk, students will learn about the many forms of wildlife and become detectives by searching for evidence of wildlife in the form of tracks, animal homes, and other signs. *K-5 group tours will be supplemented with an Animal Tracks and Signs activity sheet that includes a “back in the classroom” component as well.
| Grades: | All ages, geared for Kindergarten and up |
| Time: | 10:00 a.m. - Noon |
| Group Size Limit: | 15 - 120 max, including chaperones. (mandatory w/60+ participants) |
| Fee: | $125 flat fee plus one of the following per person: |
| $ 5/person for Public & Private Schools | |
| $7/person for home schools, scouts and other community groups | |
| $10/person for adults | |
| 2:10 ratio of adult/child is allowed for this program. A tour fee is required for each adult and child in your group in addition to the flat $125. | |
Learning Objectives:
- Identify the components of a grassland, forest, or aquatic habitats.
- Learn to differentiate between the different habitats found at the Nature Center.
- Define adaptation as a behavioral or structural feature that helps a plant or animal to survive or reproduce in its native habitat.
- Understand the function of observed plant or animal adaptations.
- Hypothesize about the consequences of human actions, climate change, pollution, or other stressors on the observed ecosystems.
Please fill out a Private Tour Request Form or call 817-392-7410 to request a date.
Field-Naturalists
Immerse yourself in nature with TEKS-correlated field science based activities. Students will rotate between three stations located around the nature center to connect classroom concepts in a natural setting.
| Grades: | All ages, geared for 3rd grade and up |
| Time: | 10:00 a.m. - 1 p.m. |
| Group Size Limit: | 15 - 100, including chaperones. |
| Fee: | $10 / person for Public & Private Schools |
| $15/person for home schools, scouts and other community groups | |
| $20/person for adults | |
| 2:10 ratio of adult/child is allowed for this program. | |
Learning Objectives:
- Identify the components of a grassland, forest, or aquatic habitats.
- Learn to differentiate between the different habitats found at the Nature Center.
- Define adaptation as a behavioral or structural feature that helps a plant or animal to survive or reproduce in its native habitat.
- Understand the function of observed plant or animal adaptations.
- Hypothesize about the consequences of human actions, climate change, pollution, or other stressors on the observed ecosystems.
Please fill out a Private Tour Request Form or call 817-392-7410 to request a date.
Eco-Naturalists
Become a scientist for the day as we venture out with trained naturalist into our local prairie, forest, and wetland ecosystems. Through hands-on citizen science based research activities—students will use the scientific method to enhance their critical thinking and deductive reasoning skills. This program allows for a three-activity rotation and one hour for lunch.
| Grades: | All ages, geared for 3rd grade and up |
| Time: | 10:00 a.m. - 2 p.m. |
| Group Size Limit: | 15 - 60, including chaperones. |
| Fee: | $20 / person |
| 2:10 ratio of adult/child is allowed for this program. | |
Learning Objectives:
- Identify the components of a grassland, forest, or aquatic habitats.
- Learn to differentiate between the different habitats found at the Nature Center.
- Define adaptation as a behavioral or structural feature that helps a plant or animal to survive or reproduce in its native habitat.
- Understand the function of observed plant or animal adaptations.
- Hypothesize about the consequences of human actions, climate change, pollution, or other stressors on the observed ecosystems.