Programs

Student Programs and Tours

We offer a variety of TEKS-aligned Academic programs and Tours at our center, on your campus, and at third-party facilities. Explore our program options below.

Nature of Learning Field Trips

Our award-winning Nature of Learning programs consist of hands-on activities relating to ecology, scientific observation, resource management, and building healthy ecosystems, for both people and animals. Students enjoy a day of movement and activity outside, all while being shown the importance of science in real time. Read on to see which program best fits your student’s needs and interests. Field trips can be scheduled year-round, Tuesday-Saturday.

Price: $9 per student/$7 per student-Title 1 Schools

Please note, a minimum of 15 student participants is required. If fewer than 15 students attend, a minimum of $135 will be charged for the program.

Program Options:

Wet & Wild: Wetland Researchers

Appropriate for 3rd-9th grade

Wetlands are very important for south Texas plants and animals, as well as humans. Using the scientific method students help Audubon Educators check the health of local wetlands by investigating its inhabitants and water quality.

Amazing Avian Adaptations

Appropriate for 2nd-5th grade

Be a bird’s best friend by learning about their amazing adaptations, surveying birds and learning about their various habitats, and discuss their conservation in your community.

Request a Program

To request a program for your class, please complete our Academic Program Request Form.

Customize Your Program

Some programs can be customized to align with students’ learning goals and grade level, from Kindergarten to 12th grade!

Homeschool Adventures

Mitchell Lake Audubon Center’s Homeschool Adventures is a set of outdoor, nature-based education classes for homeschool children ages 6-12. Classes will usually be held on the 1st Wednesday of every other month from 9:30-10:30am. Each class covers a different topic and includes hands-on learning and exploration into conservation at Mitchell Lake.

Price: FREE for Members; $6 for General

Topics:

August 13: Decomposers and Dirt Dwellers – Learn about the hidden world underneath our feet and meet some organisms that keep nature’s recycling center running. Come ready to get your hands dirty and leave with a new appreciation for life in the leaf litter!

October 1: Monarch Magic & Pollinator Power - Discover the amazing world of monarch butterflies and their pollinator friends! Learn how bees, butterflies, and other pollinators help plants grow and why they’re essential to healthy ecosystems. Explore their life cycles, migration journeys, and how you can create pollinator-friendly spaces.

December 3: Ecosystem Explorers - Get ready for an adventure through our different habitats as we tour our four ecosystems and the creatures that call them home. While on tour, kids will learn how living things interact and depend on one another in the wild.

February 4: Nature’s Food Network - What’s for dinner in the wild? From predators to plants, discover who eats what and how everything is connected through food chains and webs. This program uncovers the importance of every role, from top predators to tiny decomposers, in keeping nature balanced.

April 1: Alien Invaders - Not all plants and animals belong here, and some can cause big problems! Dive into the world of invasive species to learn how they spread, what they displace, and what you can do to help protect native habitats. Interactive activities reveal the impact of “invaders” on local ecosystems.

June 3: Super Snakes - Slither into the fascinating world of snakes! Learn how to identify a few local species, separate myth from fact, and understand the important role snakes play in nature. Meet a real snake ambassador and explore how these misunderstood reptiles help control pests and maintain balance.

Register Here for the 2025 - 2026 sessions

Guided and Unguided Tours

Guided and Unguided tours are a relaxed, outdoor field trip. There’s no science journal or activity stations; just freedom to explore the wonders of Texas native flora and fauna with expert guides explaining the history of Mitchell Lake, the importance of our habitats, and the wonders of all that we find on our expansive grounds. Tours can be scheduled year-round, Tuesday - Thursday.

Guided Tours

With an expert guide by your side, explore the wonders of Mitchell Lake and experience the local flora and fauna as the students hike to Bird Pond and back.

Price: $6 per participant; Tuesday-Friday

$10 per participant; Saturday-Sunday

Please note, a minimum of 10 student participants is required. If fewer than 10 students attend, a minimum of $60 on weekdays and $100 on weekends will be charged for the program.

Unguided Tours

Venture out on a self-led tour of our 1,200 acre preserve, equipped with a paper guide. Choose from different activities and Q&As to do with your students.

Price: $3.50 per student; $5 per adult

Request a Tour

To request a Guided or Unguided Tour, please fill out our Community Program and Tour Request Form.

Customize Your Program

Some programs can be customized to align with students’ learning goals and grade level, from Kindergarten to 12th grade!

Accessibility Statement: Mitchell Lake Audubon Center welcomes everyone, no matter their physical or mental abilities. Please let us know of any accomodations needed no less than one (1) week prior to your scheduled program.