School Habitats Resources
Looking for ways to use your school's outdoor classroom? Check out the resources we've collected for ideas, background knowledge, and curriculum.
- Guidelines for the Habitat — Every school habitat should have published guidelines
- Habitat Safety Contract — Students agree to follow all safety rules in the habitat
Armand Bayou Nature Center — Armand Bayou Nature Center's mission is to provide public environmental education and perpetually preserve the ecosystems it protects. ABNC demonstrates the need to conserve this and other natural areas for the enlightenment and enjoyment of this and future generations.
Houston Arboretum and Nature Center — The Houston Arboretum & Nature Center provides education about the natural environment to Houstonians of all ages while acting as an urban wildlife sanctuary for native plants and animals.
Houston Audubon Society — The Houston Audubon Society works for the thoughtful conservation of the earth's natural resources by educating people to the value of the natural world; protecting, preserving, and enhancing wildlife habitat; and encouraging the passage of legislation to protect the environment.
Junior Master Gardener — The Junior Master Gardener curriculum engages children in novel, “hands-on” group and individual learning experiences that promote a love of gardening, develop an appreciation for the environment, and cultivate the mind.
Nature Discovery Center — A hands-on center where families explore science and nature.
Project Learning Tree (PLT) — All PLT activities found within the Pre-K-12 curriculum guide the learner from awareness and knowledge to action.
Project WET - Water Education for Teachers — An interdisciplinary, supplementary education program for educators
Project WILD — Project WILD is one of the most widely used conservation and environmental education programs among educators of students in kindergarten through high school.
Texas Forestry Association — Teacher workshops and packets, student scholarships
Texas Children in Nature — TCiN wants everyone to have access to nature-based learning opportunities.
Texas Water Resources Institute — The TWRI serves as a focal point for water related research at Texas universities.
TPWD Educational Resources — Aquatic science resources for teachers and students
TPWD Publications for Kids — Print your own Outdoor Kids Journal available in three sizes
Backyard Conservation (NRCS) — Backyard Conservation shows you how conservation practices that help conserve and improve natural resources on agricultural land across the country can be adapted for use around your home
Creating a School Habitat: A Planning Guide for Habitat Enhancement on School Grounds in Texas (TPWD)
Developing an Outdoor Classroom (Fernbank Science Center)
Monarch Waystation Program + Certification — Monarch Waystations are places that provide resources necessary for monarchs to produce successive generations and sustain their migration
NWF Schoolyard Habitats + Certification — Wildlife habitats become places where students not only learn about wildlife species and ecosystems, but also outdoor classrooms where they hone their academic skills and nurture their innate curiosity and creativity
Pollinator Habitat Certification Program (Environmental Education Alliance of Georgia)
School Gardening (Kids Gardening) — School Gardening engages students by providing a dynamic environment to observe, discover, experiment, nurture and learn
Texas Wildscapes Certification Program — A habitat restoration and conservation plan for rural and urban areas by the Texas Parks and Wildlife Department
Wetlands Protection and Restoration (EPA) — Issues of waterways and their protection
National Wetlands Inventory — Produces information on the characteristics, extent, and status of the Nation's wetlands and deepwater habitats
Wetland and Aquatic Research Center — Clearinghouse of scientific information about wetlands and other aquatic ecosystems
North American Wetlands Conservation Act — Grant program to increase bird populations and wetland habitat
NRCS Wetlands — Information about America's wetlands and conservation easements
Texas Wetlands — An informative guide to every aspect of wetlands from TPWD
iNaturalist — Explore and share your observations from the natural world
Lady Bird Johnson Wildflower Center — Discover more than 9,000 plants native to North America
Native American Seed — Native wildflowers, grasses, and seed mixes
Native Plant Society of Texas — NPSOT wants to protect our state’s native plant heritage and preserve it for future generations.
USDA Plants Database — Standardized information about the vascular plants, mosses, liverworts, hornworts, and lichens of the U.S. and its territories.
Wildflowers in Bloom — Photos, growing information, and seed sources
Accepted Texas Species — The official list of bird species accepted for Texas by the Texas Bird Records Committee (TBRC) of the Texas Ornithological Society
Bug Guide — Identification, images, and information for insects, spiders, and their kin for the United States and Canada
Butterflies and Moths of North America — Create a regional checklist of butterflies and moths
eBird: The Great Backyard Bird Count — Citizen-science project to collect data on wild birds
Houston Audubon — Great resource on birds, birding, and bird habitats for the Houston area
iNaturalist — Explore and share your observations from the natural world
All About Birds — Excellent resource with photos, bird songs, and live cams
Texas Bug Book: The Good, the Bad, and the Ugly
The Mammals of Texas — Online edition of The Mammals of Texas
Wildlife Fact Sheets (TPWD) — Fact sheets for amphibians, birds, fish, invertebrates, mammals, reptiles and plants
Bird Checklists for Texas
Bird Checklists for Texas State Parks, Historic Sites and Wildlife Management Areas