Advanced Training

Why is Texas Parks & Wildlife Department tasked with protecting water for wildlife? How does wildlife use of water and our role in conserving water merge? The TPWD Texas Waters Specialist certification program is a great educational tool to share, creating knowledge-based best practices in protecting watersheds. The actions that follow training engender environmental benefits... Read More →

Have you ever experienced the Big Thicket at night?Free. No reservations necessary. Bring your flashlight to join a ranger on a hike through the Big Thicket in the dark. This hike will explore some of the stories that make the Big Thicket special and mysterious. If you enjoy legends and real-life stories of the Big... Read More →

Fee:  Free.Location: Location will be provided upon registration.Dates & TimesDate:Saturday, May 24, 2025Time:10:00 AMDuration:4 hoursType of EventGuided TourCanoe trips usually take 3-4 hours.DescriptionJoin park rangers for a guided canoe trip on the waters of the preserve. The program targets the casual and novice paddler. Canoes, life jackets, and paddles are provided. Visitors are asked to bring water,... Read More →

$35 member / $50 nonmemberInstructor: Wildlife Center of TexasAges 16+, all minors must be accompanied by an adultEnjoy a unique night out in nature! Enjoy some refreshments (light snacks, hot chocolate, coffee, and Saint Arnold Brewing Company beer) while you meet live owl ambassadors. You’ll learn all about these wise and wonderful birds, and then... Read More →

Fascinating FlycatchersBird's-Eye View on Behavior SeriesMondays at 7pmMay 5 - June 16, 2025Register Now!Join us for this in-depth look at many beautiful and fascinating species of tyrant flycatchers that reside along the Upper Texas Coast and other parts of Texas.We'll highlight species from each of the family groups, including tyrants, Empidonax, pewees, phoebes, and more.... Read More →

It's a trap! Big Thicket's carnivorous plants use deception to trick and trap insects in order to get the nutrients they need.Explore a natural garden of carnivorous plants with a ranger. This 1-mile, hour-long walk on the Pitcher Plant Trail will give you an up-close look at these unusual plants.The Pitcher Plant Trail is located... Read More →

Join guest speaker Haidyn Leigh, with the Texas Hawking Association, in the nature center to learn about various raptors that can be found in our area. Discover what tools are necessary for these agile hunters to survive in our local ecosystems. Find out what it means to be a falconer and get a chance to... Read More →

The Big Thicket is teeming with fascinating and useful plants! Join a Village Creek Park Ranger to explore these species and learn about how people in the past used these plants in everyday life. This hike will meet at the main parking lot, begin on the Village Creek Trail and last roughly 1 hour. Hikers... Read More →

Did you know there are lots of different species of fireflies? Join us for a presentation about fireflies and walk the trail with the "Glow Patrol" and see how many species of fireflies and glow worms (larvae) we can find. Presentation is May 31st, at 7pm at the Texas Chenier Plain NWR HQ and Visitor... Read More →

$35 member / $50 nonmember$20 child (5-12 yrs)Ages 5+Looking for a family adventure? Come and enjoy refreshments (light snacks, hot chocolate, coffee, water, and – for the grown-ups – Saint Arnold Brewing Company beer) while you meet live owl ambassadors. You’ll learn all about these wise and wonderful birds and then you’ll join our Naturalists... Read More →