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Cool Under the Canopy

Activity

Feel the Difference

Visit the Picnic Loop or the Bayou Wilds Trails and stand under the large trees. Can you feel the difference in temperature during the day under the shade of the large tree versus when you stand in the sun?

Science Seed

Standing under the shade of large trees can feel significantly cooler than being in direct sunlight. This temperature difference occurs because trees provide shade that blocks sunlight, preventing it from heating the ground and air underneath. The process of transpiration, where trees release water vapor from their leaves, also cools the surrounding area. This natural cooling effect is important for maintaining comfortable temperatures in our environment and can help reduce heat in urban areas. Consider planting more native trees in your yard or to shade your street and cool your neighborhood. Cooling urban areas with increased tree cover helps cities adapt to a warming planet.

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earn Badges

Badges can be earned through hands-on experiences within each of the 16 branches of science, or “Science Slices.” You can earn a badge in each branch of science by doing four activities in these categories. We also encourage participants to keep a Nature Journal to record their memories, and to express themselves creatively through writing or drawing after each activity. We recommend that each child (and parent if they’d like) write or draw in a journal after each activity, with expectations of your children that match their age (the goal is self-expression, not perfection).

Explore the Memorial Park Conservancy

The mission of Memorial Park Conservancy is to preserve, restore, and enhance Memorial Park for the enjoyment of all Houstonians, today and tomorrow.

join Families in Nature

It is our vision to inspire all families to fall in love with nature and foster the next generation of conservationists. Becoming a member of Families in Nature will give your family the opportunity to have adventures in nature, experience field science, develop as youth conservation leaders, and make memories that will last a lifetime. Memberships are free for everyone.

Who are we?

Families in Nature works to create opportunities for nature connection with the purpose of sparking a deep love and desire to protect, conserve and restore the environment. Our mission is to connect children and their families to nature and to each other through time spent learning, playing, and volunteering outdoors. It is our vision to inspire ALL families to fall in love with nature and foster the next generation of conservationists.

This project was made possible by