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Park Herpetologists

Activity

Spotting Reptiles and Amphibians

Learn about the differences between reptiles and amphibians on a reptile and amphibian hunt! Memorial Park is home to many different types of reptiles and amphibians. Watch for red-eared slider turtles, gulf coast toads, ribbon snakes, and lizards roaming the Park. When you find one, try to determine if it is a reptile or amphibian and why. (scavenger hunt)

Science Seed

Reptiles and amphibians are both cold-blooded (ectothermic) creatures, but they have several key differences that set them apart. While reptiles have dry, scaly skin covered in keratin (like our fingernails), amphibians have smooth, moist skin that they can actually breathe through, which is why they need to stay near clean water. Another major difference is their life cycle – reptiles are born as miniature versions of adults, either hatching from leathery-shelled eggs or through live birth, while amphibians begin life in water as gooey eggs in the water that hatch into juveniles, like tadpoles, before undergoing metamorphosis to become adults. You can spot reptiles like snakes, lizards, and turtles in many different environments since they’ve adapted to life fully on land, but amphibians like frogs, toads, and salamanders must stay close to water or moist areas to survive.

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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 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