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Sidewinders

Activity

Snake Race Challenge

Have a snake race! Lay on your stomach and wiggle side to side to get to your destination. Have a competition to see who makes the fastest snake and can wiggle to the finish line the quickest.

Science Seed

Snakes are extremely flexible, with 200 to 400 vertebrae compared to the 33 that humans have. This allows them to move in several unique ways. Many, like the Texas rat snake, use a side-to-side slithering motion, while others, such as the rough green snake, inch forward in tight spaces resembling the motion of an accordion or concertina called concertina movement. Larger snakes, like the Texas indigo, may crawl in a straight line by pushing their belly scales against the ground. In Memorial Park, you might encounter species like the Texas rat snake, rough green snake, and even the brightly colored, venomous Texas coral snake, each moving in ways adapted to their environment. Remember to always give wildlife, like snakes, space and observe them from a distance. Snakes are fascinating to watch and play a critical role in their ecosystems!

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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