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Eco-Boats

Activity

Craft and Compete

Collect fallen leaves, sticks, and other natural materials, then design and build a small boat to race on the surface of a pond or stream. Observe how the shape, size, and materials affect how the boats float and move through the water. Race your boat with others!
Hydro 2 (2)
Hydro 2 (3)
Hydro 2

Science Seed

Why do some things float and others don’t? The secret is buoyancy, or the ability of objects to float in water and air. Whether or not an object has buoyancy depends mostly on two factors: the amount of water an object displaces and the density of the object. An object that is less dense than water will float on water. A boat is very heavy and dense, but it weighs less than the water that it displaces, so it floats. If a boat is too heavy for its size and displaces too little water, the boat will sink.
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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

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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

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