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Stream Speed

Activity

Exploring Water Movement

As you wander along the water, observe different parts of the stream and notice where the water flows faster or slower. At each spot, drop in a leaf or stick to notice how the water moves and changes. Determine how long it takes your object to move from point A to point B. Have a race to see which leaf/stick moves the fastest! What might cause these changes in speed or direction?

Science Seed

Streams move water from high to low areas, powered by gravity. The speed of a stream can vary based on its slope, obstacles, and the width of its channel, affecting the plants and animals that can live there. To measure the speed, or the distance between the points, and use the formula: speed = distance/time. In 2020, a project began to fix up a long section of stream in Memorial Park. This project connects important habitats, creating a corridor for wildlife, and supporting a wider variety of native plants.

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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