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Feather Detectives

Activity

How Shape Determines Function

Look for feathers on the ground near the pollinator garden, outdoor classroom, or rain garden — places where birds often rest, nest, or forage. Once you find a feather, observe its shape and texture: Is it soft and fluffy or stiff and flat? Try to guess whether it’s used for flight, warmth, waterproofing, or something else. Can you match it to any of the birds you have seen or heard around campus?

Science Seed

Feathers tell us a lot about a bird’s lifestyle. Flight feathers are long and aerodynamic, helping birds like mourning doves or grackles soar and maneuver. Down feathers, often found in nests, are short and fluffy, helping birds like finches stay warm. Contour feathers give birds their shape and may be shed more often near trees where mockingbirds and blue jays perch. Navarro’s green spaces attract a range of birds, and their feathers can give clues about their behaviors, such as nesting, preening, or migrating through the area.

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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 Navarro Early College High School

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.

Navarro Early College High School is a vibrant, diverse public high school in Austin, Texas, grounded in a culture of pride, respect, and responsibility. Through a partnership with Austin Community College, Navarro’s Early College program allows students to earn up to an associate degree at no cost while completing their high school diploma, giving them a strong head start on college and career pathways. The school offers a wide range of academic, arts, athletics, and career-focused opportunities, and fosters a supportive community where students can explore their interests, build skills, and prepare for success beyond graduation.