By Amber Caceres    

Celebrate the holidays in nature. See thousands of beautiful lights and decorations on nature trails at the Heard Natural Science Museum & Wildlife Sanctuary’s Holiday Trail of Lights in McKinney.

Enjoy walking along the sanctuary trails listening to holiday music and take pictures with Mother Nature and Father Christmas. Listen to caroling and live concerts and see the indoor exhibit, Animal Superheroes. The event is December 17th, 18th and 19th from 6:30-9 pm. People will also have the opportunity to learn about how the Heard is important for the community and for preserving nature as well as the activities, events, education programs, ropes course and canoe programs and dozens of other opportunities they offer.

 Children ages 5-12 can also enjoy holiday workshops December 20th-22nd. They will have the opportunity to take winter guided nature hikes, learn about bird and other animal winter diets, see museum exhibits and create holiday decorations with natural resources.

Enjoy more nature holiday events and activities in the Dallas-Fort Worth area:

Trinity River Audubon Center

Free third Thursday, December 15th for animal encounters and guided educational hikes from 9 am-9 pm. Members can also enjoy a holiday party in the evening from 6:30-8:30 pm.

Dallas Arboretum

Experience the beautiful It’s a Fairy Tale World holiday program now through December 31st. See the interpretations of fairy tale stories in the new DeGolyer estate, enjoy holiday tea, see live reindeer, participate in the holiday scavenger hunt and much more. Check the website for dates and schedules.

Dallas Zoo

Enjoy holiday events and programs including Breakfast with Santa on December 10thfrom 9-11:30 am, Lunch with Santa on December 11th from 11:30 am-1:30 pm and Snowfari Winter Camps December 19th-21st and 27th-29th.

 Fort Worth Zoo

Winter Zoo Camps are December 20th-22nd and 27th-29th and special Holiday Adoption gift ideas are available.

Texas Discovery Gardens

Learn about how butterflies live during the winter with a special Butterfly Seasons program on December 10th from 10-11 am. Take a colorful and educational Living Ornaments Garden Walk on December 17th from 11 am-noon.

Dallas Museum of Nature & Science

Children can enjoy two holiday events in December through the Hand in Hand education program. Destination North Pole is December 7th from 10-11:30 am for a holiday book reading and crafting.  At the same time on December 14th, Festival of Lights gives kids the opportunity to sing and learn about different holiday celebrations throughout the world.

For a complete listing of all green  events in Dallas - Fort Worth
see http://greensourcedfw.org/calendar

 


Amber Caceres is an advocate for eco-conscious living. She has worked in the marcomm industry including managing marketing and communications for nature education in the nonprofit sector. She supports nature preservation and animal protection societies including the National Audubon Society, World Wildlife Fund, Ocean Conservancy, Nature Conservancy, Cousteau's Ocean Futures Society, Sea Shepherd and The Humane Society. Researching and sharing new, practical ways that people and businesses can be environmentally and socially responsible is one of her passions. Email Amber at annkais@aol.com