Located 16 miles south of downtown Dallas in Cedar Hill, Dogwood Canyon Audubon Center at Cedar Hill (DCAC) will celebrate its grand opening with a free weekend of activities Saturday, September 10 and Sunday, September 11.

Dogwood Canyon contains the widest variety of rare species in North Texas as plants and animals from east, west and Central Texas converge there.  Sustainably built for LEED certification, the Dogwood Canyon Audubon Center, with its miles of trails, nature-play areas, native gardens and educational programs enables visitors to experience this “wild and special place.”  The opening of the center makes Dallas County, which also has the Trinity River Audubon Center, the only county in the country served by two Audubon centers.

The Botanical Research Institute of Texas (BRIT) is a global institute for the conservation and preservation of botanical heritage through education, research, scientific publications, and collections. 

Our Mission is to conserve our natural heritage by deepening our knowledge of the plant world and achieving public understanding of the value plants bring to life.

Over one million plant specimens are housed in the BRIT Herbarium, making this the largest independent herbarium in the southeastern US. The herbarium has strengths in the plants of Texas, Oklahoma, Arkansas, Tennessee, the Gulf Coast, and the southeastern United States.  However, the collections are worldwide in scope, and most of the Earth’s plant families are represented here. In addition, two of our current field research projects -- one in Papua New Guinea and one in Peru -- have greatly expanded the scope of our collection of tropical specimens.

All public visitors are welcome. Staff assistance is required in order to use the herbarium or the library.  Collections are unavailable for use when a staff member is not on site. BRIT offers tours, classes, exhibits, and more.

The Bob Jones Nature Center and Preserve provides a unique opportunity to explore and discover. We’re here to help you appreciate the beauty and understand the importance of our Cross Timbers ecosystem. Come to hike, to bird, or to learn more about this precious North Central Texas habitat.

We provide a variety of events, educational workshops and classes. We have programs for schools, scouting, seniors and more. There are gardens, a compost demo area, as well as areas for birding and wildlife viewing.

Tucked into the folds of the soft rolling hills of north central Texas, situated beneath the Lewisville Dam, the Lewisville Lake Environmental Learning Area (LLELA) occupies a unique ecological position in the landscape of North America. It is here where the northwestern-most extent of the bottomland forests stretch fingers into the southern end of the tallgrass prairie of the Midwest; where the Elm Fork of the Trinity River winds its way out of the sandy uplands of the dry Cross Timbers into the deep, rich soils of the Blackland prairies; where agricultural lands intergrade with ranching and a rapidly growing urban expanse.

LLELA offers a variety of family activities such as birding, hiking, kayaking and more.

LLELA provides a variety of educational workshops for students and holds Project WILD workshops for teachers, home school parents, scout leaders and others. It is involved in several restoration and research projects. It offers volunteer opportunites in restoration and research, preservation, and education.

The Native Plant Society of Texas wants to preserve our state's rich heritage for future generations. NPSOT is a non-profit organization run by volunteers who work to promote native plant appreciation, research, and conservation through 33 chapters located around the state. 

Chapters host monthly meetings on a variety of topics such as: Caterpillar Gardening with Native Plants, The Wild Onions of North Central Texas, Texas Ferns, Making a Native Plant Garden, and Invasive Plants Species.

Local chapters include:

Texas Master Naturalists aims to develop a corps of well-informed volunteers to provide education, outreach, and service dedicated to the beneficial management of natural resources and natural areas within their communities. Many communities and organizations rely on such citizen volunteers for implementing youth education programs; for operating parks, nature centers, and natural areas; and for providing leadership in local natural resource conservation efforts. In fact, a short supply of dedicated and well-informed volunteers is often cited as a limiting factor for community-based conservation efforts.

Texas Master Naturalists not only get their feet wet and their hands dirty, but while doing so they spend time in a natural setting, learn about different plant and animal species, and maybe even find something new: One member, in fact, discovered a new plant species.

To become a Texas Master Naturalist, each volunteer:

Escape the concrete of the city and hike over 6.5 miles of self-guided or interpreted nature trails that wind though the diverse habitats of our 289-acre wildlife sanctuary, including tall grass prairie, bottomland hardwood and limestone escarpment. Take advantage of the opportunity to encounter many species of birds, insects and animals.  

The Heard offers programs for adults and children, field trips, guided nature trails and animal presentations, night hikes, and more.

Exotic spicy fragrances greet those visiting the Heard native plant garden in spring. As early as mid-February the Red Bay and Agaritas begin to flower sending sweet saffron scents throughout the garden. Buffalo currents begin their six weeks of fragrant flowering the trout lilies slyly emerge from the leaf litter under the live oaks. There is always something new to see, smell and enjoy!

Texas Discovery Gardens' mission is to teach effective ways to restore, conserve and preserve nature in the urban environment, with a focus on gardening organically and sustainably.

Located at historic Fair Park in Dallas, Texas Discovery Gardens is a year-round organic urban oasis filled with natural wonders for visitors of all ages. 

Immerse yourself in tropical butterflies in our brand new Rosine Smith Sammons Butterfly House and Insectarium. Meander down our canopy walkway as you see hundreds of free-flying tropical butterflies and our collection of tropical plants.

Outside, wander through 7.5 acres of organically maintained garden displays that feature native and adapted plants. From spring through fall, you may see all stages of the butterfly's life cycle (egg, caterpillar, pupae and adult) in our native butterfly habitat! Or, stroll through our heirloom rose garden, EarthKeepers veggie garden, picturesque Grand Allee du Meadows, and more..,

Texas Discovery Gardens offers classes and workshops for all ages.

All volunteer run annual Earth Day celebration held at Lake Cliff Park in Oak Cliff.   Held on the Sunday before Earth Day.  Our web address is http://www.oakcliffearthday.com.   The mailing address is P. O. Box 5243 Dallas, TX 75208-5243.  You can also check us out on Facebook.

Welcome to the Nature Center!

The Fort Worth Nature Center and Refuge (FWNC&R) is a hidden jewel-a wilderness comprised of forests, prairies, and wetlands reminiscent of how much of the Fort Worth/Dallas Metroplex once looked. Replete with native flora and fauna, the FWNC&R beckons to those searching for a tranquil piece of nature.
At 3,621 acres, the FWNC&R is one of the largest city-owned nature centers in the United States. Over 20 miles of hiking trails provide easy access to a myriad of natural wonders to be found on the refuge. The FWNC&R offers a variety of education programs and hikes for individuals, schools and families. The staff is also heavily involved in Land Management techniques to ensure that the natural history of North Central Texas is preserved.