JONES PARK

EVENTS AND PROGRAMS AT JESSE H. JONES PARK & NATURE CENTER

4 PONTOON BOAT TOURS Saturday, all day Registration required beginning Wed., March 25. Ages 8+. Take a leisurely tour along Spring Creek and learn about the area’s natural history and wildlife.

11 EASTER GAMES Saturday, 10 a.m. – noon Registration required beginning Wed., April 1. Ages 12 and younger. Bring a picnic lunch and enjoy egg rolls, bunny races, spoon races, and other traditional Easter games at the Redbud Hill Homestead.

SECOND SATURDAY SETTLERS: NATURAL DYES Saturday, 1 p.m. – 3 p.m. Volunteers and staff bring the homestead to life as they demonstrate natural methods of dyeing fabrics and other early-Texas settler chores.

12 NATURE HUNT Sunday, 10 a.m. – 2 p.m. Ages 5 - 13. Explore park trails to solve clues and earn prizes.

FISH OF SPRING CREEK Saturday, 10 a.m. Registration required beginning Wed., April 15. Ages 8+. Learn about local freshwater fish species and watch the Texas Parks & Wildlife Department electro-shock boat reveal what lives in Spring Creek.

EVENING BUG WALK Saturday, 7 p.m. Registration required beginning Wed., April 15. Ages 8+. Discover nighttime buzzing, chirping, and singing invertebrates with a staff naturalist using sampling and catch methods.

MAY

2 SUMMER NATURE CAMP REGISTRATION Saturday, 8 a.m. Online registration begins Mon., May 4. Children are invited to Pines, Ponds & Prairies, a four-day educational summer program. A parent or legal guardian must present identification and child’s birth certificate upon registration. Harris County residents receive priority. Registration is ongoing until full. For camp dates and times, visit www.hcp4.net/ jones.

25 CITY NATURE CHALLENGE Saturday, 8:30 a.m. – 2 p.m. Registration required beginning Wed., April 15. Ages 10+. Join staff naturalists and volunteer guides throughout the day to explore and document park plant and animal diversity. Closed-toe shoes required.

2 NATURE PHOTO CONTEST RIBBON PRESENTATION Saturday, 1 p.m. Check out this year’s best photos at the Nature Photo Contest awards ceremony. Contest entries due Tuesday, April 28. For more information, visit www.hcp4.net/ jjp/photocontest.

9 MOTHER’S DAY NATURE CRAFT Saturday, 10 a.m. Registration required beginning Wed., April 29. Ages 5+. Make a handmade nature craft to give as a Mother’s Day gift.

SECOND SATURDAY SETTLERS: LADIES’ DAY Saturday, 1 p.m. – 3 p.m. Witness the daily activities of settler women, including spinning and weaving, laundry, cooking, butter churning, and more, as staff and volunteers use handson demonstrations to bring the Redbud Hill Homestead to life.

23 SCAVENGER HUNT Saturday, 10 a.m. Registration required beginning Wed., May 13. Ages 5 - 15. Young nature lovers and scout groups are invited to an afternoon of discovery, racing to search for objects in the park.

30 BITES, STINGS, & ITCHES Saturday, 10 a.m. Identify summer hazards, such as poison ivy, venomous snakes, and dangerous arthropods. Learn how to avoid bites, stings, and rashes and ways to treat in case of accidental contact.

JUNE

6 NATIONAL TRAILS DAY: CREEK BASH Saturday, 9 a.m. All ages. Ages 16+ only for canoeing clean-up. Registration required beginning Wed., May 27. Nothing ruins a scenic waterway faster than litter. Join us to help keep Spring Creek clean and make an impact on the environment for future generations. Wear suitable clothing.

13 SECOND SATURDAY SETTLERS: CHINKING Saturday, 1 p.m. – 3 p.m. Get your hands dirty with volunteers at the Redbud Hill Homestead. Mix clay, sand, and straw to create chink, the insulation pioneers used between logs on their cabins.

SECOND SUNDAY PICKERS APRIL 12 | MAY 10 | JUNE 14

20 ALL ABOUT TEXAS BATS Saturday, 1 p.m. Join a staff naturalist to discover which bat species are found in Texas, the role they play in the wild, and the threats to bat populations. Learn ways to make your backyard and neighborhood bat friendly.

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27 TAKE ME FISHING Saturday, 8:30 a.m. – 2 p.m. Registration required at www. fishingsfuture.org. Ages 8+. Through a partnership with Fishing’s Future and Texas Parks & Wildlife Department, staff and volunteers share the skills and joys of fishing. All equipment is provided. Please bring a lunch.

ONGOING

TADPOLES CLUB

Wednesdays, May 6, 13, 20, and 27, 10:30 a.m. or 1 p.m.

Ages 3 and 4 only! Parent must accompany child. Sorry, no younger or older siblings. Registration required beginning Wed., April 1. This interactive program introduces preschool-aged children to nature with animals, puppets, crafts, and stories.

INVASIVES BEWARE

Saturdays, April 18, May 16, and June 20, 9 a.m. – 11 a.m. Ages 16+ or accompanied by adult.

Join the JJP Eradicators to record and remove invasive plant species in the park. Wear long pants and closed-toe shoes.

SECOND SUNDAY PICKERS

Sundays, April 12, May 10, and June 14, 2 p.m. – 4 p.m.

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JESSE JONES PARK VOLUNTEERS

Mondays, April 27, May 18, and June 29, 7 p.m. Ages 16+ or accompanied by adult.

Everyone is invited to attend the JJPV monthly program and meeting. Call for more information about volunteer opportunities.

CONSERVATION CONNECTIONS

Wednesdays, 8:30 a.m. Ages 16+ or accompanied by adult.

Volunteers are invited to assist with a variety of park conservation projects, such as maintaining the gardens, propagation, and habitat restoration. Wear closed-toe shoes. Bring garden gloves and a water bottle. Long pants and hat recommended.

TAI CHI

Wednesdays, 9 a.m. Volunteer John Spencer leads this one-hour beginner class in the outdoor classroom next to the Nature Center.

HOMESTEAD OPEN HOUSE

Wednesdays and Saturdays, 1 p.m. – 4 p.m.