Sheldon Lake State Park & Audubon Center

Opening New Eyes to Nature

Imagine a child who has never heard the croaking of frogs in a pond, who has never watched a dove take flight, who has never walked in a field of bluebonnets. Envision a child who will never get the chance to perch on the bank with a fishing pole, hoping for a tell-tale tug on the line.

Many of us take simple outdoor pleasures for granted. Even if we live in cities, we have had opportunities to connect with places that give us a love of nature and a spirit of adventure. But for many Texans, the outdoors is growing more distant. You can help bring it closer.

Just 15 minutes from downtown Houston lies an extraordinary resource for the young people of the city and their families. This unique natural area presents an opportunity for Houston’s residents to experience natural Texas, first hand. Close to home lies a quiet haven where the skyline and din of the city fade away as the beauty and tranquility of the outdoors preside. The park’s 2,881 acres include a 1,244-acre lake and an array of ponds, wetlands and woodlands poised to provide setting for laying the foundation for future stewardship of our natural resources.

With your help, Audubon and Texas Parks and Wildlife are committed to developing this urban oasis into a world-class outdoor education facility. Our goal is to deliver hands-on, field-based education programs to all children, regardless of economic status. These programs strengthen science skills and stimulate critical thinking in students, while also enriching the lives of young people by providing them with the opportunity to experience Texas’s rich natural heritage and become capable stewards of the planet. 

Learning About Nature Close to Home

One of the most pressing needs of Texas students is access to field-based experiences, which are strongly recommended by the Texas Education Agency.  Sheldon Lake State Park and Audubon Center offers these experiences right in Houston’s backyard, strengthening and reinforcing classroom scientific concepts, and introducing students to nature as a context for life-long learning. 

Audubon Centers serve as living laboratories for these field-based science education programs.  As outdoor classrooms, Audubon Centers provide settings and guides to help people learn about the natural world and motivate them to care for the resources around them.  Audubon’s curricula are developed in partnership with local school districts and are aligned with state standards, addressing the need for students to improve and strengthen their science skills.  The Center will embody the highest possible architectural and environmental design excellence, both accommodating learning experiences and also serving as an enduring lesson in sustainable design. 

Across the country, Audubon Centers are inspiring millions of Americans to protect their natural resources.  At Sheldon Lake, we are creating a special place to unveil a world many children and families have never seen, sparking a lifelong love of nature, changing lives, and preserving our natural heritage.

Become part of the future for Sheldon Lake State Park and Audubon Center