Home School Program Policy Handbook

Mission Statement
Education and Programs Department
Goals of the Home School Program
Objectives for Classes
Policies and Procedures

• Individual Registration
• Private Group Registration
• Cancellations
• Arrival/Departure
• Classroom Rules

 

MISSION STATEMENT

The mission of the Houston Arboretum & Nature Center is to provide education about the natural environment to people of all ages and to protect and enhance the Arboretum as a haven and as a sanctuary for native plants and animals. The Houston Arboretum & Nature Center (HANC), one of the first nature education facilities for children in the state of Texas, provides services to nearly 200,000 visitors annually. The Arboretum also provides nature education for more than 10,000 children annually. The Houston Arboretum & Nature Center is a 155-acre non-profit urban nature sanctuary located on the western edge of Memorial Park. It is managed by the HANC Board of Directors and staff under an agreement with the City of Houston Parks and Recreation Department. Visitors can enjoy over 5 miles of nature trails, including forest, pond, wetland and meadow habitats. The Discovery Room, inside the building, offers hands-on interactive exhibits, microscopes, touch screens and more for learning about the habitats and plant and wildlife found at the Center.

EDUCATION and PROGRAMS DEPARTMENT

We are a dedicated and professionally trained team of naturalists who encourage exploration and interaction with the natural world.

GOALS of the HOME SCHOOL PROGRAM

Our goal is to provide opportunities and classes for home school children to learn, explore and understand nature, habitats, and ecosystems. We want to enable all children, regardless of the structure of their education, to gain an understanding and appreciation of the natural world. Our role as naturalists is to be an interpretative guide for your children. We want to develop an appreciation for nature through a hands-on and informative experience in Houston’s largest nature sanctuary structured in classes exclusive for home school students.

OBJECTIVES FOR CLASSES

Students will:

Learn and identify roles of an ecosystem as producer, consumer and decomposer.

Label organisms on a food chain/web model.

Explore the three habitats at HANC: Forest, Meadow and Pond and compare/contrast ecosystem differences of each habitat.

Understand the basic principles of an ecosystem:

• A habitat provides the basic needs of organisms.

• Organisms need food, water, shelter and space to survive

• A variety of organisms help recycle nutrients in an ecosystem.

• Organisms in the ecosystem can be identified by their roles.

• Adaptations help organisms survive in their climate

• An ecosystem is interconnected living and non-living things

Identify signs and clues of wildlife at HANC – squirrel, bird, woodpecker, armadillo, rabbit, coyote, anole, skink, turtle, raccoon, fish, snake, tadpole, frog, and crawfish.

Walk on a nature trail and discuss the following terms:

Amphibian, Biome, Biotic, Carnivore, Climate, Cold Blooded, Consumer, Crustacean, Decomposer, Ecosystem, Food web & chain, Habitat, Herbivore, Life cycle, Mammal, Metamorphosis, Nocturnal, Omnivore, Organism, Producer, Reptile, Scat, Scavenger,
and Warm blooded

POLICIES AND PROCEDURES

REGISTRATION and PAYMENT

There are two types of registration – individual and private.

Individual Registration – Classes exclusive for home school students between the ages of 5-12 are scheduled one Friday afternoon each month from 1:30-3:00 p.m. Home school students can register for these classes as individuals. To register:

1. Access the Registration form:
   • Download the individual home school registration form (pdf) (MS Word)
   • Register online.
   • You can also pick up a registration form in person at the Arboretum:
     4501 Woodway Drive, Houston, TX 77024
2. Read and fill out the form completely. All class information is included on the form. An acknowledgement that you have read this handbook is also included on the form.
3. Since class space is limited, we employ a “first come, first serve” policy. Registration forms and payments must be turned in five business days before the scheduled class. No registration will be processed and no reservation can be made without payment.
4. If you decide to participate in a class less than five business days in advance, please contact the registrar to see if there is any space available.
5. You can turn in your registration form with payment through our website, by mail, by fax, or in person before your reservation is confirmed via postcard.
6. Family members are invited to tour the Discovery Room before, during and after class. If parents and siblings under the age of 4 would like to participate in the class, then a fee of $10.00 per person will be required with registration.
7. Payment – In order to insure space, adequate number of staff on duty and supplies, we must enforce payment in advance. Credit card payment is accepted from American Express, VISA, MasterCard or Discover. You can include your credit card information on the registration form to be mailed, faxed or dropped off in person. Personal or cashier’s checks can be mailed or brought in person to HANC. If you are paying in cash, you must do so in person at the front desk.

 

Private Group Registration: - The Houston Arboretum offers privately scheduled classes for groups of 10 or more ages 5-12. You may bring a group of less than 10, but you will be charged for a minimum of 10 students in the amount of $200.00. To register:

1. Access the Registration form:
   • Download the private group home school registration form (pdf) .
   • Register online.
   • You can also pick up a registration form in person at the Arboretum:
     4501 Woodway Drive, Houston, TX 77024
2. Read and fill out the form completely. All class information is included on the form. An acknowledgement that you have read this handbook is also included on the form.
3. Since class space is limited, we employ a “first come, first serve” policy. Registration forms and payments must be turned in five business days before the scheduled class. No registration will be processed and no reservation can be made without payment.
4. In order to reserve a private class you must speak to the home school program coordinator in person or over the phone. Do not mail a group reservation form without making arrangements for an appropriate time and date with the coordinator. The home school coordinator can be reach at 713-681-0423 or by email.
5. Scheduling a private class allows for a great deal of flexibility in choosing the date and time of your choice. It is very important to make reservations as far in advance as possible due to limited classroom availability.
6. Payment – Payment can be made by your group representative by check, money order or credit card. Since you are booking as a group we will not accept individual payments from the participants. It is the duty of the group representative to collect monies from the participants. If you have fewer students than what you had originally reserved and paid for, you are still required to pay the full amount agreed upon at the time of registration. Refunds will not be given for less than the contracted amount of students. Chaperones may join the class at a ratio of 1/10 for free. If additional parents and siblings under the age of 4 would like to participate in the class, then a fee of $10.00 per person will need to be paid for with registration. In order to obtain adequate number of staff, advance notice of additional parents and younger siblings is required. We reserve the right to limit the number of non- registered participants on the trail to the number originally registered on the private group registration form.  

CANCELLATIONS

We are not able to provide full refunds due to staff, materials and costs incurred to process payments, as well as loss of attendance by other students/groups since class space is very limited. We will give a 50% refund if 10 days written notice is given to the HANC registrar prior to class date.

ARRIVAL/DEPARTURE

• You are welcome to walk on the trails, explore the Discovery Room or browse or library before and after class with your children.
• Check in with the front desk and they will let you know which classroom to proceed to.
• You will be asked to sign your child in and out.
• Look for your student’s name badge and have him/her put in on.
• If you are staying with your child you will need to pay the additional fee at the time of registration.
• Please be prompt when picking up your child. A fee will be charged for each 15 minute period you are late in picking up your child.

CLASSROOM RULES

HANC encourages classroom discussion and active participation. We love questions and input from the students. In order for all students to have an optimal learning environment and positive experience we must enforce a few simple rules.

1. Please raise your hand when you want to speak.
2. Respect others. While the naturalist, trail guide or fellow student is speaking, please remain quiet.
3. Respect the nature. We are a nature sanctuary which means all things from the forest must stay in the forest. No picking, collecting or taking mementos home.
4. Stay on the trail and with your group.
5. For parents that stay for class with younger children or babies, please step outside into the hallway if he/she begins to cry, makes noise, or becomes disruptive. Our time is very short and we don’t have time to wait for the child to settle down.
6. Have a great time!