Armand Bayou Nature Center - Pasadena, Texas - Nature Center

Armand Bayou Nature Center (ABNC) is the largest urban wilderness preserve in the United States and is situated at Bay Area Boulevard in Pasadena, Texas. It opens from 9am to 5pm Tuesday to Saturday and 12pm to 5pm on Sunday with last admission at 4pm. There are 2,500 acres of natural wetlands forest, prairie and marsh habitats once abundant in the Houston/Galveston area, and the center is home to over 370 species of birds, mammals, reptiles and amphibians.

The history of the site dates back thousands of years with Native Americans occupying the site until the late 19th century. Archaeologists have uncovered ancient remains such as pottery, arrowheads, flints, and trash piles evidencing tribes used the area for campsites. In the 1960s, conservationist Armand Yramategui initiated the drive to preserve Armand Bayou and the surrounding lands, which was continued after his death with the creation of ABNC in 1974.

The aim of ABNC is to preserve the wetlands prairie, forest and marsh habitats and allow visitors to experience the Armand Bayou habitats and educate them in the importance of preserving these diminishing habitats. To do this the center organizes hiking trails, exhibits, field trips, Scout programs, birding, a historic farm and many other activities and events. There are four trails for visitors to experience here leading through the different eco systems at the nature center.

There are some monthly night time hikes organized at the center near the time of a full moon, one of which is specifically designed to find owls in the woods, whilst the other takes visitors through the forest looking for raccoons, deer, opossums and other night creatures. A similar excursion has expert guides leading people on a hayride to explore the sights and sounds of the transforming prairie landscape one Friday evening each month. The second and fourth Saturday of each month offers people the opportunity to canoe two to three miles, for a guided tour along the backwaters and enjoy the birds, reptiles and deer.

Every Saturday there are Pontoon boat cruises arranged for parties of up to 12 people, whilst private cruises can be arranged for during the week. The breakfast cruise runs from 8 to 9.30 with rolls, juice and coffee served as guests watch the wildlife, or alternatively visitors may wish to take a later cruise and enjoy the sunset. The moonlight cruise gives guests a chance to take in the sights and sounds of the night with the calls of owls and frogs to be heard and hopefully sightings of raccoons, opossums, nutria, deer, owls, snakes, turtles and alligators.

ABNC also tries to educate visitors and to that extent it arranges regular educational trips. Field trips are organized for school children providing them with important nature and historical information including hands-on learning experiences, with planning, educational tools and safety advice provided by staff at the nature center. Outdoor nature camps are arranged every summer and winter as well as scout programs and community outreaches.