Houston – The kids may be out of school for spring break, but that doesn’t mean the learning has to stop. There are so many fun and educational venues in the area to keep your students engaged this week.
Local educator Dale “Coach B” Bransom believes science, technology, engineering, and mathematics, also known as STEM education go far beyond the textbook.
He’s back on Houston Life with a list of fun and free field trips the entire family can enjoy.
Here are his six top picks for this Spring Break:
1. Buffalo Bayou Bat Extravaganza - Kids can watch the nightly migration of more than 250,000 bats leaving their nesting place to go feed each evening.
2. Sea Center Texas Fishery Tour in Lake Jackson - The Sea Center is a marine aquarium and coastal fish hatchery. The facility is the largest redfish hatchery in the world. The kids can learn about the flounder, redfish, and speckled trout that are raised at the hatchery and put back in our local coastal fisheries. There is also a fishing pond for kids. Admission is free.
3. Texas A&M Nuclear Reactor Tour - This is one of the few nuclear reactors anywhere that kids can visit. It’s free to attend, but reservations must be made in advance and a background check is required.
4. Tour of the Texas A&M Veterinarian College - Kids can get an hour-and-a-half tour of the biggest veterinary school in the country. The school is very new and beautiful. The guides take kids through classrooms and some cool facilities where the animals receive care.
5. Space Cadets Cards and Collectibles in the Woodlands- This is a cool shop with many science-based collectibles that kids can buy or check out. Children can buy unopened packs of older Pokémon cards and hopefully find some valuable ones. Bransom said he has had quite a few kids find cards worth $50 to $100.
6. Texas A&M Physics Show with Viral sensation Dr. Tatiana in College Station. Parents can complete a form that will allow them to come out and see an hour-and-a-half physics show with Dr T. The show is interactive for the kids with many cool demonstrations using liquid nitrogen.
The fun continues into summer. Coach B is the owner of Coach B’s Summer Science Caravan. It is a STEM-focused summer camp that exposes students to a multitude of engaging activities through over 10 field trips in a single week. If you would like your child to participate, Coach B is offering a discount to Houston Life viewers. Use promo code ‘HOUSTONLIFE’ for 5% off the cost of camp. To register, visit his website.