The Austin Nature & Science Center offers nature and science-based educational programs for a variety of school groups, including public, private, preschool, and homeschool.
Quick links
- Instructor-Led Field Trips - closed for 2024-2025 school year
- Homeschool Programs- closed for the 2024-2025 school year
- Self-Guided Tours
- Planning Your Trip
Instructor-led programs are closed for the 2024-2025 school year.
- Program Overview
-
Registration is currently closed. Updates coming soon.
- Registration: Overview
-
Instructor-led programs are closed for the 2024-2025 school year.
2025-2026 Details coming soon!
- Registration: Directions
-
Instructor-led programs are closed for the 2024-2025 school year.
2025-2026 Details coming soon!
- Day of Program Details
-
Instructor-led programs are closed for the 2024-2025 school year.
2025-2026 Details coming soon!
Homeschool programs are STEAM-focused and instill an appreciation of the natural world while allowing collaboration and socializing with peers. We offer monthly meet-ups, a science club, and an adventure club.
Monthly Meet-Up and Science Club registration for the 2024-2025 school year is closed. Registration for our next season will open on Monday, September 15, 2025.
- Monthly Meetup
-
Monthly Meet-Up registration for the 2024-2025 school year is closed. Registration for our next season will open on Monday, September 15, 2025
- Science Club
-
Science Club registration for the 2024-2025 school year is closed. Registration for our next season will open September 15, 2025. Details coming soon!
- Adventure Series
-
Adventure Series registration for the 2024-2025 school year is closed. Registration for our next season will open September 15, 2025. Details coming soon!
- Cancellations and Refund Policy
-
Details for the 2024-2025 school year coming soon!
Explore the Austin Nature & Science Center at your own pace with a Self-Guided Tour.
Reservations are required for organized groups of 15 or more participants. Groups of less than 15 participants do not need to have a reservation. This reservation policy applies to all types of group visitors: schools, non-profits, childcare facilities, homeschool groups, or private groups of 15 people or more.
- Program Overview and Registration
-
Dates & Times:
Registration begins on September 4, 2024 at 10:00 am CST.
Each reservation for a Self-Guided Tour is for a 2-hour field trip window where your group explores the exhibits and grounds at your own pace: either 9:00am-11:00am, 11:00am-1:00pm or 1:00pm-3:00pm. Your group may arrive to begin your field trip anytime during your 2-hour field trip window.
Self-Guided Tour reservations are for any age group up to 200 participants. School or organizational staff (teachers, school staff, instructors, aides) are always FREE and are not included in the group sizes below. If you have a group of more than 200 students, you will need more than one 2-hour field trip window reservation.
We do not offer Instructor-Led Programs or Self-Guided Tours during the summer (June-September) due to the high demand for Summer Camp programs at our facility. We cannot accommodate group visits during summer time of greater than 15 individuals.
Fees & Payment:
To safely and comfortably explore the Austin Nature & Science Center exhibits & grounds, school groups must be divided into smaller groups to explore the center (we recommend groups of 15-25 individuals each starting their exploration at a different exhibit or location at the Center). Up to 5 chaperones are allowed for every 25 students.
Self-Guided Tours for All Schools (per 2-hour field trip window) at ANSC:
Registration Steps
- Check availability of your preferred dates/times in RecTrac here.
- Fill out the online Self-Guided Tour Registration Form. It may help to have the following information handy:
- Three preferred dates/times that show as available on RecTrac
- Grade Level of students, if applicable.
- # of students / participants
- # of teachers / organizational staff
- # of chaperones (maximum of 5 chaperones per group of 25 students)
- Your plans for eating lunch and/or snacks on site, if any. We are a pack-it-in pack-it-out facility on a nature preserve, so any plans that involve eating on site must include taking trash and recycling back to your campus for disposal.
- Our administrative staff will reach out to you via your preferred method of contact within 72 hours to make your reservation.
- Once you have reserved a date and time, our programs staff will email you a copy of your invoice with balance due.
Cancellation & Refund Policy
- Inclement Weather Cancellation/Rescheduling – Our site is open rain or shine. In case of predicted precipitation: please plan to bring appropriate outdoor weather clothing and gear. Please reconsider eating lunch on site if precipitation is predicted, there is NO indoor or covered space to eat. In the case of severe or dangerous weather conditions predicted by NOAA or local emergency management agencies, administration staff will work with you to cancel or transfer to any other available dates free of charge.
- Cancellation / Refunds: If a written cancellation request is received to anscprograms@austintexas.gov 30 or more calendar days in advance of your reservation, we will gladly refund your balance minus a $35 processing fee (or your field trip fee balance, whichever is less). If a written cancellation request is made with less than 30 calendar day notice, there will be no refunds or credits issued, and you will owe any balance due.
These documents will help you prepare for your visit!
- Maps
-
- Driving Directions to ANSC
- Bus Driver Bus Lane arrival- We have a bus lane along Stratford Dr that is oriented toward ANSC for participant drop-off. The most accessible way to position correctly is to drive through the Rollingwood neighborhood. Once students have unloaded, buses must then move to a different parking spot. We do not have designated bus parking spaces.
- Nature Center Site
- Zilker Nature Preserve
- Scavenger Hunts
-
- PreKindergarten - 1st Grade
- 2nd - 5th Grade
- Frequently Asked Questions
-
Reservations, Cancellations, and Rescheduling
What if it rains or there is severe weather on the day of our field trip?
- Our site is open rain or shine. In case of predicted precipitation, please plan to bring appropriate outdoor weather clothing and gear. Please reconsider eating lunch on site if bad weather is predicted, there is NO indoor or covered space to eat. In the case of severe or dangerous weather conditions predicted by NOAA or local emergency management agencies, or if ANSC must cancel your program, we will work with you to cancel or transfer to another available date free of charge.
What if we need to cancel or reschedule?
-
If a written cancellation request is received at anscprograms@austintexas.gov 30 or more calendar days in advance of your reservation, we will gladly refund your balance minus a $35 processing fee (or your field trip fee, whichever is less). If a written cancellation request is made less than 30 calendar days before your scheduled field trip, there will be no refunds or credits issued, and you will owe any balance due.
Arrival
What happens if I arrive late?
-
Instructor-led programs rely on your on-time arrival to facilitate the program as designed. Please call the front desk staff at 512-974-3888 if you are running late. Instructors will do their best to accommodate late arrivals; however, program length may need to be adjusted.
Where do we go when we arrive?
-
Upon arrival, please unload and meet at the large limestone blocks across from the entry meadow (photo). If your group is divided and some students will be going on a self-guided tour first and other students will be in the instructor-led program first, please send the groups that will be in the instructor-led program up first. We highly recommend having a plan for dividing up your school group before your arrival.
Where do I pay?
-
Please send one representative from your school to our front desk, just inside the main entrance of our Visitor Pavilion.
Buses and Parking
Where can we park?
-
Free parking is available on Stratford Dr. under the MoPac bridge across from the ANSC entrance.
Where should the bus go? Do you have bus parking or bus lanes?
-
We have a bus lane along Stratford Dr that is oriented toward ANSC for participant drop-off. The most accessible way to position correctly is to drive through the Rollingwood neighborhood. (map) Once students have unloaded, buses must then move to a different parking spot. We do not have designated bus parking spaces.
Lunch
Where can we eat lunch?
- You may eat at the Overlook or the Entry Meadow. (photo) We are a pack-it-in pack-it-out facility on a nature preserve, so any plans that involve eating on-site must include taking trash and recycling back to your campus for disposal. In order to limit pests and ants, please do not eat around the animal enclosures or the dino pit.
Is there a place to store our lunches/backpacks/water bottles?
-
Coolers or lunches can be placed in the lunch areas. ANSC is not responsible for lost or stolen items. Items cannot be stored indoors due to space limitations and fire code regulations.
Where do we put our trash and recycling from lunch?
-
We are a pack-it-in pack-it-out facility on a nature preserve, so any plans that involve eating on-site must include taking trash and recycling back to your campus for disposal. We do not have trash or recycling receptacles for large groups.
Is there a place to buy food or drinks?
-
We have a vending machine located by the bathrooms in the Headquarters Building, which only accepts cash. ANSC does not have change and cannot repair/refund/refill the machine.
Is there a gift shop?
-
ANSC does not have a gift shop.
Program Specifics
Will my class be split up the entire time?
-
We try to keep classes together and can accommodate up to 25 students per group for instructor-led programs. If your class is larger than 25, we may need to move some students into a different group for the instructor-led program, but your class will be together for the remainder of your field trip.
What does my class do while they're not in an instructor-led program?
- Students who are not in a program with an instructor are welcome to explore our site with chaperones or teachers. You may also opt to eat lunch while the other half of your students are in their program.
Chaperones
How many chaperones can we have? Where do they meet us?
- Only five chaperones are allowed per group of 25 students. Any additional chaperones must wait outside of classrooms and will not be able to observe the programs.
- Chaperones can meet the school group by the bus loading zone along Stratford Dr or by the limestone blocks across from the entry Meadow where ANSC instructors meet your school.
What are the chaperones' responsibilities? Do they have to pay? Where do chaperones park?
- Chaperones are expected to stay with students as they explore our site to make sure they are safe and accounted for. We also occasionally ask chaperons to assist with activities during programs. Up to five chaperones may accompany groups into classrooms and participate in our instructor-led programs.
- There is no charge for chaperones to attend a field trip with a school group.
- There is parking available along Stratford Dr. under the MoPac Bridge.