The Armand Bayou Nature Center: A Pasadena Treasure

The Armand Bayou Nature Center is one of Pasadena’s hidden treasures. The 2,500-acre nature preserve is the largest urban wilderness preserve in the United States and home to more than 370 unique species of wildlife. You are guaranteed to see something different every time you visit. 

Though the Center is currently closed for COVID-19, they are still working on programming and are ready to open at a moment’s notice with no delays or diminished capacity. Tim Pylate, Executive Director, said, “Right now, get outside and exercise and enjoy the nature around you. Then, when we open back up come and see us. We have exciting new programs that include a kayak tour being offered at a low introductory rate of only $40 per three-hour tour. Join us to explore the most beautiful bayou by kayak where you will be shown a variety of wildlife like ospreys and pelicans, river otters, and alligators. The Armand Bayou is unique in that all other bayous have been channelized or in some way altered where ours remain unchanged other than the restoration work we have completed. It’s truly like stepping back in time to see Texas as it used to be.” In addition to kayak tours, the Armand Bayou Nature Center also offers a chance to see the bayou by pontoon boat every Saturday. 

For those who prefer to enjoy nature by land, there are five miles of hiking trails at the Armand Bayou Nature Center, in addition to gathering areas and places to observe wildlife. School children and families regularly visit to go for walks, explore and experience the three ecosystems found within the center’s 2,500 acres. “Every season brings new things. Spring is great for seeing flowers and migratory birds, including nesting bald eagles. Armadillo’s and deer waking up after a long winter’s nap and can easily be seen when walking the trails. Fall is also beautiful with the colors of foliage. With 900 acres of prairie grasses and flowers that change throughout the year, the views from our trails are truly spectacular,” said Tim Pylate. 

Classes at the Armand Bayou Nature Center

The Armand Bayou Nature Center has developed great partnerships with Houston and Pasadena schools who bring children for field trips and classes, plus the homeschool community and local colleges conduct ecology and biology classes at the center, with some universities conducting research on things like air and water quality. 

Classes are also open to the general public. For example, young children can learn about local wildlife through the introduction of ambassador animals like baby alligators, snakes, turtles, and lizards. These encounters provide an experiential learning process, helping children to understand the importance of local ecology and why preserving nature is so important. 

To raise further awareness, the center is partnering with the Houston Zoo to introduce the public to prairie chickens – a species who used to roam the Texas Tall Grass Prairie. They are now on the verge of extinction with only 80 left in the wild. The Houston Zoo has been breeding them in an attempt to preserve the species. The new enclosure being built at the Armand Bayou Nature Center has been designed to feature this unique animal and to reinforce the importance of protecting what is left of the Texas Tall Grass Prairie ecosystem. After all, only 1 percent of this ecosystem is left and many of the animals, like Bison, who used to roam the prairie are either extinct or can no longer be found outside of the Armand Bayou. 

Visit for Fun Events

The Armand Bayou Nature Center hosts events throughout the year and there is always something new to see or learn. One of the most popular is their firefly hike – an event they host every spring to introduce children and adults to the magic of finding and chasing fireflies. As Tim Pylate likes to say, “When you come here, it’s like stepping back in time and in some cases, adults are seeing creatures like fireflies that they haven’t encountered since they were children.” Other popular events include the annual Pollination Celebration, Creepy Crawlers at Halloween, the Martyn Farm Harvest Festival, Christmas Bird Count and their annual fundraiser and auction. 

These events are widely attended by people in Pasadena and throughout the region. In addition, over 1,000 people volunteer at the center throughout the year, participating in events like Prairie Pandemonium – a prairie restoration project. Then, on a regular basis, they have around 300 dedicated volunteers that serve as naturalist guides and fulfill other important preservation and programing functions. Their commitment highlights how valuable the Armand Bayou Nature Center is to Pasadena and the entire region. 

Connect with Nature While Social Distancing

During the COVID-19 pandemic it may not be possible to attend classes at the center, or to participate in community events. However, it is still possible to learn about, and to connect with, nature. The Armand Bayou Nature Center staff is working hard to post blogs on things like snake identification and ecological preservation, in addition to hosting fun contests on Facebook and suggesting activities for the kids to do at home. Once again, they are proving just how important the Armand Bayou Nature Center is to Pasadena. It truly is one of our local treasures.

“We’re ready to serve the public as soon as the COVID-19 crisis is over. So, view our website, plan your trip and come visit the Armand Bayou Nature Center to enjoy all that we have to offer,” said Tim Pylate.