Organic and Public Botanic Gardens for Dallas' Enjoyment and Education

About Us

Our MISSION: To have a positive impact on the future of Texas by teaching people effective ways to restore, conserve and preserve nature in the urban environment through the use of native and adapted plants that illustrate the interrelationship of Butterflies, Bugs and Botany.

Our GOALS

to provide a base of knowledge and understanding of the far reaching benefits of caring for the environment and to inspire community members to take positive action throughout their lives.
to maintain gardens growing resource-efficient native and adapted plants that are appropriate for residential and urban landscapes.
To provide self-paced, curriculum-supported tours utilizing the butterfly house, exhibit hall and gardens.
To provide hands-on learning experiences throughout the campus.
To display blooming plants in seasonal exhibits.

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HISTORY
Opened in 1936 as the Hall of Horticulture for the Texas Centennial Exposition, the 7.5-acre campus includes the first public conservatory built in the Southwestern United States. Chartered in 1941 as a 501(c)(3) private, non-profit organization, Texas Discovery Gardens is the second oldest botanical institution in Texas, and the first in Dallas to offer botanical education programs for children. Since 1995, in conjunction with the State Fair of Texas, Texas Discovery Gardens has hosted an annual live butterfly immersion exhibit. In 2003, Texas Discovery Gardens was certified as the first 100% organic public garden in the state.

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PURPOSE
Through programs and exhibits, the purpose of Texas Discovery Gardens is to inspire and encourage knowledge gathering and appreciation of natural systems and their functions, especially:

the impact of butterflies, bugs and botany on our environment,
the health and beautification of the urban environment, and
the cause and effect relationship of horticulture to our environment.

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EDUCATION PROGRAMS
Texas Discovery Gardens offers interdisciplinary, hands-on, instruction that incorporates our 7.5-acre garden classroom. Programs are designed to be catalysts to excite children and adults about science education and to improve science education delivery. Staff and volunteers also visit schools, clubs, service organizations, daycare centers and other public venues where they teach through demonstration as well as interactive participation from the audience.

Since 1968, Texas Discovery Gardens has provided age-appropriate, hands-on natural science education programs. The structured, TEKS curriculum-based classes conducted by the Education Department are available on- and off-site under the Earthkeepers name and include: Gardening for Children, Life in the Compost Bin, Terrarium Worlds, Math In Nature and Butterflies, Bugs and Botany. Teacher workshops are also hands-on and provide information/techniques for presenting science in the classroom. All programs meet the requirements for:

National Science Standards and
Texas Essential Knowledge and Skills for Math, Science, Reading, and Social Studies (TEKS).

Texas Discovery Gardens is approved by the Texas State Board for Educator Certification to offer programs awarding Continuing Professional Education units.

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COMMUNITY COLLABORATION
Texas Discovery Gardens partners with two South Dallas schools, Daniel Chappie James Learning Center (grades 4-6) and O.M. Roberts Elementary School, providing supplemental science education programs. Programs are also developed and presented with ArtsPartners, Region 10 Education Center, Dallas Zoo, Dallas Aquarium and Dallas Museum of Natural History. Staff members also participate in community and nationwide activities such as Earth Day, Monarch Watch and many others.

PROFESSIONAL PARTNERSHIPS
Texas Discovery Gardens participates in, and works in conjunction with, numerous local, state and national education and horticulture-related professional societies: American Association of Botanical Gardens and Arboreta, American Zoological and Aquarium Association, Entomological Society of America, International Congress of Butterfly Exhibitors and Suppliers, and the Texas Environmental Education Advisory Committee. Working partnerships have been established with Dallas Independent School District, Stephen F. Austin State University, Texas A & M University and Extension service, and Richland College. Texas Discovery Gardens is the only Dallas institution permitted by the Texas Department of Agriculture and the United States Department of Agriculture to import, house and exhibit live tropical butterflies.

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ACCOMPLISHMENTS FOR 2005

25,000 schoolchildren participated in Texas Discovery Gardens educational programs.
Texas Discovery Gardens public participation was more than 160,000. Numerous community presentations were made by staff reaching an audience of more than 900.
30,000 annual & perennial plants produced for Texas Discovery Gardens programs and plantings
Volunteers contributed more than 9,800 hours valued at more than $170,000 to support operations.

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GOVERNANCE and STAFF
The board of Texas Discovery Gardens is a 28-member volunteer governing and policy-making body, representing a cross-section of the Greater Metroplex population. The board includes professional people and community volunteers, all of whom have genuine and sincere interest in the mission and activities of Texas Discovery Gardens.

Click here for a list of staff members.