This year, explore the National Butterfly Center with your students.
Interactive lessons, in the great outdoors:

Engage children and reinforce learning
Increase appreciation for the natural world
Promote good stewardship and conservation

Butterfly Life Cycle: Students experience the magic of Metamorphosis, and learn the important role butterflies play in pollination, plant growth and sustainable food sources.

All About Birds: Students learn to identify birds by sight and sound, about Migration, and why the subtropical Rio Grande Valley is such a special place!

Art in the Park: Students get to create their own colorful crafts, in age-appropriate activities that support Science Curriculum objectives.

Hunting on the Hackberry Trail: This guided environmental conservation tour teaches students about Habitat, Pollution, and basic principles of 'Leave No Trace' low impact adventures.

With advance notice, we are always happy to incorporate additional topics, relevant to the subject matter, that support classroom goals.

For more information or to schedule your school field trip, please call 956-583-5400, or email This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.

Contact Information

National Butterfly Center

3333 Butterfly Park Drive
Mission, TX 78572
956-583-5400

GPS Coordinates:
26.180243, -98.364973

Marianna Trevino-Wright - Executive Director
Max Munoz - Director of Operations

This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.

North American Butterfly Association

Calendar


		Butterflying Basics at the National Butterfly Center. Join Mike Rickard and Staff for an introduction to Butterfly Species & Identification. This two-hour program includes a short educational session and walking tour of the gardens. Bring your camera and borrow our close-focus binoculars for this wild butterfly safari. Regular admission rates apply, 10am - 12pm, Every Saturday -- weather permitting.

		Birding Basics at the National Butterfly Center. Join Lucino and Staff for an introduction to Bird Species & Identification. This two-hour program includes a short educational session and walking tour of the gardens. Bring your camera and binoculars. Regular admission rates apply, 10am - 12pm, Every Friday-- weather permitting.

Field Day Fridays at the National Butterfly Center

Everyone is welcome to join us for fun, field education throughout the summer. No need to pre-register, just come prepared to explore and enjoy the outdoors.

Children and families welcome. Children must be over the age of 5 and independent, in order to stay without an adult. Staff will not be able to assist children in the restroom.

Outdoor Adventure Awaits!
Time: 8:30am - Noon
Fee: $5 per person

Download the registration form here.

Friday, June 12  Hike the Hackberry Trail in search of scat & tracks. Learn about habitat, healthy environments and how to create your own haven for wildlife.

Friday, June 19  Backyard Buddies helps you get familiar with the creatures that live where we live. Understand why are they here; whether they are helpful or harmful; and how to co-exist.

Friday, June 26  We're going on a BUG hunt! Every day outside offers an opportunity to encounter different insects, reptiles, birds and animals. Use our binoculars and field guides--or bring your own--and see what you can see at the NBC.

Friday, July 10 It's all about the butterflies. Take flight with our winged wonders, as we focus on butterfly anatomy and behavior, butterfly families, species identification, host and nectar plants, and how we depend on pollinators.

Friday, July 17 Survivor South Texas teaches basic skills and first aid for dealing with real world injuries and dangers in the wild. Special attention will be given to snakes, so you may distinguish "friend from foe."

Friday, July 24 Camping 101 is a class for anyone interested in pitching tent and planning their own sleepover under the stars. This hands-on skill-building session includes building a campfire and s'mores!

Friday, July 31 Wildlife photography workshop includes a an introduction to digital photography, a photo scavenger hunt, inexpensive wildlife blinds and our nature photography contest. No fancy equipment required; any digital device with a camera will work!

Friday, August 7 Hide & seek at the National Butterfly Center features games animals play. Learn about "breadcrumbs" and trail signs, cardinal points, geocaching and more as we practice stealth, camouflage and self-control, so we may live to see the sun set and rise, again.

For more information call 956.583.5400

Rent the National Butterfly Center

You are invited to make use of the National Butterfly Center for special occasions in your life:

Family, graduation or bridal portraits
Garden parties for graduations, engagements, retirements and memorial services
Corporate retreats, team-building activities, and board meetings
Formal events, such as weddings and anniversaries

The Center is a lovely natural setting for events and activities for 1-100 people. Fees vary, according to event size and service. The Visitor's Pavilion contains meeting space, bathrooms, and a prep kitchen for use by guests, whether they are hosting an indoor or outdoor event. The meadow adjaccent to the Pavilion may be tented (or not) for dining al fresco, or you may choose the shade of the Large Palapa in the rear gardens, which is ideal for casual events.

The hidden trails, lush gardens and golden meadow provide interesting and colorful backdrops for timeless photos. Use of the NBC for professional photography is $25/hour, wth a two hour minimum. This will most likely be in addition to the 'session fee' your photographer charges, and includes opening before or after hours to account for privacy, natural light, and other scheduling issues.

If you wish to have an event at the National Butterfly Center, please contact Marianna at 956-583-5400, or email This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it., to discuss dates and other details, including our list of of preferred local vendors.

Download the Facility Rental Agreement

NABA's Butterfly Garden Certification Program

A butterfly garden supplies food and shelter for all stages of a butterfly's life. Providing caterpillar food plants, butterfly nectar plants and about half a day's worth of sun are the basic elements of a butterfly garden.

When you certify your butterfly garden with NABA's Butterfly Garden Certification Program you demonstrate your commitment to promoting habitat for butterflies as well as other pollinators.

If your new or existing butterfly garden meets the requirements, you may either print, fill out, and mail.

NABA's Butterfly Garden Certification Application

Upon completion, you will receive a NABA Butterfly Garden and Habitat certificate (suitable for framing) along with the most recent issue of NABA's publication, Butterfly Gardener.

An institutional rate of $25 is required if your organization needs additional assistance in processing the application. Institutional certifications receive an additional two back issues of Butterfly Gardener.

Once certified, you will also be eligible to purchase a weatherproof Garden Certification sign to display in your garden, pictured below.

NABA's outdoor weatherproof sign measures 7 inches tall by 10 inches wide. Constructed of rigid plastic with two holes centered top and bottom for attaching to a stake or fence (stake and mounting hardware not included) . Please note that colors represented on computer monitors do not always reflect the true colors printed on the sign.

Although the colors in the outdoor sign should remain vibrant for a number of years, our manufacturer recommends placing the sign where it will not receive direct, intense sunlight (at least for part of the day). They also recommend taking the sign inside for the winter if you live in a climate with freezing temperatures.

Signs may be ordered when applying for garden certification or any time during the actual certification period. New and existing NABA members who certify their gardens and purchase an outdoor sign at the same time are eligible for a $5 discount ($35 for individuals, $45 for institutions).