Learning Resources

There’s so much to learn about Texas Nature! Whether you’re a kid who just got home from Cultiv8Camp or a growup who just wants to learn more about the plants and animals in our neighborhood, here are some books, apps, and websites that we love.

Texas Parks and Wildlife Resources

We are proud to partner with TPWD in our education and conservation work. Click here to visit their website for upcoming kids’ events at Texas State Parks, educational resources for kids and parents, and outdoor activity guides.

National Environmental Education Foundation Resources

NEEF has all sorts of cool stuff for all ages! You can find guides and fact sheets to take into nature or courses and webinars if you want a deep dive. Click here to check out what they have to offer.

Our Favorite Apps

Sometimes if we want to learn more about nature, the easiest way to to look things up is on a smartphone! Check out these great science and nature apps.

iNaturalist
See a cool bug, a neat flower, or any other plant or critter you want to identify? Take a picture and upload it to iNaturalist. Experts will identify it, then it will be logged in a worldwide map of plant and animal sightings that scientists use for important research projects!

Merlin Bird ID
From the folks at the Cornell Lab of Ornithology, this app is the perfect way to get started on birding. There’s a super cool feature where your phone will listen for nearby bird calls and identify them for you!

Cultiv8Community Reading List

Here are a few of our favorite books for nature-loving kids and adults!

Picture Books (Grades K–2)

  • The Tiny Seed – Eric Carle

  • Over and Under the Pond – Kate Messner

  • The Lorax – Dr. Seuss

  • Owl Moon – Jane Yolen

  • A Seed Is Sleepy – Dianna Hutts Aston

  • Good Night, Gorilla / Good Night, Moon / Goodnight, Owl – Various authors (nature-themed bedtime connections)

  • The Curious Garden – Peter Brown

Picture Books / Early Elementary (Grades 1–3)

  • Compost Stew: An A to Z Recipe for the Earth – Mary McKenna Siddals

  • Planting a Rainbow – Lois Ehlert

  • The Watcher: Jane Goodall’s Life with the Chimps – Jeanette Winter

  • Nature’s Children: A Field Guide to the Wild Animals of the World – Various

  • I Can Name 50 Trees Today! – Bonnie Worth (Cat in the Hat Learning Library)

Nonfiction / Grades 2–5

  • National Geographic Kids: Weird But True! Nature – Various authors

  • The Tree Lady – H. Joseph Hopkins

  • Eye to Eye: How Animals See the World – Steve Jenkins

  • If You Find a Rock – Peggy Christian

  • The Magic and Mystery of Trees – Jen Green

Nature & Science Stories / Grades 3–5

  • Over and Under the Snow – Kate Messner

  • A Rock Is Lively – Dianna Hutts Aston

  • The Great Kapok Tree – Lynne Cherry

  • Where the Forest Meets the Sea – Jeannie Baker

  • Life in a Coral Reef – Claire Llewellyn

Nature and Ecology Classics / Teens and Adults

  • A Sand County Almanac - Aldo Leopold

  • Silent Spring - Rachel Carson

  • Pilgrim at Tinker Creek - Annie Dillard

  • Braiding Sweetgrass - Robin Wall Kimmerer