YES Prep North Rankin Elementary second-grade students recently embodied their inner-explorers, grabbed their binoculars and stepped into the wild during a special field trip to the Kluge Stormwater Detention Basin. The nature walk gave students a hands-on lesson in birdwatching, environmental conservation and flood protection, just in time for peak spring bird migration and the upcoming hurricane season.
During the visit, students learned how millions of birds pass through Harris County each spring along the Central Flyway, one of the busiest migration routes in North America. As they scanned the sky and trees for native species, they also discovered how smart infrastructure like the Kluge Basin helps manage floodwaters while creating a thriving habitat for wildlife.
“This field trip is going to be a core memory for our second graders,” said Stephanee Dorsey, principal of YES Prep North Rankin Elementary. “They got to experience nature on a different level while learning about birds and the importance of floodwater basins. It was a completely new experience for our students.”
The walk was filled with excitement as students explored the area with binoculars in hand, spotting birds and plants and asking questions about their surroundings.
“They felt very official with their binoculars and loved checking out the nature around them,” Dorsey said. “Even though it was warm, they really enjoyed their time. I told them they’re going to have to get out in nature more often so they can see more awesome things.”
The trip reinforced YES Prep’s approach to hands-on learning by giving students a chance to engage with all their senses and connect science lessons to real-world experiences.
“YES Prep encourages students to explore learning through different modalities,” Dorsey said. “When children are able to interact with what they’re learning—by seeing, touching, listening and experiencing things hands-on—it just sticks. Reading about birds is one thing, but getting to use binoculars and see them firsthand has a lasting impact.”
Beyond birdwatching, the trip also introduced students to the concept of environmental infrastructure and how engineered systems like stormwater detention basins can work with nature to protect both people and ecosystems.
“This was definitely a concept that was best learned through experience and not just reading,” Dorsey said. “It’s important for students to understand how infrastructure and environmental conservation can go hand in hand to manage resources sustainably.”
The event was made possible through partnerships with the Harris County Flood Control District and local environmental experts, who helped bring classroom concepts to life.
“Community partnerships play a crucial role in enriching the student experience,” Dorsey said. “They connect what we’re teaching in class to real-world applications and help students understand civic engagement and career possibilities in science and engineering.”
You can view more photos from this field trip by visiting our North Rankin Elementary Nature Walk album.
Give Your Child a Hands-On Education
As the next generation of Houstonians learns to care for their environment and community, experiences like this nature walk show the power of hands-on education at YES Prep.
There’s still time to join the journey, seats are available at select YES Prep campuses for the upcoming school year. Visit yesprep.org to apply today and give your child the opportunity to explore, learn and thrive.