The Story Behind the Enchanted Woods

The Enchanted Woods project began with a vision introduced by former Executive Director Henry Owen, who imagined a renewed, research-informed nature play area that would better meet the needs of today’s families. Over the past 24 months, the Nature Discovery Center has collaborated with TBG Partners to design a play environment rooted in child development, nature education, and joyful exploration. With design now nearly complete, the Board of Directors has selected Forney Construction to bring this vision to life, marking a major step as the project moves toward construction.

A Reimagined Nature Play Experience

The Enchanted Woods will transform our current nature play area into an immersive, dynamic landscape where children can climb, dig, splash, build, imagine, and discover the natural world. The new design centers around three signature zones:

The R.L. Cook Family Classroom Cottage – A welcoming hub perched on a small hill, serving as the launch point for nature programs, camps, school groups, and community learning experiences.
The Nature Workshop – A hands-on, all-ages space filled with loose natural materials, sand, water, mud, and found objects that invite endless building, creating, and experimenting.
The Treehouse Terrace – A high-energy zone for older explorers featuring the Exploration Tower, spider net climber, wood steppers, and a sequence of challenge-based play elements that promote strength, balance, and confidence.

Additional features throughout the play area—including the Overlook Deck, sensory bins, parent seating areas, play hut, water runnel and pump, dry creek, mulch paths, elevated boardwalk, and the beloved cypress pond—create a rich landscape full of movement, discovery, and connection to nature.

Why Nature Play Matters

Nature play helps children grow in ways traditional playgrounds can’t. It sparks creativity, builds confidence, strengthens coordination, and supports emotional well-being. Most of all, it nurtures a lifelong love of the natural world. The Enchanted Woods is designed to give every child access to these powerful, research-backed benefits.

Help Us Build Something Magical

This $2 million project will serve the thousands of families who rely on the Nature Discovery Center each year—and we have already raised 60% of our goal. With your support, we can bring the Enchanted Woods to life for our entire community. Your gift today helps build a place where children can run, climb, splash, explore, and discover the magic of nature.

Will you help us complete the Enchanted Woods—right here in the heart of Bellaire?

Nature Discovery Center - Enchanted Woods

By The Nature Discovery Center, Inc.

Nature Discovery Center - Enchanted Woods

Help us bring the Enchanted Woods Nature Play Area to the Nature Discovery Center. A place to climb, splash, explore and get closer to nature.