Become a Member

Free general admission is not applicable to education programs (including field trips) or during special events in which a special event fee applies.

Phone: 972-562-5566, x241

E-mail: membership@heardmuseum.org

Fax: 972-548-9119

Address: 1 Nature Place McKinney, TX 75069

Memberships are active immediately upon purchase. They can be used at anytime by presenting a valid photo ID to the front desk. With regards to gift membership purchases, please note that they, too, are active immediately on purchase unless otherwise specified. You may email us to request a delayed activation. Please plan accordingly when making your purchase.

No, there are three other easy options to join or renew.  

Option 1 – Via Mail

Mail completed membership form and payment information to:    

Heard Natural Science Museum & Wildlife Sanctuary

Attn: Membership Department

1 Nature Place McKinney, TX 75069   

Option 2 – Online

Join online through this page. 

Option 3 – Phone or Fax

Phone us: 972-562-5566

Fax: 972-548-9119

(Must include completed membership application with credit card information)

Memberships are active immediately upon purchase. They can be used at any time by presenting a valid photo ID to the front desk. Please note that, due to processing time and postal service, your physical member card may take 2- 6 weeks to arrive by mail.

If you visit a facility with reciprocal general admission prior to the arrival of your card and require verification of your membership, please utilize the confirmation materials you receive at the time of purchase or email membership@heardmuseum.org at least 3 business days prior (Tuesday-Friday) to your visit.

Yes.  Your online/register receipt will act as your temporary membership card. Just present it with your photo ID. We’ll confirm your membership and you can start receiving membership benefits.

The photo ID policy protects you if your card is lost or stolen; it is also a standard security practice among zoos, aquariums and museums. As a charitable organization that relies on members and daily museum visitors for support, we need to prevent misuse of our membership cards. If memberships were shared by families and friends, the museum’s revenue would be substantially reduced and the museum would have to raise ticket and membership prices to maintain the quality of its services to guests. As you can see, we have set our membership prices at an intentionally affordable level to allow North Texas residents to enjoy the museum on a regular basis.    

No. As mentioned above, this practice would be detrimental to the financial viability of the museum and abuse like this would drive up costs for museum guests as it is the equivalent of stealing a ticket from the museum. Thus, as indicated in our benefits, memberships are nontransferable and are valid only for the person/s whose name appears on the card. 

Yes. The Heard Natural Science Museum is a member of the ASTC Travel Passport Program which allows you free or discounted admissions to more than 250 selected museums worldwide. See astc.org for more details. This does not apply to institutions located within a 90 mile radius of the Heard Museum.

Yes!  We currently have a local reciprocal agreement with the Perot Museum of Nature and Science and the Ft. Worth Museum of Science & History. When you join at the Road Runner level or above you will be able to visit the Perot Museum of Nature and Science and the Ft. Worth Museum of Science & History and receive free general admission for the people covered by your membership. Both organizations allow a maximum 2 adults and 3 children. This offer is valid for free general admission only. Additional member benefits from reciprocal locations are not conferred to the membership holder.  

You will begin receiving renewal notices two months prior to your expiration date. As soon as you renew, you will no longer receive notices until the following renewal cycle.

Complete the Membership Information Update form to receive a replacement card(s). There is a $3 administrative fee for each replacement card. You may also pick up and fill out the form on your next visit; it is available at the admissions desk.  

• Complete the Membership Information Update form. 
• You may also pick up and fill out the form on your next visit; it is available at the admissions desk.

If you do not receive your card within 4 weeks of joining, call or e-mail the Membership office. Don’t forget: you are also welcome to visit with the temporary membership card you were provided at the time of joining.

Most of the time this happens when these items cross in the mail; however, if you do not receive your renewed membership card in the mail within 2-4 weeks of your renewal, please call or e-mail the membership office.  

Donations to fundraisers are considered tax-deductible charitable contributions and do not apply to membership fees. 

Upcoming events can be found on our website or by subscribing to our e-mail newsletters.

Members receive 10% off items $1 or more in the Nature Store; new members receive a one time use only 20% off coupon upon joining for their first purchase on items of $1 or more.  

No. You can upgrade your membership anytime during the course of your membership or at renewal time. Contact the Membership office for more details.   

Simply present a valid photo ID at the admissions desk. The admissions staff will gladly look up your membership information.

In accordance with IRS guidelines, the following information outlines the tax-deductible portions of each of our membership levels. Members must waive some or all of their membership benefits to claim tax deductibility for the entire cost of the membership. Please contact your tax advisor for complete details.  

Membership Tax Deduction

• Individual and Family Memberships: Under the Internal Revenue Service guidelines for nonprofit museum memberships, the full amount paid up to $75 is 100% tax deductible.   
• Roadrunner: Under the Internal Revenue Service guidelines, the estimated value of the benefits received is $50. The deductible portion of your payment is $100.   

• Bobcat: Under the Internal Revenue Service guidelines, the estimated value of the benefits received is $150. The deductible portion of your payment is $350.   

• Red-Tailed Hawk: Under the Internal Revenue guidelines, the estimated value of the benefits received is $300. The deductible portion of your payment is $1200.     

• Golden Eagle (Lifetime): Under the Internal Revenue guidelines, the estimated value of the benefits received is $250. The deductible portion of your payment is $2250.

Members may visit as often as they like during our normal business hours each membership year free of charge, but may be required to pay fees for special events, festivals, and education programs. In addition to free admission, members have the opportunity to attend free exhibition previews and viewing events throughout the year, as well as purchase discounted tickets to a variety of programming events. 

Members receive a $1 discount on every guest admission that they purchase. You can also sign up at the Road Runner level and above and receive five single day guest passes with your membership. See benefit levels for specific details.

No. School/Day Care sponsored field trips, education programs, labs, etc. are special fee programs not included in the free general admission you receive as a member. You will be required to pay the full program fee for your child and for yourself if you are chaperoning.

Because this special member’s only preview is designed to help us gain members, we do not allow guests, but ask that you encourage your friends and neighbors to become members of the Heard Museum and join you on these special nights to get the best Native Texas plants for your home.

No. Due to safety and security reasons, we ask that you only walk the trails during open business hours or during special events, as designated.

Discounts are a privilege extended to our members only; therefore, discounts are not transferable.

No. Membership fees are not refundable.

Yes! You can make tax-deductible charitable contributions to the Heard, see our website for the various ways you can give or call the museum and let us know how you want to help further our mission of “bringing nature and people together!”  

Yes, memberships provide much needed income to enhance this not-for-profit organization. Once your membership funds are received, they immediately begin working to enhance museum services for members and visitors. For this reason, we are unable to refund membership dollars.

The Heard Museum has various sponsorship opportunities and volunteer group projects available throughout the year.  

The Heard is offering a new member benefit:  Membership Auto-Renewal. This optional feature is a convenient way to automatically renew your membership before it expires. The Auto-Renew payment process automatically renews your membership each year, saving you from having to resubmit your renewal and payment information annually. It’s fast, secure and convenient. Simply check the “Auto-Renew” box when you join or renew your membership, or contact us.

• Your benefits continue without interruption. Enroll in Auto-Renew, and never have to worry about keeping your membership up-to-date!
• Convenience. One less thing on your to-do list and avoid the hassle of manually cutting a check or entering credit card information online. 

Your credit card or bank account will be charged 1 day prior to your expiration date. If your credit card information is expired, we will contact you to update it. You will receive a reminder at least one month in advance of your scheduled payment processing date. The reminder notice will provide details on your current membership and instructions for you can make changes if needed.

Please notify the Heard Museum’s Membership Department of any changes to your mailing address, e-mail address, or payment information. You can contact the Membership Coordinator by phone (972-562-5566) or email (membership@heardmuseum.org) to update your account information or preferences.

Yes. Please notify the Heard Museum’s Membership department at least 10 days before your membership renewal date if you would like to turn off your auto-renew. If you do decide to opt-out, you will still remain on the regular renewal schedule, and will be able to renew your membership annually by the usual method.

Heard Natural Science Museum Membership Auto-Renewal is an optional service, offering convenient and seamless membership renewal automatically annually (for annual membership types only). By opting in to Heard Museum Membership Auto-Renewal you hereby authorize Heard Natural Science Museum on an automatic basis to:

1. 1. Renew your HNSM membership at your current membership level rate, and
2. 2. Charge the applicable membership rate to the credit card you input online via your membership purchase/renewal.

Should a credit card be declined, you will be notified by email or phone by an HNSM staff member. If the payment method is not updated within 10 business days of notification, HNSM Membership Auto-Renewal will be turned off.

HNSM reserves the right to change annual membership rates. Any changes to membership will be communicated to members in writing by mail and/or email notification prior to your renewal. 

Members may un-enroll from HNSM Membership Auto-Renewal at any time by contacting HNSM by email at membership@heardmuseum.org or by phone at 972-562-5566. Cancellations must be received at least 10 days prior to the member’s bill date (which is the day before the listed membership expiration date).

As a reminder: on the day before your listed expiration date, automatic renewal will be processed. The credit card on file will be charged and members will receive an email receipt confirming payment. Members will receive a notification at least one month in advance of payment processing. If the credit card information we have on file is no longer current, you may experience a lapse in your membership benefits. 

Heard Natural Science Museum & Wildlife Sanctuary, a private, 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization has agreements (with certain guidelines that are outlined below) with a select number of organizations regarding granting members of these other organizations with reciprocal admission and vice versa. The Heard receives no compensation for granting this courtesy to other organizations’ members and vice versa.

These agreements are only applicable to general admission and only apply to those following the guidelines of the agreements. None of these agreements provide additional member benefits including education programs (such as field trips) and special events.

Please note: because the Heard does not receive regular tax funding, improvements to our facility and the preservation of our wildlife sanctuary are made possible with the support of individuals like you through donations, admissions and volunteering. As a result, we ask that you use these agreements courteously and in the spirit in which they are intended. Thank you for your cooperation!

Conditions of these agreements:

• If you purchased a membership from Heard Natural Science Museum & Wildlife Sanctuary, view information about your membership benefits above.
• Perot Museum of Nature and Science: Family Plus Members and above, upon providing an official membership ID card and valid matching photo ID, will be granted general admission for 2 adults (named on the membership card) and up to 4 children in the same household (for a maximum of 6 people). There are no other membership benefits offered with this agreement. For additional information about your Perot Museum membership, please contact the Perot’s membership department.
• Fort Worth Museum of Science and History: Wonder and Imagine level members, upon providing an official membership ID card and valid matching photo ID, will be granted general admission for 2 adults (named on the membership card) and up to 4 children in the same household (for a maximum of 6 people). There are no other membership benefits offered with this agreement. For additional information about your FWMSH membership, please contact FWMSH’s membership department.
• ASTC Passport Program participants: as a member of a science center or museum participating in the ASTC Travel Passport Program (excluding locations within 90 miles of the Heard Natural Science Museum & Wildlife Sanctuary), upon providing an official membership ID card (the card must have the ASTC logo on it) and valid matching photo ID, will be granted general admission for up 2 adults (named on the membership card) and up to 4 children in the same household (for a maximum of 6 people, depending on the number of people covered by your membership). There are no other membership benefits offered with this agreement. For additional information about the ASTC Passport Program, please click here.

Please check astc.org for the most current list of passport participants.

ASTC POLICY – “Based on residence: To receive Travel Passport Program benefits, you must live more than 90 miles away from the center/museum you wish to visit. Admissions staff reserves the right to request proof of residence for benefits to apply.”.