A trail leading into a wooded area

North Texas Giving Day 2025

Heard Natural Science Museum & Wildlife Sanctuary is a private, non-profit 501(c)(3) organization dedicated to bringing nature and people together to discover, enjoy, experience, restore and preserve our priceless environment. Your support through financial contributions will help ensure that the Heard, including a 289-acre nature preserve, will be sustained.

 

Thank you for your consideration and support!

Donations can be made through www.northtexasgivingday.org/organization/heardmuseum or at our website. Please consider helping if you can. If you’re not able to help financially, please consider sharing! That is also very helpful.

 

More About Us

 

Founded in 1967, the Heard Natural Science Museum & Wildlife Sanctuary in McKinney Texas consists of a natural science museum, indoor and outdoor exhibits, over six miles of nature trails, an outdoor amphitheater and a 289 acre wildlife sanctuary. The Heard hosts more than 100,000 visitors each year, drawing families, educators, researchers, environmentalists, and more. Visitors hike the trails year round (self-guided or interpreted by Heard volunteers and staff, by reservation) and have the opportunity encounter many species of flora and fauna. Programs offered by the Heard include exhibits, school field trips, outreach programs, homeschool natural science programs, preschool natural science programs, summer nature camps, birthday parties, scouting initiatives, environmental research programs, team-building initiatives, night hikes and community events.

 

Protected for its biological importance and for scientific and educational use, this nature preserve is part of the less than 1% of the Blackland Prairie (the most endangered ecosystem in North America) that remains. The Heard Wildlife Sanctuary is a nature preserve rather than a park because of the special character of this area and the rarity of some of its plants and animals. Preserving these natural resources depends on our collective stewardship. Because the Heard does not receive regular tax funding, improvements to our facility and conservation of these resources are made possible with the support of individuals like you through donations, admissions and volunteering.

 

The Heard was founded in 1967 by Bessie Heard at the age of 80. In a time when the rate of expansion of the Metroplex was slower than today, she foresaw the need to preserve a place where future generations could experience nature. The Heard’s mission of bringing nature and people together is largely fulfilled through onsite educational programs, which emphasizes an appreciation of nature and its conservation and utilizes the natural resources available within our 289-acre nature preserve.

 

The Heard Natural Science Museum and Wildlife Sanctuary located in McKinney, TX also manages roughly 60 combined acres of Blackland Prairie restoration sites. The Blackland Prairie ecoregion once covered over 19,000 square miles in Texas, which began at the Red River, north of Dallas, and extended south to present-day San Antonio. Now, less than 1% of this ecologically critical ecosystem remains.

 

Please note: the button labeled “register” below will take you to our North Texas Giving Day donation page.

trail of lights

Holidays at the Heard 12/14/25

A Fun, Festive and Family-Friendly Fundraising Event Benefiting Heard Natural Science Museum & Wildlife Sanctuary

Holidays at the Heard brings the beauty of the holiday season into nature. Bundle up your family, get out of the house, and experience the most unique family-friendly holiday event in North Texas.

trail of lights

Holidays at the Heard 12/13/25

A Fun, Festive and Family-Friendly Fundraising Event Benefiting Heard Natural Science Museum & Wildlife Sanctuary

Holidays at the Heard brings the beauty of the holiday season into nature. Bundle up your family, get out of the house, and experience the most unique family-friendly holiday event in North Texas.

trail of lights

Holidays at the Heard 12/12/25

A Fun, Festive and Family-Friendly Fundraising Event Benefiting Heard Natural Science Museum & Wildlife Sanctuary

Holidays at the Heard brings the beauty of the holiday season into nature. Bundle up your family, get out of the house, and experience the most unique family-friendly holiday event in North Texas.

tree at night

Heard Members-Only Presale Begins: Halloween 2025

Heard Members-Only Presale

September 9-30

 

Available to Public

Tickets will be available to the public, while supplies last, beginning September 30.

 

If tickets sell out, no additional tickets will be sold at the door. Special Halloween tickets are required for all guests, including Heard Museum Members

 

More Information

Experience Collin County’s premier family-friendly Halloween event at Heard Natural Science Museum & Wildlife Sanctuary in McKinney, Texas.

Learn More

tree at night

Fright at the Museum 2025

Calling all ghouls, goblins, and adults who love Halloween! This year, the Heard Natural Science Museum & Wildlife Sanctuary is thrilled to announce a spine-tingling new event just for you: Fright at the Museum! It’s set to take place on the day before our annual, always sold-out, family-friendly “Halloween at the Heard” event. This is your chance to enjoy Heard Halloween fun with a grown-up twist. More details coming soon!

 

tree at night

Halloween at the Heard 2025

Experience Collin County’s premier family-friendly Halloween event at Heard Natural Science Museum & Wildlife Sanctuary in McKinney, Texas.

Learn More

One of the fossilized fish trapped in stone

$5 Admission Days

On August 8th, 9th and 10th, join us for $5 general admission! Kids ages 2 & under are also free.

Get tickets now:

Learn more about our hours of operation here.

Tickets must be purchased online in advance. They will be emailed to you after purchase (tickets arrive in a 2nd email after the confirmation.) You will be able to have them ready to scan for speedy entry.

Be sure to pack sunscreen and water. We also have beverages available for purchase. And, a water filling station is available in our main building.

Tickets purchased for these days will only be valid on August 8, 9 or 10, 2025. Tickets are not eligible for exchange or refund.

One of the fossilized fish trapped in stone

$5 Admission Days

On August 8th, 9th and 10th, join us for $5 general admission! Kids ages 2 & under are also free.

Get tickets now:

Learn more about our hours of operation here.

Tickets must be purchased online in advance. They will be emailed to you after purchase (tickets arrive in a 2nd email after the confirmation.) You will be able to have them ready to scan for speedy entry.

Be sure to pack sunscreen and water. We also have beverages available for purchase. And, a water filling station is available in our main building.

Tickets purchased for these days will only be valid on August 8, 9 or 10, 2025. Tickets are not eligible for exchange or refund.

One of the fossilized fish trapped in stone

$5 Admission Days

On August 8th, 9th and 10th, join us for $5 general admission! Kids ages 2 & under are also free.

Get tickets now:

Learn more about our hours of operation here.

Tickets must be purchased online in advance. They will be emailed to you after purchase (tickets arrive in a 2nd email after the confirmation.) You will be able to have them ready to scan for speedy entry.

Be sure to pack sunscreen and water. We also have beverages available for purchase. And, a water filling station is available in our main building.

Tickets purchased for these days will only be valid on August 8, 9 or 10, 2025. Tickets are not eligible for exchange or refund.