A Trip to the WaterWorks Education Center
Promoting Water Education, Conservation and Stewardship
Visitor Information | Teacher Previews | Reservations | Confirmation | Cancellations | Teacher Information | Guidelines | Student Rules | Sick Children | Directions | Bus Parking
The City of Houston’s WaterWorks Education Center welcomes all educational groups to explore the wonders of water during a field trip designed to imbue them with a sense of wonderment and discovery about one of earth’s most precious resources.
12121 N. Sam Houston Parkway E., Humble, Texas 77396
At the City of Houston’s North East Water Purification Plant
Phone: 832-395-3791
(VIEW MAP)
Visitor Information
Admission is free and by appointment only.
Monday through Friday 9:00 am – 4:00 pm (last appointment – 3:00 pm)
Closed: Saturday and Sundays and all City of Houston holidays
Tours are available for Kindergarten through 12th grade classes, home school groups and adult groups.
Our science-based programs help your students achieve Texas Education Agency science requirements, the Texas Essential Knowledge and Skills (TEKS). All hands-on activities are aligned to the Texas Educations Agency’s TEKS.
We request a minimum of 15 persons per field trip visit. Due to space constraints, we can accommodate a maximum of 35 students at a time.
The WaterWorks Education Center is ADA compliant. Please let us know if you have any special needs.
Teacher Previews
We welcome all teachers and home school parents to visit the WaterWorks Education Center to learn what we have to offer. Please call 832-395-3791 or email This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it to schedule a preview.
Reservations
QUESTIONS ABOUT SCHEDULING A FIELD TRIP? CALL 832-395-3791 or email
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The WaterWorks Education Center requires advance reservations for all visiting school groups. School group reservations may be made by phone or by downloading the field trip reservation form and faxing or e-mailing the completed form to Susan Smyer. Phone #: 832-395-3791, FAX #: 832-395-3788, email:
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DOWNLOAD FORM HERE
Reservations are taken on a first-come, first-served basis. School field trips can be scheduled Monday – Friday. We strongly recommend scheduling your trip early in the school year to avoid missing out on your ideal dates.
Please note that an inquiry into date availability or a voice message does NOT constitute a reservation.
Our field trip visits require advanced planning and are based on the number of student spaces reserved for each program. Please assist us in serving your needs by registering an accurate number of students for your planned field trip.
For an established field trip, the person who booked the trip should call 832-395-3791 at any time during the business day prior to the day of arrival to add or subtract people from the reservation.
Have the Following Information Ready When Calling to Book Your Visit
Teacher/contact person name, name and mailing address for school, phone and fax number and email address
Best time to reach teacher during the day
Number of students and grade level
Number of chaperones
Requested dates and time—be prepared with 2-3 alternate dates and times, in case you first choice is not available.
Reservation Form
Please FAX, mail or email the registration form to:
FAX number: 832-395-3788
Address: WaterWorks Education Center, 12121 N. Sam Houston Parkway E., Humble, TX 77396
Email:
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Confirmation
Once we receive your reservation, a confirmation letter will be mailed or emailed to you. If you do not receive a confirmation letter in a timely manner, please contact our staff at 832-395-3791 to confirm the reservation.
Cancellations
If you need to cancel your visit, please let us know as soon as possible by phone or email.
Teacher Information
We thank you for choosing the WaterWorks Education Center for your field trip. We will work with you to make it an enjoyable and rewarding experience for your group. Our field trips consist of a combination of guided tours, self-guided visits, scavenger hunts and hands-on activities depending on the age and size of your group. In order to make the most of your visit, it is helpful to prepare students for their trip.
Field Trips Are Still School,But With a Difference
It’s wonderful to leave the classroom and visit a special place for a day as a class. Museum, zoos, historic sites, science centers, police and fire stations, sports arenas, parks—is there any place that a field trip can’t go?
The students are excited and often feel like the field trip is an extended recess playtime. Sometimes they need a gentle reminder that even though they are not in their familiar building, they are still in school.
Chaperones
You MUST bring one adult (18 years of age or older) for every 10 students to ensure safety and to help supervise your students. The program is designed for your students; please leave younger siblings at home.
We ask for your assistance and cooperation in making your field trip a worthwhile educational experience for your students while at the same time keeping them safe and under control. Please turn off your cell phones.
How Long You Should Allow For Your Visit
Generally school visits are scheduled in approximately 2 hour blocks. To insure that you receive your full time, plan to arrive at the WaterWorks approximately 15 or 20 minutes early.
Allow sufficient time in your schedule for traffic delays, unloading at the museum, rest room breaks, educational presentations and activities, and reloading your group.
Name Tags
Although name tags are not required, we highly recommend them. They allow our staff to communicate much more effectively. Please write names large enough to be read.
Guidelines
Please share the following rules and guidelines with your students and all of the adults attending the field trip. They are designed to assure a safe and enjoyable trip for everyone.
- Please make every effort to arrive on time.
- Students must be supervised at all times. Teachers and chaperones are responsible for maintaining the discipline necessary for proper behavior while visiting the facility.
- Chaperones (includes teachers and parents) are required to accompany students for the duration of the visit.
- For the safety and enjoyment of all visitors, disruptive or unsafe behavior will not be permitted and may result in the entire group being asked to leave.
Student Rules
- NO backpacks, cell phone usage (except for photos), headphones, gum, or candy will be allowed inside the WaterWorks Education Center. Water fountains are available near the rest rooms.
- Please be considerate of other guests visiting the facility.
- No running or jumping is allowed inside the center.
- For your own safety, do not climb on things and do not lean against walls or exhibits.
- Students may not leave the group at any time without being accompanied by a chaperone.
- Please use inside voices so as not to disrupt other visitors. You do not need to whisper.
- Please use only pencils in the WaterWorks.
- When a teacher, volunteer or group leader raises his or her hand, it is a signal to be quiet and listen.
- Please touch and take photographs.
- Laugh, explore, have fun and ask a lot of questions.
Sick Children
We ask that you do not bring sick children to our facility. Students that are nauseated or running a fever should not be brought into the building. In the case that a child becomes sick, please notify a staff member.
Directions
Bus drivers and field trip leaders should review the directions to the center prior to departure. If you get lost, please stop and call 832-395-3791 for directions. DOWNLOAD AND PRINT A MAP HERE.
From downtown Houston and loop 610:
From Downtown Houston, travel north on I-59 (also known as the Eastex Freeway) towards Cleveland.
Until construction is completed on the eastbound overpass from I-59 North to Beltway 8 East ----- please use the Aldine Bender/Beltway 8 E. exit. On the freeway frontage road, move into the right lane to merge onto Beltway 8 East. To avoid paying a Toll, stay on the Beltway 8 Frontage Road for 5 to 6 miles to the Lockwood traffic signal.
About 50 feet past Lockwood, look for a blue WaterWorks Education Center sign and the large green EXIT sign. This exit is before the freeway overpass.
This road will make a U-turn under the Beltway. After completing the U-turn, take the next right and drive over the railroad tracks to the water plant.
All adults will need to provide a driver’s license/photo identification to the security guard at the plant entrance.
From Lake Houston, Clear Lake or Pearland:
Travel north, then west, on Beltway 8 to Lockwood Road. The last exit before Lockwood is West Lake Houston Parkway (Summerwood subdivision and HEB grocery on right). Stay on Beltway 8 and move into the left lane to make a U-Turn at Lockwood Road.
At Lockwood, make a U-turn under the freeway look for the green EXIT sign*** on the east-bound side of the freeway.
***About 50 feet east of the Lockwood intersection, there is blue WaterWorks Education Center sign and a large green EXIT sign. Proceed cautiously to move into the far right lane to this EXIT. This exit road will make a U-turn under the Beltway overpass. Take another right turn and proceed over the railroad tracks to the water plant.
All adults will need to provide a driver’s license/photo identification to the security guard at the plant entrance.
Bus Parking
Please pull into the circle drive in front of the WaterWorks to unload and load your students. A staff member will greet you and direct you to a parking location.
For more information about field trips to the WaterWorks Education Center, please call us at 832-395-3791 or email
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We look forward to seeing you!
