• General Information

    Daily 

                Presently, the HSLC sees from 50 to 90 elementary students 1st - 5th grade every day throughout the school year. As a part of the Plano Independent School District’s Elementary curriculum, students explore life cycles, the needs of living things, metamorphosis, the interconnectedness of the environment, energy systems, and the practice of scientific investigation through specialized lessons that integrate trail hikes with observing the animal residents of the Living Materials Center (LMC).

    Other Programs

                LMC staff are currently conducting specialized ambassador lessons for Kindergarten and Second grade. These lessons help to reinforce and support classroom curriculum and provide students with a tangible bridge of knowledge between abstract science concepts and "real-life." Other groups throughout the district are also able to contact the LMC and request special presentations or visits to support curriculum during the year; these visits are subject to LMC staff availability.

                Finally, the HSLC provides PISD’s teachers with the opportunity to integrate animals into their daily classroom experience by offering them the option of a classroom pet. These pets include fish, amphibians, insects, small reptiles, and rodents that teachers can check out from the Center for a brief lesson or as a long-term member of their classroom. Prior to entrusting educators with our animal's care, our team provides husbandry and handling training, supplies, reference materials, answers questions, and provides demonstrations on handling and basic care. Teachers can then confidently bring an animal into their classroom to encourage and nurture empathy and learning about the care and needs of other species among students in their classroom.

    Our Animals

                Nearly all of the animals utilized for education at the HSLC are rehomed by their former owners, confiscated and placed at the Center by local animal service agencies, or are permanently homed at the Center with the permission of the State of Texas for educational display after being deemed unreleasable by an experienced wildlife rehabilitator and/or veterinary professional educated in that animal’s care.

    FAQS Answered

                The HSLC building is not open to the public but the trail grounds and nature preserve around the building are freely accessible to visitors (and are considered part of the Oak Point/Bob Woodruff parks). Trail maps may be found on the City of Plano website.

                Although the building closes during the summer, our Living Material Center's animal care is a daily requirement, so we do regularly accept volunteers. While we have staff on site every day of the year for our animals, volunteer hours are not currently offered on weekends. Please review our volunteer interest page for more information.

     

    The Holifield Science Learning Center is located at 3401 East Spring Creek Parkway in Plano, TX.

     

    Normal operating hours are Monday - Friday, 8:00 am to 4:30 pm.

     

    The Center is classified as a school campus and is not open to the public at this time.

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    Dawn Hall Dawn Hall
    Front Office