LEARN ABOUT TEXAS’ LAND, WATERWAYS, & WILDLIFE
Discovery Trunks are just that…trunks filled with hands-on, curriculum-enhancing natural resource materials and lesson plans designed for students kindergarten through eighth grade. Trunks are shipped year-round to Texas educators at no cost. All trunk materials are aligned with the Texas Essential Knowledge and Skills (TEKS) state standards. Currently, seven different trunk topics are available focusing on Texas wildlife and ecosystems. Reservations are handled on a first-come, first-served basis – reserve one now!
DISCOVERY TRUNK
There are over 1,200 species of animals native to Texas and wildlife biologists utilize a variety of methods to identify animals, aside from observing the animal in its habitat. Examine the clues animals leave behind and participate in animal identification exercises. Learn about animal adaptations by investigating skulls from 14 native Texas animals along with molds of their tracks and replicas of their scat.
DISCOVERY TRUNK
Explore the major vertebrate groups of select native Texas animals by examining their pelts, skulls, tracks, and more. Learn to use field guides, books, and bird calls as tools to further explore animal adaptations. Throughout the lessons, students are encouraged to research wildlife using not only the materials found in the trunk but through outdoor observation of wildlife as well.
DISCOVERY TRUNK
There are over 1,100 species of bats, accounting for 1/5 of the mammal species in the world. Bats are nocturnal, flying mammals that live in a variety of habitats on every continent, except Antarctica. Learn about unique adaptations that allow bats to echolocate, fly, and hang upside down and explore why they hibernate and migrate.
DISCOVERY TRUNK
Texas is home to over 600 different species of birds and they are quite diverse. They have a wide variety of adaptations including coloration, beak types, feet and legs, and more. Explore bird adaptations and includes items such as foot and skull models, feathers, books, and lessons focused on adaptations.
DISCOVERY TRUNK
There are between 15,000 and 20,000 species of butterfly in the world and hundreds of species in Texas alone. IInvestigate all aspects of these delicate creatures including their life cycle, migration, and their role in the natural world. Get hands on with real butterfly models and learn about their unique adaptations.
DISCOVERY TRUNK
All birds have the same life cycle from egg to chick to adult, but there are many differences along the way. Delve into the life cycle and life of a bird including behavior, migration, songs, and human encounters. Materials include life cycle posters, egg models, calls, migration maps, and books and lessons.
DISCOVERY TRUNK
Open students’ eyes to the various facets of water, from raindrops to aquifers. Students will be challenged to think about where water comes from, how it got there, where it ends up, and how it is being used. Conservation is the main message!
Have more questions? For more information about Discovery Trunks, contact us.
Discovery Trunks are just that…trunks filled with hands-on, curriculum-enhancing natural resource materials and lesson plans designed for students kindergarten through eighth grade. All trunk materials are aligned with the Texas Essential Knowledge and Skills (TEKS) state standards. Currently, seven different trunk topics are available focusing on Texas wildlife and ecosystems.
Yes, each Discovery Trunk is full of hands-on, natural resource materials and lessons, but please instruct students to handle the items with care.
If an item breaks, do not attempt to fix it and instead return the broken pieces with the trunk and notify us.
All Texas schools and organizations with the desire to educate the youth of Texas that meet the following requirements can reserve a Discovery Trunk. We encourage educators to coordinate reservations and share the Discovery Trunks with each other in order to meet the student minimum and remain within the 3-trunk limit.
Due to lower demand, exceptions to the requirements can be made during the summer semester.
Discovery Trunks are free to reserve and are shipped at no cost, including prepaid return shipping.
Discovery Trunks are shipped year-round. Reservations are handled on a first-come, first-served basis – reserve one now!
Discovery Trunks are available for online reservation.
Each Discovery Trunk is delivered with a zip-close bag inside of the trunk containing zip ties, a prepaid UPS Return Service shipping label, and a leaflet titled Discovery Trunk Return Info that details how to return your Discovery Trunk:
Your Discovery Trunk’s return date is listed on the email confirmation that was sent from Texas Wildlife Association (trunks@texas-wildlife.org) when you reserved your Discovery Trunk online and is also listed on the Discovery Trunk Return Info leaflet that is sent inside of the trunk.
A few days before your return date, you should also receive a We Got Your Pickup Request email from UPS.com that provides details on your scheduled pickup date, time, and location.
Each Discovery Trunk is delivered with a zip-close bag inside of the trunk containing zip ties, a leaflet titled Discovery Trunk Return Info that details how to return your Discovery Trunk, and a prepaid UPS Return Service shipping label. This zip-close bag is typically stored on the wheel-side of the trunk with the magazines.
If you cannot locate your return shipping label, please contact us to request another be emailed as a .pdf.
Yes, you may drop your Discovery Trunk off at a UPS Access Point, such as The UPS Store, any time before your return date.
No, each Discovery Trunk is typically reserved by another educator immediately following a reservation. Please contact us to see if a reservation extension is possible.
Yes, the Critters Connections and Texas Wildlife magazines inside your Discovery Trunk are yours to keep! Enjoy!
If your Discovery Trunk does not arrive by your reservation date, please contact us.
If an item from a Discovery Trunk is damaged, do not attempt to fix it and instead return the broken pieces with the trunk and notify us.
Once your Discovery Trunk arrives, verify that the contents of the trunk are intact and match the online Inventory. If any items from your Discovery Trunk are missing upon arrival or are lost while in your care, please contact us immediately.
Each Discovery Trunk is delivered with a zip-close bag inside of the trunk containing zip ties, a leaflet titled Discovery Trunk Return Info that details how to return your Discovery Trunk, and a prepaid UPS Return Service shipping label. This zip-close bag is typically stored on the wheel-side of the trunk with the magazines.
If you cannot locate your return shipping label, please contact us to request another be emailed as a .pdf.
We would appreciate if you could return the found item, although we will not be able to cover the shipping expenses. Please mail the item to the following address:
Texas Wildlife Assocation
Attention: Noelle Brooks
6644 FM 1102
New Braunfels, TX 78132
If your Discovery Trunk is not picked up on your return date, please contact us to schedule another pickup. Alternatively, you can drop the trunk off at a UPS Access Point, such as the UPS Store.
BRING WILDLIFE TO YOUR CLASSROOM
All Texas schools and organizations with the desire to educate the youth of Texas that meet the following requirements can reserve a Discovery Trunk.
Reservations open May 2025.
Reservations open Aug 2025.
TELL YOUR STORY
Thank you for utilizing a Discovery Trunk! Please take a moment to provide feedback as we strive to educate Texans about land stewardship and conservation and contact us with photos of your students using the Discovery Trunks that we can publish.
For more information about Discovery Trunks, contact the Conservation Legacy Program Assistant:
NOELLE BROOKS
Conservation Legacy Program Assistant
TWA OFFICE
6644 FM 1102
New Braunfels
Texas 78132
Tel (210) 826-2904 x135
6644 FM 1102 : New Braunfels, TX 78132
Phone: (210) 826-2904
Toll Free: (800) 839-9453
Fax: (210) 826-4933
© 2024 Texas Wildlife Association
