McKinney | January 2025

Nonpro t

BY KAREN CHANEY

Stephanie Jennings has worked at the Heard Museum since 2008.

Trails at Heard wind through trees and Blackland prairie land.

Natural seasonal changes can be observed rst hand at the wildlife sanctuary.

PHOTOS BY KAREN CHANEYCOMMUNITY IMPACT

Heard Museum provides nature oasis in McKinney

With 289 acres of land to explore, the Heard Natural Science Museum & Wildlife Sanctuary has been attracting two-legged, four-legged, n- and feather-propelled creatures for over ve decades. The background The Heard was established in 1967 by Bessie Heard when she was 80 years old. “She saw how other areas in the metroplex were expanding into their natural spaces and she wanted to make sure McKinney had a place where people could continue to enjoy nature,” Stephanie Jen- nings, marketing and communications director of the organization, said. Over 50 years later, neighborhoods ank the sanctuary. “It’s really amazing to see the foresight she [Bessie] had. If you look back at the pictures of this property, there was farmland for miles. There weren’t all of these neighborhoods right there,” Jennings said. “She really established a future oasis without even being able to see that it was going to be surrounded.” Who it’s for Jennings said people of all ages enjoy visiting the nature museum and sanctuary, and they come for varying reasons such as traversing the over ve miles of hiking trails as well as for bird spotting, family picnics, checking out the natural science museum, stopping along the Animal Encounters

Trail, perusing the gift shop and more. “All of our activities are along the lines of trying to connect people with nature,” Jennings said. What they oer Throughout the year, special exhibits like the Dinosaurs Live!, a life-size animatronic installation of dinosaurs positioned around the trails, are included with general admission. This exhibit will be onsite through Feb. 17. In March, a new bug- themed exhibit will oer interactive opportunities. Ongoing events such as bird walks, wetland canoe trails and guided tours occur throughout the year. Get involved Jennings said the private nonprot organization has donation opportunities such as business spon- sorships for exhibits as well as individual donations. Other ways to get involved include volunteering to be a trail guide, exhibit steward or to care for enclosed animals. Quote of note When Jennings started working in the marketing department at Heard Natural Science Museum & Wildlife Sanctuary in 2008, she felt like she had found a place where she could use her skills. “I’m able to encourage generations and gener- ations of kids to get out in nature,” Jennings said. “I really get a lot of joy out of knowing that I’m contributing to a positive cause.”

Various snakes, like this Eastern Diamondback Rattlesnake, can be seen in the natural science museum.

The museum’s gift shop sells nature-themed merchandise.

NATURE PL.

CAPILANO WAY

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1 Nature Place, McKinney www.heardmuseum.org

MCKINNEY EDITION