Passport to Texas

Passport to Texas Outdoor Stories from Texas Parks and Wildlife

We all come somewhere, and Chris Holmes, who oversees the Texas Outdoor Family in State Parks program, comes from England. From the time he was a boy, Chris had a passion for the outdoors. It made sense that when he became an adult, he would seek a career that kept him close to nature. He has followed that career to several continents and two hemispheres. This is his outdoor story.

I was a park ranger once in Australia. And we had some monitor lizards that were fairly aggressive—similar to the raccoons here in Texas—they would go after food. And it was always very funny to watch these monitor lizards slinking up towards tents, and smelling the food. These lizards were about five to six feet long.

So, having a monitor lizard stick their head through the tent—a lot of people are not used to seeing that. So that was a lot of fun. And sometimes, maybe we had some mischievous young adults that have kept us awake at nighttime, so we may have encouraged the lizards to go see them in the morning.

Monitor lizards are like raccoons. I don’t think so. Thanks, Chris.

If you have a fond memory of time you’ve spent in the Texas outdoors…tell us. Go to passportotexas.org and click the Outdoor Stories link. If we use your story, we’ll send you a Life’s Better Outside t-shirt. What are you waiting for?

That’s our show…for today. Remember: Life’s Better Outside… For Texas Parks and Wildlife…I’m Cecilia Nasti.

 

 Outdoor Story: Chris Holmes: Play Now | Play in Popup | Download

Passport to Texas Outdoor Stories from Texas Parks and Wildlife

Alanna Jones’ mother insisted that her daughter spend time outdoors.

I was a part of some type of camping group every single summer. So, I spent a lot of time outdoors, but since I’ve been in college—not so much. But I get out when I can.

Alanna got outside when she was our Passport to Texas intern this spring. During an assignment covering the Texas River School, Alanna finally understood her mother’s wisdom.

Well, what the Texas River School does is it takes kids, fourth through sixth graders out on the river. What we did is we went up a river and had lunch; and they learned survival skills in the water. The whole time I was just thinking: Wow, you know, that was me as a kid. Not understanding what this experience is going to do for my life. Most of these kids learn their entire lives that the water is scary, that the outdoors is scary. While they were on the river, they saw everything. And because they were paddling themselves, it showed them that they could do more than they thought they could do. And, because of my experience at the Texas River School, it reaffirmed why my mom said, get outdoors, and as an adult I understand that now.

Alanna is on to her next adventure and we wish her luck.

Tell us your outdoor story at passporttotexas.org.

That’s our show for today…For Texas Parks and Wildlife…I’m Cecilia Nasti

 

 Outdoor Story: Alanna Jones: Play Now | Play in Popup | Download

Passport to Texas from Texas Parks and Wildlife

Mark White, founder of Austin based Luna Kayak School, never thought his neoprene booties would serve as a tasty meal while camping on Matagorda Island.

A couple of years ago I paddled from Goose Island State Park out through Cedar Bayou into the Gulf and camped on the Southern end of Matagorda Island.

I was at a real nice campsite in the sand by myself when I heard a little rustling in the night, but I didn’t think anything of it. I got up in the morning and there were coyote tracks all around my camp and my shoes were gone. The coyote decided that my smelly, neoprene booties were something that he or she was interested in and went off with them.

So I ahead and packed up, got in my boat barefooted and paddled back through the surf to Cedar Bayou. I was surfing in back through the cut in between the islands and I looked to my right and there were two dolphins surfing the wave along with me back into Cedar Bayou.

Seeing coyotes and dolphin on the same trip–priceless. So what’s your story? Go to passporttotexas.org and submit your outdoor memory, and if we use it, we’ll send you a Life’s Better Outside t-shirt.

That’s our show…with research and writing help from Alanna Jones… For Texas Parks and Wildlife…I’m Cecilia Nasti.

 

 Outdoor Story: Mark White: Play Now | Play in Popup | Download

Passport to Texas Outdoor Stories from Texas Parks and Wildlife

Ask Eveline Evans about the value of spending time outdoors and she’s not shy about sharing her views.

It’s just a great stress reliever. It’s wonderful to get out and get away from the urban areas, and enjoy the trees and the streams. I mean, it’s just wonderful to get away.

Eveline gets away with family whenever she can. She says sharing time outdoors with loved ones—even if it’s just taking a walk in nature—is critical to healthy, balanced relationships. It brings families closer…it encourages dialogues.

Well, I think it’s very important. My husband and I, we go walking all the time together in different locations. We love the Texas state parks. We’ve done Big Bend and the Davis Mountains, Caprock Canyons, Palo Duro Canyon…all of those are just wonderful places to go out and walk. You can talk about anything it seems like. Every little thing that comes up—you can explain to younger ones your value systems, or whatever. Why when you pass a snake you’re not supposed to kill it—you just leave it alone, that type stuff.

What do you love about spending time in the outdoors? We want to know. Go to passporttotexas.org and share your outdoor story with us.

That’s our show…For Texas Parks and Wildlife…I’m Cecilia Nasti.

 

 Outdoor Story: Eveline Evans: Play Now | Play in Popup | Download

Passport to Texas from Texas Parks and Wildlife

San Antonio mom, Karen Spangrud, wanted to explore Texas with her son, and not break the bank. She decided to take him camping.

Someone suggested Garner State Park. And, how can you go wrong with Garner? So, we packed up our truck and off we went.

Karen didn’t grow up knowing about camping and recreational opportunities at Texas state parks, until she was invited to go on a camp out.

I first learned about Texas State Parks through a friend’s parents. The invited me to dinner, and to possibly stay over with them—years ago when I was in school. It was so much fun, I had never thought of doing it before.

When Karen became a mother, she knew Texas State Parks would be valuable to her son’s formative years. And his first camping tip proved it.

He was so excited to sleep in a tent. It’s not the same as a tent in the backyard. He woke up talking about the noises heard overnight [and wondered] if the deer had come by, [and] if the raccoons had come by. He has really developed an affinity for the outdoors, and he’s exploring climbing trees, he’s looking at the wildlife, looking at the scat—little boys think that’s really cool—and he’s really become quite a little naturalist, which is great.

What’s your story? Go to passporttotexas.org as Karen did and tell us what like to do in the great Texas outdoors.

That’s out show…reminding you that Life’s Better Outside…for Texas Parks and Wildlife…I’m Cecilia Nasti.

 

 Outdoor Story: Karen Spangrud: Play Now | Play in Popup | Download