Passport to Texas

Passport to Texas Outdoor Stories from Texas Parks and Wildlife

Chris Holmes, who oversees the Texas Outdoor Families in State Parks program, came by my office recently with his young twin sons Charlie and Jimmy, and had them tell me, though him, what they like about camping in state parks.

Can you tell me what you like about camping?

I like burning the marshmallows.

You like Marshmallows. What else do you like about camping?

I like pitching the tent.

When we go camping in the state park is it scary?

Noooo.

Is it fun?

Yeah.

What animals do we hear when we go camping.

Owls.

What does the owl say?

Who-who.

What about the coyote? What does the coyote say?

OoooOOOOO.

You’re with state parks, so you definitely have gotten your kids involved in the outdoors. Tell me why it’s important for parents to get their kids outside.

It’s just something that’s natural. When you see the children outside having fun, it’s something they enjoy. And these boys would rather play outside than watch TV, and I think that’s really important. And it’s really rewarding to me when I ask them what they want to do and they want to play outside (sound of Jimmy & Charlie getting loud and fussy).

Once the twins hit the fresh air, Chris said they calmed down immediately, because Jimmy and Charlie know (Charlie howls like coyote) that Life’s Better outside.

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

 

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Passport to Texas from Texas Parks and Wildlife

[Music: Give That Man a Job…establish, and then fade under script]

A new interactive educational website designed for seventh grade students…examines depression era Texas in the 1930s… and contributions made to state parks by the Civilian Conservation Corps…the first New Deal recovery program instituted by President Franklin D. Roosevelt.

Since this is geared toward seventh grade students, it had to fit within the curricular requirements that Texas teachers need to teach to. So, we basically wanted to lay out a foundation with the depression relief theme, and give students context to the New Deal programs.

Sarah Lisle is an interpretive planner with State Parks; she oversaw the project.

We talked about the Nature Lover’s movement in the United States and the whole idea of conservation. And then from there, we talk about how the CCC actually built parks in Texas, and how they helped communities at the same time.

The Linden Heck Howell Texas History Grant from Humanities Texas made this site possible.

This whole narrative is complimented by a great deal of primary sources that we were able to put together in this format, where you can view newspaper articles, and photographs, and listen to music, and watch videos. It’s just a really rich resource for teachers and students.

We have a link to the site at passporttotexas.org.

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

 

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Passport to Texas from Texas Parks and Wildlife

I pledge myself for a new deal for the American people.

[Music: Happy Days are Here Again… play :03 then fade under script]

During his presidency, Franklin D. Roosevelt ushered in The New Deal, a series of recovery programs to help combat the effects of The Great Depression. One such initiative, the Civilian Conservation Corps, or CCC, was a work relief program for unemployed young men.

The CCC built many of our parks.

Sarah Lisle is an interpretive planner with State Parks. This month a new educational website, conceived of by Angela Davis in the Interpretation and Exhibits Division, goes online for seventh grade students. Funded by a grant from Humanities Texas, it focuses on the contributions of the CCC in Texas.

Humanities Texas saw that there was a real need for this era of history; students were not getting this information. So, Angela decided to come up with an interactive website that could engage seventh grade students in a fun and interactive way so that they can learn about the New Deal era, and also to go out and look at these parks that the CCC built and experience them themselves.

The first of FDR’s recovery programs established up to 70 work camps throughout the state where unemployed young men labored on conservation projects like flood control and improvements to state parks.

Learn more when you visit passporttotexas.org.

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

 

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Passport to Texas from Texas Parks and Wildlife

If you have a bucket list—that’s an inventory of activities to accomplish before departing this mortal coil—be sure to include a fall camp out at a Texas state park. It’s heavenly. And this month Parks & Wildlife Television highlights state parks. Series Producer, Abe Moore.

Some of the parks we’re going to profile is Lockhart State Park, Purtis Creek State Park, which is between Dallas and Tyler, Lake Casa Blanca State Park, which is down by Laredo, and Ray Roberts Lake State Park north of Dallas.

Some of the aspects of Lockhart State Park, for example, is there’s actually a golf course there, which is kind of unique. And of course, you have your BBQ and camping, but it’s a nice little park.

We’re quite pleased we found this place; to me it’s a hidden gem in the State Park system.

And for folks in South Texas, down by Laredo, we have Lake Casa Blanca International State Park. And, it’s also great for camping and also great just the quiet.

Lake Casa Blanca SP offers people the opportunity to come and enjoy a piece of quietness and enjoy the sounds of nature and just relax.

So, every week on Parks and Wildlife Television we’ll have a park piece, so people can kind of get geared up for fall camping.

For more information go to passporttotexas.org.

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

 

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Passport to Texas from Texas Parks and Wildlife

For whatever reason, it seems that…

We spend way too much time indoors.

Walt Dabney, Director of Texas State parks, says visiting a park not only gets kids and adults outside, it gets them in shape.

The other thing about being outside is while some people don’t like structured exercise, when you’re outside in a park—hiking or just doing things—you’re physically active. And it’s very positive for you from a health standpoint.

And with fuel prices continuing to climb, state parks are healthy for your body and your bank account.

We’ve got kayak and canoe rentals. You can bring a bike. You can do all kinds of things unless you’re just looking for a way to burn more gas. And I’ll tell you that the way gas prices are going today, parks are going to be even more attractive. You know, there’s probably one fairly close to where anybody hearing me lives.

Which means a healthy outdoor experience is closer than you think. We have information on state parks, the annual state parks pass and the state park guide at passporttotexas.org.

That’s our show…remember: life’s better outside…For Texas Parks and Wildlife…I’m Cecilia Nasti.

 

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