Passport to Texas

Passport to Texas from Texas Parks and Wildlife

College students—take your spring break to the extreme; go on a camel trek at Monahans Sandhills State Park.

The camel treks at Monahans Sandhills State Park are pretty extreme adventures. This isn’t a short, quick tourist jaunt through the dunes… we’re talking 3,000 acres of sand dunes.

Doug Baum, who is the proprietor of the Texas Camel Corps, www.texascamelcorps.com, guides trek participants through this Trans Pecos region park on camelback. He says exploring the dunes is better aboard a ship of the desert.

The trip themselves focus on the flora, the fauna, the history and the prehistory of the Trans Pecos Region. The camels are carrying all of our gear so it really makes exploring through the dunes very easy. They’re carrying all the water, the groceries, the tents and camping supplies. It’s a really unique way to go through the dunes and experience that very unique part of Texas.

Due to high winds in spring, Doug forewarns spring-breakers that you will get personal with sand.

Springtime is beautiful in the Trans Pecos but it can get a little windy. You can expect sand to get everywhere. Folks should get very creative when they think of where everywhere means. Sand will get everywhere.

I think we get it. Find links to Camel Corps,www.texascamelcorps.com, at passporttotexas.org.

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

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Passport to Texas from Texas Parks and Wildlife

Spend time with the family outdoors this spring break.

I believe it’s very important for families to spend time outdoors. Especially in the metropolitan areas, (where) people aren’t able to fully experience nature in a natural setting.

Doug Huggins is assistant complex superintendent at Bastrop State Park, and says parks buffer visitors from the hubbub of city life.

It’s a good place to see nature, to look at the flora and fauna, and get out of the city and feel like you’re away from it all… and you can leave all the hustle, bustle and business behind, and slow down for a little while to think about what’s going on right here right now.

Weather during spring break can be cold and wet, but don’t let that keep you from the great outdoors. Think Cabins—like those at Bastrop State park.

They’re nice and cozy. They also have heaters and they have fire rings outside so you can have fires and roast marshmallows and make s’mores. It’s a great place to spend time with the family; and in the late winter, early springtime we still have some people that come out who take advantage of the bluebird days when it’s mild and the sun is out, to look at what winter residents we have at the park.

We have a link to state park information and reservations at passporttotexas.org

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

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Passport to Texas from Texas Parks and Wildlife

Introduce youngsters to photography this spring break as a fun and affordable way to get them interested in nature and the outdoors.

I believe that all children have a basic connection with the outdoors and I do feel that photography is a good way to develop that bond. It can really enhance that experience altogether.

Texas Parks and Wildlife photographer Chase Fountain says picture taking is a great way for kids to record and enhance their experiences in nature.

Let’s say you’re out and about and you’re on a family vacation… that’s a great way for you to be able to record those memories and take them back with you. With today’s technology and digital
cameras only starting at $20, it’s affordable for almost any family to buy cameras for the kids and let them experience nature.

The key to getting kids outside is to find something that makes going outdoors sound like more fun than indoors.

As far as utilizing photography… you know every kid is different and maybe some kids won’t like photography, but for some that might just be the proper tool to get them outdoors.

Visit passporttotexas.org for more ideas for getting your kids engaged in the outdoors.

That’s our show…with research and writing help from Alanna Jones… For Texas Parks and Wildlife…I’m Cecilia Nasti.
______________________________________________________
Links to help connect your kids with nature and photography:
http://www.forestwander.com/news/2008/01/28/young-nature-photo-competition-winners/
http://www.adobe.com/education/digkids/tips/photo/nature.html
http://www.betterphoto.com/photography-for-kids.asp
http://www.biglearning.org/treasure-photography-for-kids.htm

Spring Break: Kids & Photography Play Now | Play in Popup | Download

Passport to Texas from Texas Parks and Wildlife

Introduce youngsters to photography this spring break as a fun and affordable way to get them interested in nature and the outdoors.

I believe that all children have a basic connection with the outdoors and I do feel that photography is a good way to develop that bond. It can really enhance that experience altogether.

Texas Parks and Wildlife photographer Chase Fountain says picture taking is a great way for kids to record and enhance their experiences in nature.

Let’s say you’re out and about and you’re on a family vacation… that’s a great way for you to be able to record those memories and take them back with you. With today’s technology and digital
cameras only starting at $20, it’s affordable for almost any family to buy cameras for the kids and let them experience nature.

The key to getting kids outside is to find something that makes going outdoors sound like more fun than indoors.

As far as utilizing photography… you know every kid is different and maybe some kids won’t like photography, but for some that might just be the proper tool to get them outdoors.

Visit passporttotexas.org for more ideas for getting your kids engaged in the outdoors.

That’s our show…with research and writing help from Alanna Jones… For Texas Parks and Wildlife…I’m Cecilia Nasti.
______________________________________________________
Links to help connect your kids with nature and photography:
http://www.forestwander.com/news/2008/01/28/young-nature-photo-competition-winners/
http://www.adobe.com/education/digkids/tips/photo/nature.html
http://www.betterphoto.com/photography-for-kids.asp
http://www.biglearning.org/treasure-photography-for-kids.htm

Spring Break: Kids & Photography Play Now | Play in Popup | Download

Passport to Texas from Texas Parks and Wildlife and the Sport Fish Restoration program

You get to learn a lot about Texas when you watch the Texas Parks and Wildlife TV series. Series producer Don Cash.

One of the places we feature is San Felipe Springs in Del Rio , Texas. And people have put their algae eating catfish from their aquariums in the water. And this is an exotic species, and they do have a detrimental affect.

The sucker mouth catfish has really taken over; this population basically went exponential. Literally hundreds of thousands of fish here. More than any other fish in this creek. Maybe more than all the other fish put together.

We always hit a state park in every show. In march, one of the places we go is Purtis Creek State Park, which is near Athens, Texas. And one of the things that they’ve got going now is a canoe tour.

We had an excellent response to canoe tours. You know, you can go to the zoo and you can see snakes and different wildlife. But out here, you’re seeing nature as it really is.

One of the other parks we go to is Ray Roberts Lake State Park, which is north of Denton. And Ray Roberts Lake is a 30-thousand acre lake. And the SP is actually, two major parks and six smaller parks and a greenbelt and an equestrian trail…

I’ve been riding here for about ten years. And the trails are beyond belief in their natural beauty.

So you don’t really just go to one park. It’s like you’ve got four or five or six parks to go to.

That’s our show with support from the Sport Fish and Wildlife Restoration Program… For Texas Parks and Wildlife…I’m Cecilia Nasti.

TP&W TV - March Highlights Play Now | Play in Popup | Download