Passport to Texas

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

Scuba diving is coming to Texas Parks and Wildlife Expo—October 4th and 5th—when the Be a Diver Program brings its 17-thousand gallon pool to the festival…and you’re invited to get wet.

Make sure you bring your swimsuit. There will be changing rooms. There will be towels available. If it’s cold, there will be a heater in there.

Paul Hammerschmidt, with coastal fisheries, says children under 12 must have a parent in the pool with them; children under 17 must have a parent nearby. And those over 17? No parent required.

Come prepared for an exciting experience. There’s nothing quite like being underwater, being able to breath, and being in close proximity to the animals that are underwater.

Of course, there won’t be animals in the pool, but if you decide to learn to scuba after trying it at Expo, you can see as many as you want under the sea.

We’ve got a lot of great master divers and instructors here in the state, and a lot of them will be here at Expo. And there’ll be some venues over there where you can talk to them about taking classes.

Texas Parks and Wildlife Expo is October 4th and 5th. Make plans to attend and to learn skills to help you get the most from future outdoor adventures. We have more information about Expo at passporttotexas.org.

That’s our show… with support from the Sport Fish Restoration Program… providing funding for the operations and management of Sea Center Texas.

For Texas Parks and Wildlife…I’m Cecilia Nasti.

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

Texas Parks and Wildlife Expo is your gateway to the outdoors. It’s where, in a single weekend, you can introduce your family to a wide range of outdoor activities including—brand new this year—scuba diving!

Almost everything we’ve done is above water: kayaking and mountain biking and all those wonderful activities…now we get to look into a whole new world.

Paul Hammerschmidt, with coastal fisheries, is coordinating the Be a Diver Program at this year’s Expo. Participants will dive in a 17-thousand gallon pool.

Kids and adults get to don wetsuits and scuba equipment and get a chance to see what it feels like to be under water, breathing scuba.

Hammerschmidt says Texas is one of the larger states with a scuba diving contingent, so it makes sense to offer a scuba opportunity at Expo.

In years past, we’ve had what we call virtual diving, where kids can go in and see photographs of the Flower Gardens National Marine Sanctuary. Now they’re actually going to be able to get wet.

Texas Parks and Wildlife Expo is October 4th and 5th. Learn more at passporttotexas.org.

That’s our show… with support from the Sport Fish Restoration Program… providing funding for the operations and management of Sea Center Texas.

For Texas Parks and Wildlife…I’m Cecilia Nasti.

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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 and the Wildlife Restoration program

In 1969, J. David and Margaret Bamberger purchased a fifty-five hundred acre ranch in Blanco County.

Let me tell you, there wasn’t a drop of water here. There wasn’t anything in the way of wildlife. I drilled seven water wells five hundred feet deep; I never got a drop of water.

By employing land management practices, the Bambergers restored the ecological balance to their land, and water began to flow.

(birds chirping) We were wanting to demonstrate, and to try and develop a model, that perhaps other people could follow.

The Selah, Bamberger Ranch Preserve—regional winner of the Lone Star Land Steward award for the Edwards Plateau—attracts visitors of all ages who come to learn from this conservation couple.

And that where my strength was, which was outdoor education. For the children, we have a special fifth grade program. We also do workshops for adults. Mostly landowners, trying to teach them the basics of stewardship. David and I have very much worked as a team. All of the things that we do involve both conservation and education.

Learn about the Lone Star Land Steward Awards at passporttotexas.org.

That’s our show… with support from the Wildlife Restoration Program… providing funding for the Private Lands and Public Hunting Program.

For Texas Parks and Wildlife…I’m Cecilia Nasti.

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

(bird call under open) Thirty-nine years ago, the soil conservation technician told me I bought the worst piece of land in Blanco County.

J. David Bamberger and his wife Margaret have dedicated themselves to restoring ecological balance to their fifty-five hundred acre Blanco County ranch. The land, previously misused, was dry when they bought it.

We embarked on a five-year plan to do habitat restoration. In no time at all—in two and a half years—after we began, the first spring came to life.

The restoration process included the removal of cedar trees, and planting native grasses. Since the rebirth of the first spring, ten others have come back to life.

And, seven and a half years after we began, two creeks began to run. So, this is really a story of grass. And grass means water, and grass means healthy cattle, it means healthy hunting. It means a happier, healthier life for those of us who live here.

The Selah, Bamberger Ranch,http://www.bambergerranch.org/, is this year’s regional winner of the Lone Star land Steward (LSLS) Award for the Edwards Plateau.

That’s our show… with support from the Wildlife Restoration Program… providing funding for the Private Lands and Public Hunting Program.

For Texas Parks and Wildlife…I’m Cecilia Nasti.

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