Archive for June, 2010

New State Park Reservation System

Wednesday, June 9th, 2010

This is a Passport to Texas State Park Getaway

Planning your next State Park Getaway just got easier thanks to a new reservation and business system that launched last month. Bryan Frazier has details.

We’re proud to offer what we think is going to be a very helpful solution to a lot of people with a new software system. And it’s an integrated software system. It does everything from the business function to making reservations.

We think it’s really going to help people. And I think what they’ll notice at first is the three dollar online camping fee that we’ve always charged people is going away. That’s going to be one of the good benefits—so maybe it will encourage people to make more online reservations in our state parks. But there will also be some other benefits, like with the state park pass…people can leave with their pass card instead of having the down time waiting for it to come in the mail; they can use their discount coupons on their first visit.

We’re revamping the Bluebonnet pass—the parklands passport for people with disabilities and disable veterans and senior citizens. We’re implementing some new gift card concepts in our state parks. So, this new software system should really be something that helps the customer; it is more convenient for the customer, and makes that experience more efficient and better in the long run.

We’ll have some transition time in the early going in the summer, as we break into this new software system, but we think eventually it will be something that everybody will really like.

Thanks Bryan.

Find more state park information on the Texas Parks and Wildlife website.

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

Angler Legacy Movement

Tuesday, June 8th, 2010

This is Passport to Texas

If you’re a seasoned angler, put your skills to good use.

09—We really encourage the avid angler to introduce fishing to at least one new person a year. And there’d be no better time to do that than during National Fishing and Boating Week…

National Fishing and Boating week is now through June 13th, and it’s a project of the non-profit Recreational Boating and Fishing Foundation, or RBFF. Frank Peterson is president and CEO. He invites anglers who are passionate about sharing the sport with others to join the Anglers’ Legacy Movement.

12—If they go to our website takemefishing.org, they can join the anglers’ legacy movement. We have over 213-thousand ambassadors around the country who have taken a pledge to introduce fishing to someone new.

On average members of the Anglers’ Legacy movement introduce more than three new people to fishing each year.

12—Another interesting stat on our Ambassador program is that over 70% of the people they introduce to the sport are under the age of 18. So they’re helping to ensure the future of angling and boating in this country.

So introduce someone to fishing this week.

05—That would be a great week to just say, hey, I’m going to do something for young people; I’m going to do something for the sport.

Go to www.takemefishing.org for more information about the Anglers’ Legacy Movement. The Sport Fish and Wildlife Restoration Program supports our series. For Texas parks and Wildlife…I’m Cecilia Nasti.

TPW TV–Wardens & White Bass

Monday, June 7th, 2010

This is Passport to Texas

Coastal game wardens and white bass fishing: two segments you’ll find in June on the Texas Parks and Wildlife PBS TV series. Series Producer, Don Cash.

One of the stories we follow in June on our television show is about game wardens, and what they do for a living. Since most of Texas is inland, a lot of people probably don’t realize we have game wardens along the coast, and they have a completely different job than game wardens, say, maybe in the Panhandle.

Good morning! State Game Warden. How are you doing this morning? I wonder if we can take a look at your fish here. It’s okay? Thank you, sir.

And while we’re on the topic of water in June, we’re also going to look at the spring white bass run in Texas. By June you’ve already missed the spring white bass run, but this will help you get ready for next year. And one of the places we go fishing is up in East Texas on the Sabine River.

Got one! Reel it in. Okay, you got another one. Hold your rod down. There. Right there. Oh, that’s a good one.

No good fishing trip would be complete without cooking and eating those fish at the end, and we’ve got a few tips on that as well.

I mix about half corn meal and half flour, put a little Cajun seasoning on there…shake that off in there. Takes about eight to ten minutes.

The television show goes all over the state, and I hope you get a chance to catch it.

Thanks, Don.

The Sport Fish and Wildlife restoration program supports our series…For Texas Parks and Wildlife…I’m Cecilia Nasti.

Life’s Better Outside Experience, 2

Friday, June 4th, 2010

This is Passport to Texas

Summer’s filled with festivals and events; consider attending those that include The Life’s Better Outside Experience: a streamlined, mobile version of Texas Parks and Wildlife Expo.

05—We’re taking a small version of Expo on the road, and going to other parts of the state.

Trey Hamlett is Outreach Events Coordinator for Parks and Wildlife. He says The Life’s Better Outside Experience offers abundant outdoor recreational opportunities that serve as the first steps toward becoming lifelong outdoor enthusiasts.

20—Archery and fishing, hunting and camping—these are things you can do your whole life. And we want to get unengaged urban Texans involved in outdoor recreation. Because if you’re not involved in outdoor recreation, you’re probably not involved in conservation. So, if we can get you to use the outdoors, you come to care about it, and eventually care for it.

There’s an opportunity to try the Life Better Outside Experience June fifth and sixth:

16—That’s in Longview, Texas, at AlleyFest. It’s a fine arts festival that has concerts at night, but is very busy during the day. It’s a family event; we’ll be on the south side of the courthouse the entire block, and it’s going to be a neat deal. You name it; if we do it outside, it’s going to be there.

Find more information about the Life’s Better Outside Experience at AlleyFest in Longview, June 5 & 6, on the Texas Parks and Wildlife website.

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

Life’s Better Outside Experience, 1

Thursday, June 3rd, 2010

This is Passport to Texas

The economic bust of 2008 sidelined Texas Parks and Wildlife Expo, but not its outreach mission: to connect unengaged Texans—especially urban Texans—with the outdoors.

15—We needed to continue our outreach effort. And this was an opportunity to get outside of Central Texas. The only gripe against Expo ever was—it was only in Central Texas. And we’re taking a small version of Expo on the road.

Trey Hamlett is Outreach Events Coordinator for Parks and Wildlife. They’ve named this movable mini-expo, the Life’s Better Outside Experience.

16—We have a shooting sport at each one of these events that’s typically archery. Rock climbing, fishing activities, we do a wildlife CSI, which is critter scene investigation. Outdoor family is involved. The events take on the flavor of the region of the state they’re in.

The Life’s Better Outside Experience partners with established events statewide.

25—We’ve got a fairly strict criteria; they have to be family events; it can’t be a first-time even;, it has to have a history where they can give us information on attendance, demographics, that sort of thing. They also have to have an attendance of at least 5,000 visitors a day so we get the most bang for our buck and the opportunity to talk to a lot of Texans. And then geographic importance, and where it fits into our schedule as well.

There’s more information on the Life’s Better Outside Experience on the Texas parks and Wildlife Website.

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