Passport to Texas

Chris Holmes (far left) with young outdoor enthusiasts.

TPW TV: Chris Holmes Play Now | Play in Popup | Download

Chris Holmes, Director Interpretive Services, was honored recently by Texas Parks and Wildlife for his work with the Texas Outdoor Family program. And you can see his story this month on the Texas Parks and Wildlife PBS series. Producer: Karen Loke.

60— When he was awarded this employee award, it was for all of his work with the program Called Texas Outdoor Family Workshop.

He loves his job and he loves camping – he’s so enthusiastic about what he does. Just so dedicated to getting people into our parks. Believes our parks are the best places in the world.

So, what do you want people to know about Chris after watching this? What do you hope they take away from this?

Well, in his honor, I hope they visit a state park.

Great idea…thanks, Karen.

Catch the show with Chris Holmes this week (Dec. 9-15) on your PBS station.

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

Photo and caption by Michael Mezeul II (from National Geographic Photo Contest 2012)

The Milky Way graces the west Texas night sky over Fort Griffin. Fort Griffin was a Cavalry fort that was established in the late 1860s to provide settlers protection from Kiowa and Comanche Indian raids. The view of the night sky, from past to present, remains the same.

Location: Albany, Texas

TPW Magazine: January/February Issue Play Now | Play in Popup | Download

A comfy chair, a hot beverage, and a good read make a winter’s day pure pleasure. You’re on your own with the chair and beverage, but Texas Parks and Wildlife magazine has you covered with the reading. Editor, Louie Bond.

62— Well, I always like to think of the deep winter issues as the ones you want to snuggle up and spend some time reading. So we put a little smorgasbord of things in our January/February issue. And the cover story is by Russell Graves, and it is about how to teach your kid how to love the outdoors, called “Dirty Nails and Goat Slobber”. And it’s all about kids letting play in the dirt. And Russell is such a great person to write this article. He was Ag teacher of the year in Texas. He has two kids of his own who are great outdoorsmen. And he’s got six quick steps to teach your kid be a great outdoors person. And then, to counter that, we have this beautiful photo essay by our own Chase Fountain called “Into the Night”, which is this whole variety of starscapes and light and all kinds of things that go bump in the night, and I think people are really going to enjoy that. And then our final feature this month is on pond management. Now who wouldn’t want to have their own pond in their backyard where they could just stick a line in, catch a fish, and while away a lazy afternoon? It’s a really wide variety of articles this month, and I think there’s going to be something in there to please everyone.

Thanks, Louie. Look for the January/February issue of Texas Parks and Wildlife magazine on newsstands.

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

Hunting: A Gift to Help the Hungry Play Now | Play in Popup | Download

It’s the holiday season, a time when many of us look for ways to reach out to those less fortunate. If you’re a hunter, the easiest way is by donating a deer to Hunters for the Hungry.

09—Once it’s [the deer is] donated, the meat is used by food pantries, food banks, and other food assistance providers that serve their local communities.

Anitra Hendricks oversees the program. Meat processors across the state are participating in the program. Hunters just need to bring them their legally tagged and field-dressed deer.

14—There is a reduced processing fee for those who donate to the program. They pay the fee, they do receive a receipt for a possible tax deduction. The meat processor will grind the meat, package it, and then from there it goes to the food assistance provider.

Find a list of participating processors on the Hunters for the Hungry website. Anitra says she is always on the lookout for more processors.

08— The have to be willing to do some minimal book-keeping as far as tracking donations and reporting that to us at the end of the season.

It’s a small inconvenience for the good it provides to hungry children, elderly and families during the holidays.

The Wildlife and Sport Fish restoration program supports our series and celebrates 75 years of funding diverse conservation projects throughout Texas…

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

Hunting: Help Feed Hungry Texans Play Now | Play in Popup | Download

Regular deer season continues through January 6th in the north and January 20th in the south. And with an estimated 3 to 4 million white tailed deer in Texas, hunting is necessary to manage their population. If your freezer is already full, but you still have a tag you want to use, consider donating your next deer to Hunters for the Hungry.

08—Hunters for the hungry is a statewide venison donation program that allows hunters to donate their extra venison.

Anitra Hendricks oversees the program, and says charitable food assistance providers receive the donated venison as two pound packages of ground meat. Last season Texas hunters donated more than 153-thousand pounds of venison to the program.

04—So [that comes to] just a little over 600-thusand quarter pound servings.

The average trimmed weight of a donated deer is about 40 pounds of usable meat. By that account, Texas hunters donated just over 38-hundred animals. Their generosity fed children, elderly, and families in need.

11—What we have heard from the agencies is that in many cases, the venison that they receive through Hunters for the Hungry, is the only meat –fresh meat—that they may receive on a limited basis.

More about Hunters for the hungry and how to donate to the program on tomorrow’s show.

The Wildlife and Sport Fish restoration program supports our series and celebrates 75 years of funding diverse conservation projects throughout Texas… For Texas Parks and Wildlife…I’m Cecilia Nasti.

Texas State Parks Christmas Ornaments 2012

State Parks: Christmas Ornament Play Now | Play in Popup | Download

Each December, Texas Parks and Wildlife makes available a delicate laser cut, gold-plated collectible Christmas ornament that celebrates the state’s parks and historic sites. Our state park guide, Bryan Frazier, talks about this year’s offering.

53— Well, this year. We’ve got three. And you can purchase them individually, or you can purchase them as a set. And they’re unique, because this year they’re carved out of wood. They’re usually a nice brass little trinket, and this year, the shape is similar but they’re laser carved with amazing detail of Lighthouse Rock from Palo Duro Canyon, and one of the Caddo Lake cabins, and the San Jacinto Monument, so they’re really some of our flagship parks and historic sites. And it’s a new look with them carved out of wood. And so, maybe people who’ve ordered them in the past and didn’t want one that looked similar – this is the year to order them. And you can only get them through the customer service center by calling 512.389.8900. And there are small shipping costs to go along with that, but check that out at texasstateparks.org. You can find out all about it, see the images; I think this is one you’re going to want to get.

Thanks, Bryan.

That’s our show for today…with funding provided by Chevrolet, supporting outdoor recreation in Texas; because there’s life to be done.

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