Passport to Texas

Watch a video featuring 2011 winners. Lots of great talent!

Art/Fish: Enter to State Fish Art Contest Play Now | Play in Popup | Download

Budding artists [and fisheries biologists] take note: draw or paint any recognized state fish, include an essay on the species, and you might just win a great prize.

14—The Toyota Texas Bass Classic sponsors this, and they give us money for prizes.

Zoeann Stinchcomb, with the Texas Freshwater Fisheries center in Athens, says the competition is open to Kindergarten through twelfth graders.

14—This is one of my favorite times of the year, once we start getting the entries in, because I don’t think most people realize how many talented students we have as far as artwork goes—it’s amazing.

Students must also submit an essay [K-3rd grade are exempt] about the fish they draw in order for judges to consider their entry.

16—The idea on that is they have to do a little but of research about the fish that they’re going to be representing. And, they have to be able to tell us something about that fish: either the conservation status, the biology or ecology of that fish… And they can even put it in story form.

Deadline to submit an entry is March 31. Find contest details at www.statefishart.com.

That’s our show… with support from the Sport fish and Wildlife Restoration program…providing funding for management of the Texas Freshwater Fisheries Center.

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

Student Fish Art

Art/Fish: The Fish Art Contest Play Now | Play in Popup | Download

The State Fish Art contest—a nationwide art competition, with support from the William E. Armentrout Foundation and Friends of the Texas Freshwater Fisheries Center, is about more than pretty pictures.

05—The idea is to get the students involved in art and science and the out of doors

Zoeann Stinchcomb, with the Texas Freshwater Fisheries center in Athens, says K through twelfth graders may compete by submitting a drawing or painting of a state fish. (Unlike the fourth through twelfth grade participants, the K through third grade entrants will not be required to submit an essay.)

11—Our state fish in Texas is the Guadalupe Bass. However, Texas students are not limited to drawing just the Guadalupe Bass. They can draw any recognized state fish from around the country.

Students from across the nation compete for prizes and a chance to have their artwork reprinted on a conservation stamp.

22—The competition in Texas is stiff; we have more entries generally every year than any other state, and sometimes more than all the other states combined.

For one thing, we promote it quite a lot, and also we give good prizes, and we have a big state, and you know, I just think that for some reason the people in Texas have realized the value of the contest.

Deadline to submit an entry is March 31. Find contest details at www.statefishart.com.

That’s our show… with support from the Sport fish and Wildlife Restoration program…providing funding for management of the Texas Freshwater Fisheries Center.

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

Enjoying the Texas Beach

State Parks: Ambassadors and Millennials Play Now | Play in Popup | Download

If you’re under 30 years old chances are you’ve spent less time outdoors than previous generations.

Ky Harkey is the outdoor education and outreach coordinator for state parks, and oversees the Texas State Park Ambassador Program, which targets these “millennials.”

21— The millennial generation, if you will—roughly 16 to 28 year olds or so—is a particular focus for us – trying to bring that audience into parks. The millennials that are out there right now that love Texas State Parks, and are already our advocates, the Ambassador program gives them the tools that they need to help promote Texas State Parks, and the benefits of outdoor recreation with their peers.

Volunteer Ambassadors work to increase visitation of young adults in State Parks.

15— In a hyper, online digital world today, we see that actually word-of-mouth marketing is still one of the best ways to bring new audiences into our parks. Through videos, and photos and inspiring stories, it’s trying to light a fire under these millenials that are not getting outdoors right now.

Ambassadors receive free admission and camping sites at state parks, and then share their experiences and help others create memories.

06— They have created videos promoting Texas State parks; they’ve hosted concerts in the parks. So, we see the success not only in the individual touches that they’ve had with new audiences, but in the work that they are doing to pioneer the future of the Ambassador program.

Visit texasstateparks.org and find out how to become a SP ambassador.

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

State Park Youth Ambassadors, image from America’s State Parks

State Parks: Youth Ambassadors Play Now | Play in Popup | Download

If you’re of a certain age, when you were growing up, the outdoors was your primary source of entertainment, and probably continues to play a role in your quality of life.

20— A decade back or so, we did a visitation study to get a sense of who are our most common visitors. What we found was a 48 year old couple with no children was the average visitor. In the years since, we saw that number go to 49 year olds. And that showed us that we were missing out on some our younger generations, including kids and young adults.

Today, young people occupy themselves with electronic gadgetry, which keeps them willing captives indoors. Ky Harkey is the outdoor education and outreach coordinator for state parks.

19— We want to make sure that we have a new generation that’s going to be stewards to the parks. [We want them to] get out and enjoy the parks. The younger generation today, is the next generation that will be raising kids, and they will have the choice to either take the kids to Texas State Parks or not. We want to make sure that the parks are on the radar of the younger generations already.

State parks developed an outreach program whereby it recruits young people currently engaged in the outdoors, and asks them to invite their peers to join in.

08— The millennial generation, I you will – roughly 16 to 28 year olds or so – is a particular focus for us. Trying to bring that audience into parks.

Ky Harkey returns tomorrow to tell us about the Texas State Park Ambassador program.

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

Biking in Texas

Recreation: Biking in State Parks Play Now | Play in Popup | Download

Biking is a practical way to stay fit, as well an environmentally conscience style of transportation. Use your two-wheeled transportation to escape the hectic urban jungle and ride with nature for a change of scenery.

Many Texas state parks offer a wide range of biking trails for your enjoyment. There are trails for all abilities, from beginner to advanced, making it easy for anyone to get outdoors to enjoy the natural world in an intimate way.

Designated biking trails are numbered to indicate their difficulty level. Beginner Level is a course that only requires basic riding skills.

Intermediate Level cyclists must have off-road experience and knowledge. Difficult Level tracks demand an advanced biker who can navigate various terrain conditions.

You will enjoy your ride more when you ride with safety in mind. Always wear a helmet. Be aware of hazards in your path such as ruts, rocks and even wildlife. Also, check the air in your bicycle tires regularly to avoid flats and accidents. Pack a large bottle of water—at least eight ounces for every hour of riding.

Find information about biking on the Texas Parks and Wildlife website.

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