Passport to Texas

Getting healthier, happier and smarter by spending time outdoors.

Getting Healthier, Happier and Smarter in 2017 Play Now | Play in Popup | Download

This is Passport to Texas

Adults and children can achieve a better quality of life by committing to spending time in the wide open spaces…or the forested spaces…or watery spaces…or…any outdoor space. Even their own backyards.

Outreach & Education Director, Nancy Herron, shares some thoughts on how individuals and families can make 2017 the healthiest…happiest…and smartest year yet by spending time outside.

When you spend time outdoors you can be healthier, happier and smarter. What do we mean by that? Well, actually there is a lot of research that’s out there that shows that people of all ages actually do have benefits from being outside in nature, and that does include improvements to your health, your stress level, your sense of self esteem and confidence. Even being more cooperative. Can you believe that? Communities are more cooperative; families bond better in the out of doors. These are interesting things that we now know that we took for granted, and we just didn’t realize. That there’s a whole bevy of benefits from being outdoors.

Nancy Herron returns with resolutions to get you outdoors and help to make you and yours healthier… happier…and smarter.

That’s our show for today… Funding provided in part by Ram Trucks. Guts. Glory. Ram

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

Enjoying the great Texas outdoors.

More Outdoor Resolutions for the New Year Play Now | Play in Popup | Download

Happy New Year, everyone! Welcome to 52 weeks fresh possibilities. So, let’s consider how to make 2016 better for ourselves and our loved ones.

Of course, we could all get outside more because life’s better outside. But you knew that.

Time in nature has a way of resetting the brain. And researchers say children who spend time outdoors do better on exams and are less disruptive in the classroom. So, if we can’t give teachers pay raises, let’s at least give them kids that can concentrate class. Am I right?

And you. Bring a pair of walking shoes to the office; stroll outdoors in the fresh air during your breaks. It’s amazing how much nature actually exists in a concrete jungle.

We have 95 state parks, most of which are 90 minutes away, or less, from most of us. Grab family and friends and take a nature hike, ride a bike. Pitch a tent and sleep under the stars, or fish free in these natural playgrounds.

Commit to learning something new about Texas history, but not from a book. Visit one of the state’s incredible historic sites where it all went down.

There’s a world of wonder out there, and once you spend more time outdoors, you’ll wonder why you didn’t do it sooner.

That’s our show… Funding provided in part by Ram Trucks. Guts. Glory. Ram.

From all of us at Passport to Texas, we wish you a New Year filled with outdoor adventure…For Texas Parks and Wildlife…I’m Cecilia Nasti.

Enjoying the boardwalk trail at Sheldon Lake State Park.

Outdoor Resolutions for 2016 Play Now | Play in Popup | Download

There’s big push to get children outdoors. But kids aren’t the only ones who benefit from fresh air and sunshine. Survey says: Adults of all ages—as well as the kiddos—can achieve a better quality of life by committing to spending time in the wide open spaces…as well as the forested spaces…or watery spaces… Education and outreach director, Nancy Herron, shares some thoughts.

When you spend time outdoors you can be healthier, happier and smarter.

Those are some big claims there, Nancy. What do we mean by that?

Actually there is a lot of research that’s out there that shows that people of all ages actually do have benefits from being outside in nature, and that does include improvements to your health, your stress level, your sense of self esteem and confidence. Even being more cooperative. Can you believe that? Communities are more cooperative; families bond better in the out of doors. These are interesting things that we now know that we took for granted, and we just didn’t realize. That there’s a whole bevy of benefits from being outdoors.

Get healthier… happier…and smarter in the New Year when you spend time outdoors. Because, Life’s Better Outside…and so are you.

Happy New Year from Texas Parks and Wildlife and all of us at Passport to Texas …I’m Cecilia Nasti.

Family Hiking Near RV at Daingerfield State Park.

Do Something That Scares You in 2016 Play Now | Play in Popup | Download

Hard to believe, but another new year is just days away. Karen Zimmerman, who is a State Park Ambassador, offers a couple of suggestions to help you connect with the outdoors and yourself in 2016.

If you’re not getting outside try to go outside – even if it’s just walking outside. It’s amazing the benefits that that can bring to our mind. If you need to think on a problem, you should just let it marinate in your head while you walk among some trees. But, if you’re already into the outdoors recreation somewhat, and you want to take it a step further, I think the best resolution you can make to yourself is to try something that scares you. Because, there were so many things that I thought I just wasn’t tough enough to do – like repelling. And you might cry a little bit while you do it, but then afterwards you are going to feel so good. And, there is nothing in the world that can boost your confidence for months than undertaking something that scares you like that – and succeeding – because it’s actually not that hard, and you don’t need to be in that great of shape to do most of these outdoor activities.

Explore outdoor activities available in state parks and natural areas when you visit the texasstateparks.org.

That’s our show for today… Funding provided in part by Ram Trucks. Guts. Glory. Ram

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

Nature Rocks Website Play Now | Play in Popup | Download

This is Passport to Texas

Kids–and even grownups–are spending lots of time in front of screens connected to the internet.

06-Children today are spending on average seven to eleven hours per day indoors with media.

Telling people to go outside and leave the devices at home doesn’t fly.

09-Oh, my gosh. You’re exactly right. We used to tell people all he time: unplug, unplug, unplug. We just can’t say that anymore. We are plugged in and it’s here to stay, And that’s fine.

Jennifer Bristol, with Texas Children and Nature program, which curates the Nature Rocks Texas website, says if you can’t beat ’em, join ’em.

08-There are so many wonderful apps and devices out there now. So there’s all kinds of technology that really can help kids now explore and be outside.

The Nature Rocks Texas website got a makeover and debuts this month.

27-We really wanted to give it a fresh look and really focus on our core concepts, which are: play, explore, and connect. So, we want families where they can find places where they can play in the outdoors and find all those nature based activities that so many of our partners offer. Everything from star parties, to
nature hikes, to group campouts. You name it. There are just all kinds of fun, nature based activities that are happening all the time throughout the state.

A Nature Rocks Texas mobile app is coming in spring.

That’s our show for today– Funding provided in part by Ram Trucks. Guts. Glory. Ram.

For Texas Parks and Wildlife…I-‘m Cecilia Nasti.