Passport to Texas

Passport to Texas from Texas Parks and Wildlife

Protecting Texas’ vast habitat and wildlife resources requires effort from all Texans.

Well, as a state agency, we are constrained by our budget, and so we can’t possibly put as many eyes in the sky and boots on the ground as we need.

Kelley Bender, a parks and wildlife Urban Biologist in Central Texas, encourages folks to learn about and conserve resources by becoming a Master Naturalist.

The Texas Master Naturalist Program is a really exciting way for people to get involved in nature and wildlife in the state of Texas. There’s a nine-week course that’s provided by professionals in the field, where they get training that includes classroom training as well as field trips. And then we ask for a commitment back to provide 40 hours of volunteer service a year.

Master Naturalist training prepares you to be a leader in community-based conservation efforts.

Most chapters offer a get-to-know you class where they introduce all the topics that are going to be discussed. They also talk about what the commitment is and what will be expected of the students as well as what will be expected of the program. And all people are welcome and invited to join. We ask that people be 18 years and over.

Find the Texas Master Naturalist chapter nearest you at passporttotexas.org.

That’s our show…with research and writing help from Sarah Loden… For Texas Parks and Wildlife…I’m Cecilia Nasti.

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Passport to Texas from Texas Parks and Wildlife

After spending the summer indoors in self-imposed air-conditioned exile, the arrival of fall and the promise of cooler temperatures, are sure to beckon you outside again. Going on a hike in a state park is a simple and enjoyable way to reengage the great outdoors.

Many state parks have more than one trail from which to choose, offering varying levels of difficulty. If the park you are visiting is new to you, consider taking a guided tour to familiarize yourself with the terrain.

A hike is not a race. So, slow down and take time to appreciate your surroundings. State park trails are as varied as the parks they’re in. Some follow streams or take you into the woods, or onto rocky ledges, they are shaded or sun-drenched…. Be on the lookout for wildlife.

When hiking, dress for the weather. Always wear comfortable shoes and protective footwear. Use a hat and sunscreen to save your skin. Insect repellent is always a good call when hiking in heavily wooded and wet areas. And don’t forget to bring water. Experts recommend you have eight ounces of water with you for every hour you plan to be on the trail.

Find details about hiking and state parks at passportotexas.org.

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

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Passport to Texas from Texas Parks and Wildlife

Creating school gardens and natural areas for learning and playing is the theme of Get Growing, Keep Going!—a conference planned for educators October 25 at Redeemer Lutheran School in Austin.

It’s for mostly elementary and middle school teachers. And what we hope is to give them tips and we do have the certification to give them professional development.

Kiki Corry, Project Wild Coordinator, says using schoolyard gardens and natural spaces is good education.

I think that there’s research that indicates that children actually prefer natural areas over designed areas. They’re attracted to those wild areas where they can see something completely unpredictable.
Educators attending the October 25 conference will have a chance to get their hands dirty.

(laughs) Some of the sessions, that’s the only way we know how to teach, is to get our hands dirty. So, yes, they’ll be building compost boxes, and garden boxes, and most of the sessions will be active and hands on. And then the facility, itself, Redeemer Lutheran School, has got a tremendous gardening and play area incorporated into one another.

The Get Growing, Keep Going! conference is Saturday, October 25 in Austin at Redeemer Lutheran School. Find more information, registration information and fees at passporttotexas.org.

That’s our show… For Texas Parks and Wildlife…I’m Cecilia Nasti.
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Registration information: (copy and paste link into browser)
http://www.redeemerschool.net/links/gardeningconference.html

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Passport to Texas from Texas Parks and Wildlife

Integrating nature into the school environment is as easy as growing a garden.

It can be food gardens; it can be butterfly gardens.

It can also be a wildscape or even a water garden, says Kiki Corry, Project Wild Coordinator. A conference later this month—Get Growing, Keep Going!—shows teachers how to create such spaces for learning…and not just for learning about science.

Well, that’s the fun thing about using the outdoors, is it isn’t just science. It’s very interdisciplinary because perhaps you first do some observations, and then you might need to draw a picture of what you’ve found—and so you bring the arts in—then you might need to write about it a little bit and then that’s language arts. And then you might be curious about what this land was used for in the past, and so, then there’s history. And so, you can use the outdoors for so many different subjects.

A deliberately planted garden, says Corry, has its advantages as a teaching tool over other living things.

One thing—they’re a little more predictable than just wild space. Besides, of the living things that there are to study, plants are a little easier, because they don’t wander away. (laughs) They’re there the next day—usually. (laughs) And, you can use them to attract animals.

The Get Growing, Keep Going conference is October 25 in Austin—details tomorrow. Until then, continue this story online at passporttotexas.org.

That’s our show… For Texas Parks and Wildlife…I’m Cecilia Nasti.
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Register online:
http://www.redeemerschool.net/links/gardeningconference.html

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Passport to Texas from Texas Parks and Wildlife

Thousands escaping Hurricane Ike found shelter at Texas state parks. Sarah Loden has one family’s story.

In Texas, 63 state parks provided free camping for over 5,900 Hurricane Ike evacuees, including 300 that went to McKinney Falls State Park in Austin.

I think a lot of evacuees have been here before, just recreationally, and they recognized it as a place to come to get away from the bad situation at home.

David Shirley, Park Superintendent, takes me to the park’s campsites where the Waterburys, a family of six, cook a breakfast of sausage and eggs on a portable stove—an all too familiar scenario.

We lived in Orange, TX when Rita hit, Orange was really devastated over that hurricane. And since then we just, you know, got a little bit more prepared. Two weeks ago it was Gustav. We went to the state park in Dallas… well the storm came in and we had barely set up camp 24 hours and the storm was coming right at us. So I figured this time I’d go west. I can’t afford to lay up in a motel for 2 weeks.

Uncertainty about the future remains. In the meantime, they’ve found comforts at the state park… they wait to have back home.

It’s not bad camping out. Here at the state park we have water, we have electricity, we have safety. My kids love it, you know. They love being out here. We were talking about going home the day before yesterday and the little ones are just, “oh, we gotta leave.” It’s just they like it out here.

We have state park information at passporttotexas.org.

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

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