Passport to Texas

Passport to Texas from Texas Parks and Wildlife and the Sport Fish and Wildlife Restoration Program

Amphibians are good indicator species because they live on land and in water during their lifecycle.

Amphibians, because of their very lifestyle, you can imagine are sensitive to a lot of changes in our environment. They’re kind of canaries in the coal mine.

Lee Ann Linam coordinates the Texas Amphibian Watch program. Because of their land/water lifestyle and semi permeable skin, amphibians experience the best and worst of both worlds.

They’re affected by habitat loss, by broader changes in the world around them. Things like climate change that may shift rainfall patterns. Or, they’re sensitive to UV radiation, so those kinds of changes can affect them. They’re sensitive to environmental contaminants that can be absorbed through their skin. So, you can see that they’re kind of a good picture of the overall ecosystem health.

If that’s the case, humans better pay attention.

A recent assessment by an international group of scientists showed that somewhere between one-third and one-half of all the six thousand amphibian species in the world are in trouble. One hundred and twenty-two of them are already extinct as far as we know. And so this is a rate of extinction that perhaps is unprecedented in this period of time.

Help monitor the health of amphibians. Find out how at passporttotexas.org.

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

Amphibians: Indicator Species Play Now | Play in Popup | Download

Passport to Texas from Texas Parks and Wildlife

Most kids don’t believe they can have as good a time outdoors in nature as they can indoors with the computer and TV. Convince them otherwise by sending them into the wild with a digital camera, and assignment to document the natural environment.

There’s so many of nature’s own beauties to see that you want to just take a piece of it with you—you can’t [be outside and] look at it all the time. So, it’s nice to have a beautiful picture of nature on your wall. It’s documenting life. It’s a way of capturing a moment, and it’s your forever.

Ebony Williams is a graduate student in photojournalism at UT Austin. She says nature and photography are a winning combination, and can inspire other creative pursuits.

I think that you can get your child a disposable camera, or digital camera. Make a little photo book—my nature walk. And just take pictures and then there will be a memory that get to keep for themselves. It will be creative and educational, because then they can write their own book.

Find ways to get your kids involved in the outdoors when you log onto passporttotexas.org.

That’s our show…with research and writing help from Alanna Jones… For Texas Parks and Wildlife…I’m Cecilia Nasti.
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Links to help connect your kids with nature and photography:
http://www.forestwander.com/news/2008/01/28/young-nature-photo-competition-winners/
http://www.adobe.com/education/digkids/tips/photo/nature.html
http://www.betterphoto.com/photography-for-kids.asp
http://www.biglearning.org/treasure-photography-for-kids.htm

Kids & Photography Play Now | Play in Popup | Download

Passport to Texas from Texas Parks and Wildlife

Most kids don’t believe they can have as good a time outdoors in nature as they can indoors with the computer and TV. Convince them otherwise by sending them into the wild with a digital camera, and assignment to document the natural environment.

There’s so many of nature’s own beauties to see that you want to just take a piece of it with you—you can’t [be outside and] look at it all the time. So, it’s nice to have a beautiful picture of nature on your wall. It’s documenting life. It’s a way of capturing a moment, and it’s your forever.

Ebony Williams is a graduate student in photojournalism at UT Austin. She says nature and photography are a winning combination, and can inspire other creative pursuits.

I think that you can get your child a disposable camera, or digital camera. Make a little photo book—my nature walk. And just take pictures and then there will be a memory that get to keep for themselves. It will be creative and educational, because then they can write their own book.

Find ways to get your kids involved in the outdoors when you log onto passporttotexas.org.

That’s our show…with research and writing help from Alanna Jones… For Texas Parks and Wildlife…I’m Cecilia Nasti.
______________________________________________________
Links to help connect your kids with nature and photography:
http://www.forestwander.com/news/2008/01/28/young-nature-photo-competition-winners/
http://www.adobe.com/education/digkids/tips/photo/nature.html
http://www.betterphoto.com/photography-for-kids.asp
http://www.biglearning.org/treasure-photography-for-kids.htm

Kids & Photography Play Now | Play in Popup | Download

Passport to Texas from Texas Parks and Wildlife

The State Natural Area Partners group, or SNAP, raises funds for improvements to the Hill Country State Natural Area in Bandera. Sometimes they collaborate with other groups to achieve their goals.

The State Natural Area Partners came to TETRA and asked for a partnership so that we could help them run a trail ride. And all the profits that come off the trail ride, goes into the pocketbook of SNAP. And they’ve put in many improvements in the park with this money.

Debbie Alley is a member of TETRA—the Texas Equestrian Trail Riders Association. March 14—16, the groups host the 5th Annual Spring Break Benefit Trail Ride at the site. It starts Friday night with registration, and a hearty dinner. The ride begins early Saturday.

You know somewhere between eight and nine o’clock we ride out, go up and down the trails, then come back to camp around noontime, and have a real quick lunch, and then we head out again about one, one-thirty, two o’clock. And go down a different set of trails. Then, Saturday night we have supper—it’s a potluck supper—which I remember doing as a kid. It brings back such sweet memories, you know? Then we have the live auction.

There’s another morning ride Sunday, and everyone pack out by noon. All ages and skill levels welcome, but you have to bring your own horse.

Find trail ride information, including costs, at passporttotexas.org.

That’s our show…remember: Life’s Better Outside…For Texas Parks and Wildlife…I’m Cecilia Nasti.
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March 14–16, 2008 — Hill Country SNA — 5th Annual Spring Break Trail Ride — Join the Texas Equestrian Trail Riders Association and Hill Country State Natural Area Partners and help support the natural area. Arrive and get settled in on Friday afternoon, then enjoy Cowboy Chili (while it lasts!) on Friday night.

Begin Saturday morning with registration and Coggins check followed by a free breakfast for registered riders. Ride outs at 9 a.m. and 3 p.m., lunch is on your own. The evening brings a Pot Luck barbecue dinner and silent auction.

Sunday morning registration and Coggins check for new arrivals, free breakfast for registered riders and morning ride out. Check out at 2 p.m. Fees $20 single day, $35 weekend, TETRA members $30, children 12-18 $10 single day, $20 weekend.

For more information, visit Hill Country State Natural Areas Partners or call (830) 796-4413.

Spring Break Benefit Trail Ride, Part 2 of 2 Play Now | Play in Popup | Download

Passport to Texas from Texas Parks and Wildlife

If you want something different to do with the family, consider the fifth annual Spring Break Benefit Trail Ride at the Hill Country State Natural Area March 14—16.

The only thing we ask is that you do bring your own horse. We do not have horses for rent.

Debbie Alley, a member of TETRA, the Texas Equestrian Trail Riders Association, http://www.tetratrails.com/, is one of the event organizers. She says don’t fret if you lack experience in the saddle.

We’ve had people show up that had never ridden before—and didn’t know the front of a horse—and you ought to see all the people all around them trying to help ‘em. And then we have people that have ridden since they were knee-high to a grasshopper. And they’re the ones over there helping the new ones.

Parents are encouraged to bring their children.

We hope that kids will show up. We cater to the children. We go out of our way to make sure that they get what they need. Like, we have short rides. We have a ride in the morning. Then we come back to camp and we have a ride in the afternoon and we come back to camp. That way, if the children get tired, they can stay in camp and not wear their parents out by getting bored.

We’ll have more on the ride tomorrow. Find event details and costs at passporttotexas.org.

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

March 14–16, 2008 — Hill Country SNA — 5th Annual Spring Break Trail Ride — Join the Texas Equestrian Trail Riders Association and Hill Country State Natural Area Partners and help support the natural area. Arrive and get settled in on Friday afternoon, then enjoy Cowboy Chili (while it lasts!) on Friday night.

Begin Saturday morning with registration and Coggins check followed by a free breakfast for registered riders. Ride outs at 9 a.m. and 3 p.m., lunch is on your own. The evening brings a Pot Luck barbecue dinner and silent auction.

Sunday morning registration and Coggins check for new arrivals, free breakfast for registered riders and morning ride out. Check out at 2 p.m. Fees $20 single day, $35 weekend, TETRA members $30, children 12-18 $10 single day, $20 weekend.

For more information, visit Hill Country State Natural Areas Partners or call (830) 796-4413.

Spring Break Benefit Trail Ride, Part 1 of 2 Play Now | Play in Popup | Download