Passport to Texas

Passport to Texas Outdoor Stories from Texas Parks and Wildlife

Chris Holmes, who oversees the Texas Outdoor Families in State Parks program, came by my office recently with his young twin sons Charlie and Jimmy, and had them tell me, though him, what they like about camping in state parks.

Can you tell me what you like about camping?

I like burning the marshmallows.

You like Marshmallows. What else do you like about camping?

I like pitching the tent.

When we go camping in the state park is it scary?

Noooo.

Is it fun?

Yeah.

What animals do we hear when we go camping.

Owls.

What does the owl say?

Who-who.

What about the coyote? What does the coyote say?

OoooOOOOO.

You’re with state parks, so you definitely have gotten your kids involved in the outdoors. Tell me why it’s important for parents to get their kids outside.

It’s just something that’s natural. When you see the children outside having fun, it’s something they enjoy. And these boys would rather play outside than watch TV, and I think that’s really important. And it’s really rewarding to me when I ask them what they want to do and they want to play outside (sound of Jimmy & Charlie getting loud and fussy).

Once the twins hit the fresh air, Chris said they calmed down immediately, because Jimmy and Charlie know (Charlie howls like coyote) that Life’s Better outside.

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

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Passport to Texas from Texas Parks and Wildlife

Before you head into the wilderness…

… Make sure you have an adequate supply of water with you because you don’t know if you’re going to encounter any water sources while you’re up there.

Texas Parks and Wildlife Hunter Education Coordinator Terry Erwin says you should always carry at least a half gallon of water and drink often while hiking to prevent dehydration. But if you do begin to feel thirsty and hotter than usual, you may be experiencing heat exhaustion.

This is when you have a pale and clammy skin, you feel nauseated, maybe headaches and muscle cramps. At that time you need to move to a cooler place, re-hydrate yourself, lower your body temperature and make sure not to over chill yourself.

And more severely is heat stroke.

You become dry, hot, your skin gets flushed- even dark purple. Your pulse becomes slow and weak and you start to breathe very shallow. The best thing to do is to really get down and lower the temperature of your core body. Drink plenty of water, fan and don’t over chill yourself and if it persists get to the hospital immediately because this is a life threatening situation.

Find more information about identifying and treating heat exhaustion and heat stroke by visiting 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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Passport to Texas Outdoor Stories from Texas Parks and Wildlife

Waco resident, Judith Nees, is passionate about Atlanta State Park in east Texas. She calls it a hidden gem, and says it is priceless.

Atlanta State Park has so much to offer. What I liked the most was the tent camping areas were spacious enough from each other that you would never know that you even had a neighbor for the way they’re designed.

The park has both fire rings as well as griddles to grill on. They offer electricity and water. We noticed the restrooms are very, very nice. They each have showers in them—very clean. And it’s just a nice park settled in East Texas.

With hiking and interpretive nature trails—in addition to fishing and swimming—Judith says everyone can find something to love about Atlanta SP.

Do you have a favorite state park you want to tell us about, or outdoor experience you want to share? Go to passporttotexas.org, and click on the tab for Outdoor Stories.

That’s our show…Remember: Life’s Better Outside…For Texas Parks and Wildlife…I’m Cecilia Nasti.

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Passport to Texas from Texas Parks and Wildlife

Fall is an amazing time to go outside and play. The mild weather and remarkable scenery will draw many of us outdoors.

With so many people heading to state parks this fall, the question of etiquette arises. How should we act while exploring these wide open spaces?

Texas Parks and Wildlife has the answer. They have created seven basic guidelines to help you be polite in the outdoor setting. The guidelines are care, caution, courtesy, cleanliness, cooperation, conservation and common sense. These are the seven c’s of camping.

Care is a reminder to be considerate of others.

Caution encourages us to remember that camping can be dangerous. The right way is the safe way.

Courtesy is something that enhances the camping experience; respect the privacy of others and they will do the same.

Cleanliness reminds us to help keep parks and our campsites clean.

Cooperation asks us to work with rangers and follow state park rules.

Conservation calls for us to protect the outdoors for future generations, and common sense prevents accidents.

With these simple guidelines in mind, it’s easy to make a positive impact on state parks and fellow campers this fall.

That’s our show for today…with research and writing help from Kate Lipinski… For Texas Parks and Wildlife…I’m Cecilia Nasti.

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Passport to Texas from Texas Parks and Wildlife

In the fall of 2002, Krista Allen was a novice to the outdoors.

I was definitely a girly girl and my entire life, I was always looking for a sport and really never found anything that I enjoyed or really stuck too.

A friend at work told Allen about the Becoming an Outdoors Woman workshops offered by Texas Parks and Wildlife; she signed up with the intention to learn how to backpack.

I took a backpacking class, outdoor survival, land navigation – which was compass and map, and camping and I came away feeling so empowered. And I knew I had a really good, solid knowledge base to work from.

Her first workshop sparked Krista’s interest in the outdoors. Since then she’s taken the skills she learned and has turned them into a passion for the outdoors.

Once you start getting into the outdoors and noticing your surroundings, there’s just all sorts of things that may touch off your curiosity.

Allen also wanted to give back.

Government Canyon [in San Antonio] is one the biggest local parks and I wanted to become familiar with that. And as it opened up I volunteered to be on the trail patrol.

To find out more information about the Becoming an Outdoors Woman workshops, visit passporttotexas.org

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

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