Passport to Texas

Children enjoying outdoor activities on a campout.

Camping: What to Bring on Your Campout Play Now | Play in Popup | Download

Do you avoid overnight camping because you’re afraid you won’t get your beauty rest?

05—The folks that do avoid camping tend to think that it’s not comfortable. Well, it doesn’t have to be that way.

If you’re concerned you’ll be counting sheep instead of sawing logs on an overnight campout, Robert Owen with the Texas Outdoor Family Program says a blanket, pillow and a few other items will have you sleeping like a baby in Mother Nature’s embrace.

45—I always like to bring either a foam pad to sleep on or an air mattress – and even cots are getting especially popular now. Sleeping bags often have a temperature rating on them, so you’ll want to make sure that you know what your overnight lows are going to be; maybe even subtract a couple of degrees from that just to be safe, and make sure your sleeping bag is rated for that temperature. We have some tips for folks who are going to spend the night outdoors when the temperature starts to drop: air mattresses –they can actually cool you off over night. They might be very comfortable, but it’s like sleeping on a pillow of cold air. If you can insulate yourself against that pillow of cold air, it’s really going to make you more comfortable overnight. All that means is laying a blanket or sleeping bag below you – between you and the air mattress – and that goes a long way.

Tomorrow Robert Owen returns to tell us about maximizing your camping experience.

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

Camping at Inks Lake State Park

Camping: Choosing a Site Play Now | Play in Popup | Download

Fall camping season is here, and Robert Owen –an avid camper who works with the Texas Outdoor Family program—offers suggestions for choosing a campsite for your overnight adventure.

43—What I look for in a campsite is a bit of privacy. I enjoy a quiet end of the park; a place where the family can settle down and enjoy peace and quiet of nature. Nearby nature trails – looking for a trail that offers the family something to do right off the back of the campsite is always a real benefit. Also, I always like to reasonably close to water if the park offers water so that all those recreational opportunities are there. I also look for a campsite that has level ground. There’re no safety concerns like low hanging limbs or anything like that, that might interfere with my evening. And proximity to the restroom. You always want to make sure you’re within a comfortable distance of the restroom.

One of the best ways to ensure that close proximity to the restroom is to arrive early on the day of check-in to get the best choice of campsites.

Tomorrow Robert Owen returns to tell us what to bring on a camping trip.

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

Texas Outdoor Family Weekend: Learning to Kayak

Recreation: Updating Outdated Camping Skills Play Now | Play in Popup | Download

Which outdoor skills can make your next overnight camping experience successful?

04—The basics: how to put up a tent, how to get the stove going, or how to light a campfire.

When those skills are rusty, Robert Owen says people are reluctant to take their families camping. But that’s not the only reason some folks shy away from this outdoor activity.

17—Well, they’re not sure if their family is going to be interested in spending money on a tent and camping equipment just to find out maybe it’s not for them. Or time? A lot of folks think they don’t have the time to plan a weekend camping trip. Additionally, some folks just don’t have the confidence in getting outside.

That’s why Owen recommends Texas Outdoor Family Workshops. He oversees the program.

10—Texas Outdoor Families is a skills based program for families that want to get outdoors and want to get back into the hobby of camping, but for some reason it’s been left behind in their past.

A weekend workshop for up to six people costs $65, and Texas Outdoor Family supplies most everything campers need – including staff. More on that tomorrow.

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

Feral Hog, image TPWD

Outdoor Story: Shea and the Wild Boar Play Now | Play in Popup | Download

Insert sfx of hogs roaming around

Opportunistic eaters, a campsite packed with trail mix and hot dogs would be prize winnings to a feral pig – except, they’re not always welcome.

Hearing a raid on his campsite one night, young camper, Shea Prihoda tells us about the scare his grunting visitors gave him.

21 – I was camping once and I was sleeping and I woke up because something fell beside my tent and it caved in. So I started hitting and it started growling like a boar. So I started screaming because I was scared cuz it was right by my head. Then, one of the adults, I heard his tent unzip and he threw something, and then we heard a bunch of boars stampeding through our campsite. Anyone that woke up from my screaming heard it.

That night, the pigs and the food were left unscathed; but another encounter is something Shafer…and the pigs…want to avoid

03 – I would kill a pig if I could these days. Let’s go hunting!

Before you go hunting, Shea, you’ll need to pass a hunter education class and purchase a license.

Frightening or fun: we want to hear your memorable outdoor experience. Share it with us at passporttotexas.org.

That’s our show…we record our series at Block House Studios in Austin…the Wildlife and Sport Fish Restoration program supports our series… For Texas Parks and Wildlife…I’m Cecilia Nasti.

Camping at Palmetto State Park

State Parks: Camping Trends Play Now | Play in Popup | Download

The outdoor industry association conducts yearly surveys to determine the state of the outdoors. And our State Park Guide Bryan Frasier says: the results are in.

66– And we saw that camping is trending upward — even camping in state parks. Almost half of these reservations for overnight camping were done inside state parks. And what was maybe the most encouraging news of all was that people with young children are more likely to camp and go outdoors — significantly more, in fact. So that’s great for the future of something that all of us hold near and dear who love the outdoors. And that is: taking families…taking children out there. Letting them connect with nature and see the world and the discovery that we have here..from the wildlife..to cooking outdoors and spending some family time. And to see these statistics and data and know that more people are enjoying that, and the mission that we have here at Texas Parks and Wildlife is being understood on some level by people and that they are really starting to this outdoor lifestyle: tent camping, RV camping, cabins — it really doesn’t matter what it is. Just a hike through the woods… but those things are growing and catching on in ways that gives us reason to be encouraged.

Thanks, Bryan.

That’s our show for today…with funding provided by Chevrolet, supporting outdoor recreation in Texas; because there’s life to be done.

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