Passport to Texas

Passport to Texas from Texas Parks and Wildlife and the Wildlife Restoration program

It may interest you to learn that…

Freshwater musselsare the most imperiled group of organism in North America.

Marsha May oversees the Texas Mussel Watch Program for Texas Parks and Wildlife.

We have fifty-two, fifty-three species of freshwater mussels in Texas, and they live in our freshwater streams and lakes and ponds, and even in stock ponds and tanks. And they have
been in Texas for thousands and thousands of years. And they’re just amazing creatures. They clean the systems. They’re nature’s bio-filters, and a very important part of the ecosystem.

Texas Mussels Watch is an ongoing citizen science project that needs your help.

We want to get citizens involved in monitoring their populations throughout the state, because there’s been very little monitoring being done. And, they are a very important organism. To get involved a citizen would have to have to go through training, because you have to have a permit in order to even handle a shell of a freshwater mussel. So, we supply workshops where we train individuals on how to monitor them and how to be very careful with them. And, we really just want to know where they are, and how many there are out there.

Find links to Mussel Watch Workshops at passporttotexas.org.

That’s our show…we receive support from the Wildlife Restoration Program…For Texas Parks and Wildlife…I’m Cecilia Nasti.
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April 12, 2008 — Old Sabine Bottom WMA — Texas Mussel Watch Train the Trainer Workshop — This workshop is sponsored by the East Texas Master Naturalist Chapter. SBEC and TEEAC credit available for teachers. 10 a.m.-5 p.m.; fee $10, includes materials; preregistration required. To register and for more information, contact Irene Hamel at Irene.hamel@tpwd.state.tx.us or (903) 566-9394. (903) 566-1626.

Freshwater Mussels in Troubled Waters 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

Introduce youngsters to photography this spring break as a fun and affordable way to get them interested in nature and the outdoors.

I believe that all children have a basic connection with the outdoors and I do feel that photography is a good way to develop that bond. It can really enhance that experience altogether.

Texas Parks and Wildlife photographer Chase Fountain says picture taking is a great way for kids to record and enhance their experiences in nature.

Let’s say you’re out and about and you’re on a family vacation… that’s a great way for you to be able to record those memories and take them back with you. With today’s technology and digital
cameras only starting at $20, it’s affordable for almost any family to buy cameras for the kids and let them experience nature.

The key to getting kids outside is to find something that makes going outdoors sound like more fun than indoors.

As far as utilizing photography… you know every kid is different and maybe some kids won’t like photography, but for some that might just be the proper tool to get them outdoors.

Visit passporttotexas.org for more ideas for getting your kids engaged in the outdoors.

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

Spring Break: Kids & Photography Play Now | Play in Popup | Download

Passport to Texas from Texas Parks and Wildlife

Introduce youngsters to photography this spring break as a fun and affordable way to get them interested in nature and the outdoors.

I believe that all children have a basic connection with the outdoors and I do feel that photography is a good way to develop that bond. It can really enhance that experience altogether.

Texas Parks and Wildlife photographer Chase Fountain says picture taking is a great way for kids to record and enhance their experiences in nature.

Let’s say you’re out and about and you’re on a family vacation… that’s a great way for you to be able to record those memories and take them back with you. With today’s technology and digital
cameras only starting at $20, it’s affordable for almost any family to buy cameras for the kids and let them experience nature.

The key to getting kids outside is to find something that makes going outdoors sound like more fun than indoors.

As far as utilizing photography… you know every kid is different and maybe some kids won’t like photography, but for some that might just be the proper tool to get them outdoors.

Visit passporttotexas.org for more ideas for getting your kids engaged in the outdoors.

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

Spring Break: Kids & Photography Play Now | Play in Popup | Download