Passport to Texas

Passport to Texas from Texas Parks and Wildlife

Unstructured outdoor play used to be the norm—but not anymore. And that’s unfortunate, as time spent outdoors enriches children’s lives.

It broadens their world; reduces the stress tremendously—it’s an amazing thing. Their attention is improved; they’re more creative in school. The kids who get outside and play, and especially play in nature are more resilient; they’re better problem solvers. They cooperate better with other kids.

Nancy Herron coordinates outdoor learning programs for Parks and Wildlife. Many parents feel the world has become a dangerous place, and no longer insist their kids spend time outdoors, because then they’ll be away from mom’s or dad’s watchful eyes. But getting the kiddos outside is something parents should reconsider.

I think it’s going to be a conscious effort for parents to take their kids outside. It might be a trip to the park; it could be looking at how your community is built. Are there safe places to play where you can look out the window and see where they are?

Make getting outside a family activity; it’s is as easy as…

Deciding that an hour a day or a half hour a day we’re just going to take as family time. And why can’t that family time be outside. And just make it a part of your schedule.

We have links to outdoor family activities at passporttotexas.org.

That’s our show for today… remember: life’s better outside… For Texas Parks and Wildlife…I’m Cecilia Nasti.

Children & Nature, Part 2 of 2 Play Now | Play in Popup | Download

Passport to Texas from Texas Parks and Wildlife

Today’s children spend precious little time outdoors involved in unsupervised play, something nature educators and others view as a serious problem.

It’s a solvable problem, but this problem is growing, and we need to act now on it.

Nancy Herron coordinates outdoor learning programs for Parks and Wildlife. She says the book Last Child in the Woods, by Richard Louv, struck a chord, galvanizing a broad spectrum of concerned individuals and groups to address the issue.

From doctors and teachers and nurses and urban planners, ranchers, the people who’ve traditionally been in nature education, have all come together with the single combined vision of reconnecting children to nature.

You might wonder what affects this alienation from nature has on children.

Children who are confined indoors all the time, or confined with technology and not those nature and natural experiences, what happens is their world becomes very small. They have more trouble with attention. They have more trouble with stress.

They have more trouble, says Herron, coping with life.

Tomorrow, we examine ways to reintroduce children to nature, http://www.cnaturenet.org/.

That’s our show for today…remember: life’s better outside… For Texas Parks and Wildlife…I’m Cecilia Nasti.

Children & Nature, Part 1 of 2 Play Now | Play in Popup | Download

Passport to Texas from Texas Parks and Wildlife

Today’s children spend precious little time outdoors involved in unsupervised play, something nature educators and others view as a serious problem.

It’s a solvable problem, but this problem is growing, and we need to act now on it.

Nancy Herron coordinates outdoor learning programs for Parks and Wildlife. She says the book Last Child in the Woods, by Richard Louv, struck a chord, galvanizing a broad spectrum of concerned individuals and groups to address the issue.

From doctors and teachers and nurses and urban planners, ranchers, the people who’ve traditionally been in nature education, have all come together with the single combined vision of reconnecting children to nature.

You might wonder what affects this alienation from nature has on children.

Children who are confined indoors all the time, or confined with technology and not those nature and natural experiences, what happens is their world becomes very small. They have more trouble with attention. They have more trouble with stress.

They have more trouble, says Herron, coping with life.

Tomorrow, we examine ways to reintroduce children to nature, http://www.cnaturenet.org/.

That’s our show for today…remember: life’s better outside… For Texas Parks and Wildlife…I’m Cecilia Nasti.

Children & Nature, Part 1 of 2 Play Now | Play in Popup | Download

Passport to Texas from Texas Parks and Wildlife

Seminole Canyon State Park and Historic Site, about 40 miles west of Del Rio, offers visitors a unique glimpse into the world of our ancient ancestors.

Seminole Canyon, and in fact, in this regions of Texas, here, we have some of the finest archeology in the state.

Jack Johnson is an archaeologist and educator. He’s organizing the first ever Archaeolympics at Seminole Canyon State park and Historic Site, where individuals and teams will test their skills using replicas of ancient weapons.

When you use these weapons, you’re like, ‘you know, I could do this. I could make a living doing this. I could feed myself.’ Or you’re like, ‘Oh my gosh. I would starve.’

To participate in the February 9th event, you’ll need to register—and there’s still time. Find out how at passporttotexas.org. The competition is open to individuals and teams.

The team would be perfect for families or any group that would want to compete in teams of up to five people. We’re going to have a number of targets set up along a nature trail at Seminole Canyon SP. Walk along the trail, and take shots at different targets from different ranges, different angles, and that kind of stuff. And it’s going to be scored.

Spectators are welcome. Visit Seminole Canyon SP & Historic site anytime and get in touch with your inner cave dweller.

That’s our show… For Texas Parks and Wildlife…I’m Cecilia Nasti.
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For general information about archaeological sites, click here.

February 9, 2008 — Seminole Canyon SP&HS — Seminole Canyon Archaeolympics — Test your ancient hunting and survival skills at this first-ever event. Individual contestants and teams will compete throwing atlatl darts, rabbit sticks and race to be the fastest to start a friction fire using a hand drill. 1-4 p.m.; e-mail jjohnson at shumla dot org for more information, competition rules and registration or call (432) 292-4848, or (432) 292-4464.

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Passport to Texas from Texas Parks and Wildlife

The Light Goose Conservation order goes into effect after the regular goose season ends.

In 1999 the light goose conservation order was put in place. And it’s an effort to try and reduce the total population of light geese; to address the overpopulation in the arctic. Trying to bring that population back in line with what the habitat can support.

Dave Morrison is waterfowl program leader, at Texas Parks and Wildlife.

During the conservation order basically all bets are off. Unplugged guns, electronic calls, no bag limit, shooting hours extended to half hour past sunset. Basically the gloves come off and you just try to do what you can do.

He reminds hunters, the conservation order is a management action and not hunting season.

We’re doing this as a management practice. And if you’re going to take large numbers of geese, make sure that they’re put to use. Don’t just leave them, don’t just sit there and pile up dead goose after dead goose, make sure that you never put yourself in a position to look bad to the public.

The conservation order goes into effect January 28th in the east, and February 6th in the west, and runs through March 30th in both regions.

That’s our show… made possible by the Sport Fish and Wildlife Restoration Program…working to increase fishing, hunting, shooting and boating opportunities in Texas.

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

Light Goose Conservation Order Play Now | Play in Popup | Download