Passport to Texas

Passport to Texas from Texas Parks and Wildlife and the Wildlife restoration Program

Conserving natural resources – air, land, water, plants and wildlife – is everyone’s responsibility.

Andy Sansom, Executive Director of the River Systems Institute < http://www.rivers.txstate.edu/> at Texas State University in San Marcos, and former Executive Director of Texas Parks and Wildlife shares his thoughts on this subject.

I think right now we’re in a bit of a crisis. Because people widely accept the values of what we do, but they don’t feel the urgency that perhaps they did a generation ago, and as a result, we have some issues that we’ve got to address, like the threats of land fragmentation, and the decline in our water supplies and the lack of adequate funding — are all potentially fatal threats to the values that all of these conservation activities represent.

What can you do to protect our natural resources? Education is always the best way to start. Log onto the Texas Parks and Wildlife Web site, and click on the link for “Land & Water” to begin understanding the needs of your environment.

That’s our show for today…we get support from the Wildlife Restoration Program…which also provides funding for wetland conservation through the Private Lands Enhancement Program.

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

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

Like the US, Japan has seen a decrease in what their young people understand about nature.

Nature education is really foundational to an understanding of any of the sciences.

A better understanding of science can help us to protect nature. Cappy Manly coordinates Project Wild for Texas Park and Wildlife. Last year she was invited by the Japanese government to share her knowledge of Project Wild with them.

They understand that the health of a society is directly attributed to the health of your natural resources.

Becoming a better planetary steward, no matter where in the world you live, is one goal of Project Wild. And that concept translates into any language.

What’s very interesting is that we’re all looking for solutions. And the exciting part is that we are all willing to share what we’re finding out, and to share the accomplishments, and also to look at the things that aren’t really working for us, but to work together more in looking at solutions for all of us. And it truly is a global society. That’s what impressed upon me is that – we’re not alone.

Learn more about Project Wild when you visit the Texas Parks and Wildlife website.

That’s our show… made possible by the Sport Fish and Wildlife Restoration Program… helping to fund the operations and management of more than 50 wildlife management areas.

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

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

We share a common problem with Japan.

They, too, are seeing a decrease in the understanding of nature – and consequently – in the understanding of science.

Cappy Manly coordinates Project Wild for Texas Park and Wildlife…it’s a K-through-12 program that trains teachers how to incorporate the natural world into their curricula. Japan has had Project Wild for several years and sought Manly’s expertise to enhancement their understanding.

I was quite honored to be invited by the Japanese government, their parks foundation, to come in and do a speech for some of their academics and some of their practitioners, but then do two days of workshops with a lot of their educators and staff people that deliver Project Wild programs in Japan.

Children in Japan, as in the US, are becoming estranged from nature.

For example…the Ministry of Education did a presentation at the same symposium that I was asked to speak at. They had seen a decrease in the last ten years of the number of children who had climbed a tree higher than their head. Who had witnessed a sunrise or a sunset. Who had never gone fishing….

These are basic experiences that a generation ago were “a given” for the Japanese and for us. We’ll have more with Cappy Manly tomorrow.

That’s our show… made possible by the Sport Fish and Wildlife Restoration Program… helping to fund the operations and management of more than 50 wildlife management areas.

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

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Passport to Texas from Texas Parks and Wildlife

Some museums take hours to explore. But imagine touring a small home filled with pieces from various families’ priceless collections. That’s how the Daughters of the Republic of Texas museum in Austin got its start.

Nelma Wilkinson, President General of the organization, explains the role Texas women had, and still have, in preserving Texas’ rich past.

They organized a museum over 100 years ago. Women in Austin, Texas, who were members of the William Barrett Travis chapter, which was the third chapter formed in Texas, those women had artifacts they had collected from their families, who had been involved in the Texas Revolution.

So the museum began in their homes, and eventually the legislators let them have a little corner over at the Capitol. They put their prized possessions over there to share with other people. Well, it wasn’t long before they outgrew that corner, so the legislators gave them space at the old land office building, and they had the second floor as their museum.

Now, it has been moved to our headquarters and we have a fantastic museum. I guess we’re the best kept secret in Austin. So few people know that we have this terrific museum there, but it’s just a treasure chest.

Learn more about the museum: http://www.drt-inc.org/museum.htm .

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

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Passport to Texas from Texas Parks and Wildlife

March second marks 171 years of Texas Independence. To celebrate… the birthplace of Texas — Washington-on-the-Brazos state historic site – has festivities planned for the entire family this weekend.

We transform the park back into the early 1800s. We have costumed performers and interpreters walking around. Folks actually feel as though they’re back in the 1800s.

Beth Taylor, Executive Director of Washington-on-the-Brazos State Park Association, describes the site.

It is a 293 acre site, which encompasses Independence Hall, which is a replica of the original building, which was destroyed by fire. We also have The Star of the Republic Museum. This is the only museum dedicated to the Republic period of Texas.

Students who visit will discover a very familiar painting in the Star of the Republic Museum.

This appears in 95% of the textbooks that 4th and 7th grader read. It is the signing of the Texas Declaration. It’s really neat to hear these kids say “Hey Mom, that’s in my textbook!” And they get to see how big and how beautiful and bold that painting really is.

The Texas Independence Celebration is March 3rd and 4th from 10 until 5 at Washington-on-the-Brazos State Historic Site in Washington, Texas. Entrance fees for the weekend will be waived.

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

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