Passport to Texas

Palo Duro Canyon First Day Hike, Upper Comanche Trail.

First Day Activities in State Parks Play Now | Play in Popup | Download

This is Passport to Texas

As another New Year draws near, we make resolutions to do better and to be better. Increasing our physical activity rates high for most of us. Texas State Parks are stepping up to help you reach your goals with First Day Hikes and other outdoor fun beginning Day One.

That’s right. New year new goals.

That’s Aaron Friar with Texas State Parks.

We have a lot of cool first day hikes, where folks can come out on New year’s Day… on the trails…or we even have biking seminars…or even paddling events. Our parks really embrace the whole New year, new you, new goals and getting people out using the parks. If you’re doing something that’s fun, and you enjoy it—you forget about the work side of it. So, I think when you’re out in the parks and you’re being active, you enjoy it a lot more, and are more inclined to do it again—and make it a habit. If you go to www.texasstateparks.org, we have an events page; our parks are constantly posting events on that page. And our first day hikes [and other first day activities] will definitely be on there. The parks really embrace it and have a lot of fun with it.

Find all first day activities at www.texasstateparks.org.

We record our series at The Block House and Joel Block engineers our program.

That’s our show for today… Funding provided in part by Ram Trucks. Guts. Glory. Ram

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

Biking in Brazos Bend burns off the pre and post holiday calories.

Combat Holiday Calories in State Parks Play Now | Play in Popup | Download

This is Passport to Texas

We’re standing at the threshold of the holiday season; once we cross over, we’ll encounter sweet and savory goodies with which to indulge our taste buds—both at home and at work. But we can balance out excess calorie consumption by visiting nearby state parks and engaging in outdoor activities before those treats touch our lips.

Yes. It’s really funny you say that. A lot of our parks, that’s a part of their activities and events that they’re putting on. The pre-Thanksgiving hikes and paddles and biking events…just to kind of get you ready for that whole holiday family and fun and food and all that.

Aaron Friar is with Texas State Parks. Except for rare occasions—like fire and flood—parks never close. So even after the biggest feeding frenzy of the season known as Thanksgiving, Texas State Parks stand ready to help all of us digest.

After you’ve had a good time with the family and ate your fill, and you’re wanting to get out there and be a little active afterwards, we have parks that are doing hikes and some really cool events to get you out there—to get you a little active—after those holiday feasts, you could say.

Don’t take Thanksgiving overindulgence lying down. Find a complete list of pre and post-Thanksgiving activities at state parks when you log onto the calendar & events section of the Texas Parks and Wildlife website.

That’s our show… Funding provided in part by Ram Trucks. Guts. Glory. Ram

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

Fall Color at Lost Maples State Natural Area

Fall Events in State Parks 2016 Play Now | Play in Popup | Download

This is Passport to Texas

Texas has more than 90 state parks, and nearly all offer year round activities for visitors. But fall is by far a favorite time to enjoy these natural areas.

It’s cooler weather. The fall foliage changing always brings everybody out. Everybody loves to see that.

Aaron Friar works with Texas state parks.

We do have the fall foliage hikes. Come out and they’ll take you on a hike; they’ll teach you about the different trees, which ones are changing, what colors you’re seeing, and what kinds of tree species change at what time

Come for the colorful foliage and stay for the family friendly holiday crafts.

Several parks are doing different kinds of crafts events. One that I think would be really neat is at LBJ—at the farm, Sauer Beckmann—you know they have the traditional German family holidays. They’re having cookie decorating, and they’re having crafts for the tree—coming up for the Christmas holiday season—as well. So, that should be a really fun one in terms of arts and crafts.

No matter where you live, a state park is just a short drive away. Make plans to visit one today.

Find a comprehensive list of all fall, winter and holiday events at state parks in the calendar section of the Texas Parks and Wildlife website.

We record our series at the Block House in Austin, Texas.

Funding provided in part by Ram Trucks. Guts. Glory. Ram

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

Join us for a blast from the past.

Veteran's Day Events in State Parks Play Now | Play in Popup | Download

This is Passport to Texas

Veteran’s Day is Friday November 11.

The Sunday after veteran’s Day it is free admission into Texas State parks for everybody in the state.

Aaron Friar, with Texas State Parks, says nobody pays park day use fees on Sunday, November 13.

That’s a really cool way that we’re trying to honor our veterans and our active military. The only caveat is that it doesn’t apply to camping fees or activity fees. But all day use fees are waived.

Battleship Texas, offers two events Saturday November 12 to honor Veterans. During the day, join the crew aboard ship for a day of patriotic fun! In the evening, experience a 1945 themed victory dance with live music on the main deck of the ship, games, food and drink. Period or military dress is welcomed, but not required.

This is for the 18 and up. But, it’s a great tour where you actually get onto the ship and you get to really learn about what it was like for day-to-day life for a sailor on the ship. And they’ll take you through it all; they’ll teach you all the card games and all the different activities that kept them busy while they were on the ship. So, it’s a pretty neat event.

Find a link to ticket information at passporttotexas.org.

Funding provided in part by Ram Trucks. Guts. Glory. Ram

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

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Find tickets for 1945 Victory Dance on Battleship Texas.

New Hunter Workshop

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When families began to migrate from rural Texas to urban Texas, they left behind some of their traditions.

There are a lot of younger folks who weren’t introduced to hunting, and they would like to hunt. So, what we’re trying to do is get them started from the very basics.

Bill Balboa, Matagorda County Marine Extension Agent, is collaborating with Texas Parks and Wildlife to offer a New Hunter Workshop on October 15 at the Nannie M. Stringfellow Wildlife Management Area in Brazoria County.

So, what we’re trying to do is get them started from the very basics: where you can hunt in Texas, public lands access, what you need to hunt in Texas to be legal. What kind of firearms you might need to hunt certain types of big game. Then, we’re actually going to do some hands on field dressing and skinning and processing.

No experience required, just a desire to learn this time honored tradition of humane harvest.

There was a need for this, and Texas Parks and Wildlife Biologists agreed with me. So, that’s why we’re partnering to do this. And it’s going to be focused primarily on feral hogs, because they’re a nuisance. But dual purpose—food and eliminating the nuisance. So, that’s the gist of the whole deal.

The workshop is limited to the first 30 people. The cost is $50, which includes lunch. We have details at passporttotexas.org.

The Wildlife Restoration program supports our series.

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