Passport to Texas

Hiking at McKinney Falls State Park in November 1974.

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This is Passport to Texas

Saturday June 6th is National Trails Day. And as it happens, hiking is a popular activity at Texas State Parks.

05- Our trails really give people an opportunity to experience everything about state parks.

Thomas Wilhelm works with state parks, and says hikers and walkers of all abilities have the unique opportunity to experience nature up close and personal on the trails during National Trails Day, June 6th and every day.

12- We have hikes from beginner level paved hikes all the way to very difficult hikes. So, regardless of your skills or your interests –
there’s a trail that’s perfect for you [in a state park].

This includes equestrian trails and ADA Accessible trails. The trails in Texas State Parks offer hikers opportunities to experience native flora and fauna, as well as solitude, peace and calm. And, for those who like to exercise their brain along with their bodies…

15-There’s also opportunities with interpretive hikes that have panels along the way that explain what’s happening. So, you’re either learning something about nature or about history — or whatever it may be. So it’s both a relaxing experience or an enlightening experience.

Celebrate National Trails Day June 6th by finding a trail that’s just right for you at texasstateparks.org.

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.

A drummer keeps the beat during a musical performance at McKinney Falls State Park.

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This is Passport to Texas

Texas State Parks can inspire artistic pursuits.

07-Our state parks are such amazing places–for lots of reasons–but one of the reasons is how creative they can make us feel.

Chris Holmes is Director of Interpretation for State Parks, and writes about the Arts in the Parks initiative in the May issue of Texas Parks and Wildlife magazine. The idea for the program came to him after a family art activity.

21- We took an art workshop down at one of the strip malls, and we learned how to make a painting with the whole family–and it was so much fun–but the irony was, we were all doing a picture of the forest, but we were in the middle of Austin. And I thought: ‘Wow. Couldn’t we make this workshop be at a state park and let the family look at the outdoors versus being inside?’

The answer was: of course! While making art in parks is not new; the focus has often been painting and drawing.

14- We’ve really expanded it to writing, poetry, songs and dances, and film-making and blogging–and anything that goes under that whole creative artistic umbrella is what we’re encouraging to happen in our parks.

Find an art program near you in the calendar section of the Texas Parks and Wildlife website. And learn more about the Arts in the Parks initiative in the May issue of Texas Parks and Wildlife magazine.

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

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

Fun at the Toyota Texas Bass Classic

Attending the Toyota Texas Bass Classic Play Now | Play in Popup | Download

This is Passport to Texas

The long Memorial Day weekend is the perfect time to gather the family and head to the Toyota Texas Bass Classic at Lake Fork, 65 miles east of Dallas. It’s a professional bass fishing tournament….

11– Fishing is just one part of it. It’s an awesome time to bring your family and come listen to country and western music. Also a great opportunity to enjoy the outdoor adventures area supported by Texas Parks and Wildlife.

Dave Terre is with Inland Fisheries.

19– Your kids can meet with some of our fisheries biologists; maybe learn how to cast, how to shoot a bow, how to camp. There are lots of hands on activities for kids and families. Is there a cost to go to the event? There is a small cost to the event, but there is no charge for parking. You can get information at the toyotatexasbassclassic.com website.

If you’re looking for more of a hands-on opportunity, the event always needs volunteers.

15– You can register to be a volunteer for the tournament, at toyotatexasbassclassic.com. If you would like to work with Texas Parks and Wildlife specifically, indicate that there on the site. And, as a benefit to that, you’ll get into the Toyota Texas Bass Classic for free.

The Toyota Texas bass Classic is Memorial Day Weekend at Lake Fork.

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

Toyota Texas Bass Classic

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This is Passport to Texas

The Ninth Annual Toyota Texas Bass Classic returns to Lake Fork Memorial Day Weekend.

07– It’s an event that helps showcase some of our great fisheries across the state–Lake Fork being one of the best bass fisheries.

Dave Terre, with Inland Fisheries, says this professional bass tournament raises the bar with regards to the  handling of  fish.

27– One thing that’s really unique about the Toyota Texas bass Classic is that it employs a totally new tournament format. The format, itself, allows for the fish that are caught during the tournament to actually be weighed in the boat and immediately released, rather than coming to the stage and being weighed in front of an audience, which puts stress on fish. So, this tournament really revolutionized the way
tournaments might be held in the future.

Lake Fork is known for its lunkers–largemouth bass that tip the scales at more than 13 pounds.  While the pros have yet to catch one during the 8 years of the tournament, Terre says: this might be their lucky year.

15–I’ve been promising a lunker for a pretty good number of years right now. But you know what? I think this is the year. We’ve had numerous fish caught over 10 pounds; we’ve never broken that 13 pound barrier. But I think Lake Fork–it could happen this year.  But you need to be there to witness it yourself.

Go to toyotatexasbassclassic.com for ticket information and a schedule of activities for the Toyota Texas Bass Classic Memorial Day Weekend.

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

Toyota Texas Bass Classic

Toyota Texas Bass Classic Play Now | Play in Popup | Download

This is Passport to Texas

Memorial Day Weekend, Lake Fork Reservoir, 65 miles east of Dallas, is the site of the Ninth Annual Toyota Texas Bass Classic.

08-What it is, is a world class fishing tournament for professional anglers. It’s also a benefit event for Texas Parks and Wildlife Department.

Dave Terre, chief of fisheries management and research at Parks and Wildlife, says the event showcases the state’s quality fisheries, with Lake Fork being among the best bass fisheries in the country.

18- Last year was just incredible. Two anglers caught over a hundred pounds of bass in three days [and] set all sorts of records for numbers and weights of bass caught. So, this year, the bar has been set very high; and hopefully we’ll be able to exceed that. But there’s one way to find out, and that’s to come to the lake and see it for yourself.

Find ticket information and a schedule of activities at toyotatexasbassclassic.com. Money from the event funds outreach programs.

16-In the eight events that we’ve had so far, we’ve raised over two million dollars. And those dollars have been plugged directly back into youth fishing outreach. It’s brought new kids and their families [and others] into fishing through the Toyota Texas Bass Classic, by helping to fund our programs.

The Toyota Texas Bass Classic on Memorial Day Weekend offers a stellar country music line-up, food and outdoor adventure activities for the family: find ticket information and other details at toyotatexasbassclassic.com.

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