Passport to Texas

This is Passport to Texas

Seminole Canyon SP and Historic site in far west Texas is, for many, off the beaten path…in more ways than one.

We really don’t get too many people [visiting], and so it’s kind of odd to have an atlatl competition. And you have to be kind of off the wall to even know what an atlatl is.

What are you, then, if you take part in the 3rd Annual Archeolympics—a kind of pre-historic hunter competition—at this out of the way park? To park ranger and Interpreter, Tanya Petruney, that makes you an archeolympian. She tells us about the event planned for February 6.

It is a primitive skills competition, which consists of the atlatl, which is an ancient spear thrower…the rabbit stick, which is a boomerang like weapon used for small game, such as rabbits, and our friction fire starting competition.

At 4-thousand years old, the park boasts the oldest pictographs in North America, making it the ideal place to get in touch with your inner caveman.

All ages are welcome in the competition. You have to register; and if you do not feel like being in any of the competitions, we do offer public demonstrations, which will be the atlatl and rabbit stick, flint napping, friction fire starting, cordage making from native plants, and replica artifacts of this area.

There is a $3.00 per person Entrance Fee, and winners receive prizes. Find details about the February 6 Archeolympics at Seminole Canyon SP and Historic site, on the TPW website.

That’s our show… For Texas Parks and Wildlife…I’m Cecilia Nasti.
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February 6, 2010 — Seminole Canyon SP&HS — 3rd Annual Archeolympics — Step back into prehistory and compete in this fun, primitive skills event. Open to all skill levels, try your hand at atlatl spear throwing, rabbit stick throwing and a fire starting race. Demonstrations and displays of prehistoric technologies will be available for all to see. Call for rules and regulations. 10 a.m.-5 p.m. (432) 292-4464.

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This is Passport to Texas

Fire’s always played a vital role in the creation of healthy ecosystem. Yet, as Europeans settled Texas, fire suppression was the name of the game.

That’s correct. As Europeans settled Texas, the occurrence of fire went down, because nobody obviously wants to have their house burned up.

David Veale is biologist for the M. O. Neasloney (nez-low-NEE) WMA in Gonzales County. On January 16 he leads a prescribed fire workshop at the WMA.

We start off with the historical perspective of fire, you know, what some of the fire intervals were. The native Americans did use fire to manage some of their grassland communities. And, so why it’s important to reintroduce that fire into the landscape; we also talk about what fire can do, and what is the role of fire in vegetation management.

And that’s just the beginning of what participants can expect…although Veale says the workshop is simply an overview.

You know, you can give somebody the information, and you can talk about it on paper, but until they’re actually put fire on their actual place where they’re responsible for that fire, that’s a big hurdle to get over.

Veale recommends after the workshop, landowners and managers consider joining prescribed burn associations.

We have a lot of them popping up throughout the state. And it’s a pooling of resources, it’s a pooling of expertise—it’s really a good thing.

That’s our show… supported by the Wildlife Restoration program. For Texas Parks and Wildlife…I’m Cecilia Nasti.

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This is Passport to Texas

We’re taught from a young age to prevent fires. What we’ve forgotten is that nature relies on fire to flourish.

When you look at the historical occurrence of fire throughout the state, it’s something that pretty much every ecosystem in the state evolved with. All of our plant communities were evolved with fire at some certain interval—that’s going to differ throughout the state. But it’s been a pretty formative force in Texas ecology.

David Veale is a biologist for the M. O. Neasloney (nez-low-NEE) WMA in Gonzales County. He says we need reeducation about fire’s benefits.

And so we want to show landowners that it’s a responsible land management practice when applied correctly, when applied safely. And it’s something that’s really going to benefit not only your wildlife habitat, but generally your livestock program as well.

On January 16, Veale will lead a prescribed burning workshop at the M.O. Neasloney WMA.

The workshop is primarily targeted at landowners and land managers—the folks that are actually going to have the management decision to put fire on the ground and the responsibility for that. But it’s really kind of an introduction to burning. Because we’re not going to tell you everything you’d ever need to know about running a complete fire program in one day. So, this is just kind of a good overview; some of the things that need to be considered before a fire management program is started. And once that decision is made, it shows you some of the avenues for receiving some more training.

We have information about the workshop at passporttotexas.org. That’s our show… supported by the Wildlife Restoration program

For Texas Parks and Wildlife…I’m Cecilia Nasti.
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January 16, 2010 — M.O. Neasloney WMA — Prescribed Fire Workshop — This workshop is designed to give landowners and managers a basic understanding of the use and application of prescribed fire in a wildlife and/or grazing management program. Topics will include historical perspectives on fire, the role of fire in vegetation management, fire weather and safety, planning the burn, fire line preparation, suppression equipment and smoke management. Participants will conduct a burn if conditions permit. Bring your lunch, drinks, leather gloves and boots and wear cotton outerwear. Accessible for the mobility impaired. 8 a.m.-4 p.m. (830) 424-3407

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This is Passport to Texas

There is something magical about how stars peer through the bare branches of trees in winter. [Twinkle SFX] And Monument Hill & Kreische Brewery State Historic Sites in La Grange duplicate this celestial wonder during their annual trail of lights.

The park is lit up with very beautiful lights all around the trail—it’s about a quarter mile walking trail, including a trip through the house—the old Kreische House—where we have entertainment, and refreshments, and Santa Claus is here; and all the families and kids can come and enjoy a beautiful setting for a Christmas Celebration.

Site superintendent, Dennis Smith, says the park’s location adds a special feature to the trail of lights.

Our park sits on a 200-foot bluff that overlooks the river and overlooks the City of La Grange. And just the night view from up here, looking over down to La Grange, and the beautiful setting of the lights in the park are absolutely spectacular.

A generation of Texans has enjoyed this holiday event, and so can you.

Our trail of lights program is open to the public. There’s a cost: three dollars per person thirteen years old and older, and one dollar for children between the ages of three and twelve.

Children under the age of three get in free. The trail is open December 5, 11, 12, 18 and 19. Visit passportotexas.org for complete details.

That’s our show… For Texas Parks and Wildlife…I’m Cecilia Nasti.
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December 5, 11, 12, 18, 19, 2009 — Monument Hill & Kreische Brewery SHS — Trail of Lights — Enjoy a fantastic quarter-mile trail illuminated with thousands of lights that decorate the Monument Hill and Kreische House portions of our park. Walk a trail overlooking the town of La Grange. Experience the more traditionally decorated 1850s-era German home of H.L. Kreische, bedecked in Christmas splendor, in a Texas-German style. Bring your children to tell secrets to Mr. and Mrs. Santa Claus and enjoy the genuine seasonal hospitality of the Friends of Monument Hill and Kreische Brewery, who sponsor the event. No pets please. 6-7:45 p.m.; fees $3 adults, $1 children 12 and under (979) 968-5658.

CLICK HERE to watch a video about the park.

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This is Passport to Texas

The public hasn’t had much access to the 300-thousand acre Big Bend Ranch State Park—but that’s about to change—and we kick things off with a Fiesta!

It’s a coming out party. The big day is November 14th, Saturday. We do have some pre and post fiesta activities.

Linda Hedges is a regional interpretive specialist and fiesta organizer. This free event will introduce attendees to outdoor opportunities and natural diversity found at the park. Pre fiesta activities commence Friday the 13th.

We’re looking adversity in the face this time since we’ve had a couple of false starts with the Fiesta because of, well, flood and swine flu. We are going for the three is a charm concept on the 13th of November as a kick-off with some daylong guided hikes, and mountain biking treks, also some half priced river rafting trips on the Rio Grande, with that same program repeated on Sunday.

The big day is Saturday November 14th which features tons of activities, a free barbecue lunch and a live concert. Folks who plan to attend should RSVP.

That is, in part, for planning purposes on our end, so we can do the best job of taking care of our visitors that day. But also, a nice perk for those who also do RSVP comes in the way of some attendance prizes.

Find out how to RSVP for the Big Bend Ranch State park Fiesta at passporttotexas.org

For Texas Parks and Wildlife…I’m Cecilia Nasti.
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RSVP:
Let us know you’re coming & double your chances of winning by sending us an e-mail RSVP. Your RSVP will entitle you to receive 2 tickets per family/group instead of 1. Must be at least 16 years of age to win.

RSVP by calling 512/389-8908 from 9 am to 6 pm, Monday – Friday or by e-mailing
Big Bend Ranch State Park.
In your e-mail please provide:

• Your name
• Phone number
• E-mail address
• City of residence
• Number of adults
• Number of children under 12 yrs

Indicate the activities you are interested in:

• Guided short hikes
• Jeep tours
• Horseback riding
• Mountain biking

Indicate if you are wanting to make required reservations & how many for:

Early Bird Tours, Saturday, November 14:

• Birdwatching
• Rock Art Tour
• Geology Tour

Pre-Fiesta Field Trips, Friday, November 13:

• Birdwatching
• Rock Art Hike
• Backcountry Tour/Hike – Madrid Falls to Fresno Canyon
• Mountain Bike Tour – All day – Mexicano Falls (will you be bringing your own bike)

Post-Fiesta Field Trips, Sunday, November 15:

• Birdwatching
• Rock Art Hike
• Backcountry Tour/Hike – Madrid Falls to Fresno Canyon
• Mountain Bike Tour – All day – Mexicano Falls (will you be bringing your own bike)

Remember, you can double your chances in the attendance prize raffle by letting us know ahead of time that you are coming – receive two tickets per family instead of one!

For free campsite reservations, phone 432-358-4444.

Thank you & we hope to see you there.

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