Passport to Texas

Passport to Texas from Texas Parks and Wildlife

Wondering how to indulge that itch for outdoor adventure without paying the cost of equipment and entry?

The Wildlife Expo is a great opportunity for Texans to learn all about the things that they can do in the great Texas outdoors and it’s free!

Ernie Gamage, Director of the Texas Parks and Wildlife Expo, says there is something for everyone at this year’s event.

Come early, stay late, because if you came all weekend you still wouldn’t get to do everything. You can paddle a kayak, you can rock climb, you can learn all about conservation, you can see wild animal shows. We hope that everybody that comes to Expo, whether they’re tried and true recreationists or maybe it’s their first time to ever wet a hook, will use the Expo as an opportunity to gain an interest, gain a skill, and then go on and try it on their own.

Expo is Saturday and Sunday, October 4th and 5th from nine to five; leave the dogs at home, but definitely bring the kids.

It’s important to introduce our children to the joys of being in nature and recreating in the outdoors. You know the fundamental purpose of Expo is something we call conservation through recreation. If you recreate in the outdoors, if you spend time paying attention to it, you’re going to start paying attention for it and caring for it. And you can do that at the Wildlife Expo.

Find Expo information at passporttotexas.org.

That’s our show…with research and writing help from Sarah Loden. For Texas Parks and Wildlife I’m Cecilia Nasti.

EXPO Overview Play Now | Play in Popup | Download

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

Scuba diving is coming to Texas Parks and Wildlife Expo—October 4th and 5th—when the Be a Diver Program brings its 17-thousand gallon pool to the festival…and you’re invited to get wet.

Make sure you bring your swimsuit. There will be changing rooms. There will be towels available. If it’s cold, there will be a heater in there.

Paul Hammerschmidt, with coastal fisheries, says children under 12 must have a parent in the pool with them; children under 17 must have a parent nearby. And those over 17? No parent required.

Come prepared for an exciting experience. There’s nothing quite like being underwater, being able to breath, and being in close proximity to the animals that are underwater.

Of course, there won’t be animals in the pool, but if you decide to learn to scuba after trying it at Expo, you can see as many as you want under the sea.

We’ve got a lot of great master divers and instructors here in the state, and a lot of them will be here at Expo. And there’ll be some venues over there where you can talk to them about taking classes.

Texas Parks and Wildlife Expo is October 4th and 5th. Make plans to attend and to learn skills to help you get the most from future outdoor adventures. We have more information about Expo at passporttotexas.org.

That’s our show… with support from the Sport Fish Restoration Program… providing funding for the operations and management of Sea Center Texas.

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

Scuba Diving Comes to Expo, 2 Play Now | Play in Popup | Download

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

Texas Parks and Wildlife Expo is your gateway to the outdoors. It’s where, in a single weekend, you can introduce your family to a wide range of outdoor activities including—brand new this year—scuba diving!

Almost everything we’ve done is above water: kayaking and mountain biking and all those wonderful activities…now we get to look into a whole new world.

Paul Hammerschmidt, with coastal fisheries, is coordinating the Be a Diver Program at this year’s Expo. Participants will dive in a 17-thousand gallon pool.

Kids and adults get to don wetsuits and scuba equipment and get a chance to see what it feels like to be under water, breathing scuba.

Hammerschmidt says Texas is one of the larger states with a scuba diving contingent, so it makes sense to offer a scuba opportunity at Expo.

In years past, we’ve had what we call virtual diving, where kids can go in and see photographs of the Flower Gardens National Marine Sanctuary. Now they’re actually going to be able to get wet.

Texas Parks and Wildlife Expo is October 4th and 5th. Learn more at passporttotexas.org.

That’s our show… with support from the Sport Fish Restoration Program… providing funding for the operations and management of Sea Center Texas.

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

Scuba Diving Comes to Expo, 1 Play Now | Play in Popup | Download

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

Fishing is a very family oriented activity.

That’s why it will be featured prominently at this year’s Texas Parks and Wildlife Expo, October 4 and 5. Ron Smith with Inland fisheries is coordinating the new Fishing FUNdamentals area at this year’s festival. He says fishing is a multi-faceted activity.

It promotes conservation, stewardship, time with the family, time with good friends, time outdoors. All of the things that Parks and Wildlife represents, fishing has a big part in.

It used to be folks interested in fishing had to go to several locations around Expo grounds to get their questions answered—but not this year!

This time we’re going to try to bring everything into one place. So that someone at Expo—if they have any kind of question whatsoever about fishing—or are interested in any kind of fishing activity, or going anywhere in Texas to go fishing, we can answer those questions in one spot.

Expo gives visitors of all ages the opportunity to actually catch a fish, and if it is your first fish, we’ll make a big deal about it. In addition, the husband and wife professional angling team of Hector and Diane de la Garza will be on hand to demonstrate techniques and answer your questions.

We have more information at passporttotexas.org.

That’s our show… with support from the Sport Fish and Wildlife Restoration Program… providing funding for the operations and management of the Texas Freshwater Fisheries Center.

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

Expo: Fishing FUNdamentals, 2 Play Now | Play in Popup | Download

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

In less than a month, tens of thousands of visitors will converge on Texas Parks and Wildlife Headquarters in Austin for a weekend of outdoor enjoyment at the annual Expo. Ron Smith invites everyone to the Fishing FUNdamentals area.

Fishing fundamentals is a little bit of everything fishing.

Smith, with Inland Fisheries, is managing this area for Expo.

So, whether they haven’t fished before, or whether they’re going to try a new specialty type of fishing, or they want to just know where to go, or where the fish are biting, or about conservation, or safety—we’re going to have a little bit of everything at this booth. Hopefully, to provide them with the next step that they can take in enjoying fishing in Texas.

Visitors who come from urban areas may be surprised by what they learn at Fishing Fundamentals.

Many of the ones that live in urban areas have never been fishing and they don’t realize they may have a fishing hole right close to their home that they can get to very easily, and they don’t have to go many miles to get to a fishing spot. So, that’s one of the things that we’re trying to do—inform folks that they don’t have to go far to fish.

Texas Parks and Wildlife Expo is October 4 and 5 from 9-5 both days, and it’s free.

That’s our show… with support from the Sport Fish and Wildlife Restoration Program… providing funding for the operations and management of the Texas Freshwater Fisheries Center.

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

Expo: Fishing FUNdamentals, 1 Play Now | Play in Popup | Download