Passport to Texas

Former Texas Governor John Connally

TPW 50th: Connally Bonds and State Parks Play Now | Play in Popup | Download

This year marks the 50th anniversary of Texas Parks and Wildlife, and we’re looking back at major milestones. In 1967, Governor Connally and the State Legislature ensured citizens would have access to nature’s splendor.

09 – Governor Connally realized that if we were going to conserve our lands and waters and fish and wildlife that we had to create places for people to get out and enjoy it.

Texas Parks and Wildlife Executive Director, Carter Smith.

16 –So, Governor Connally and the Legislature championed a funding program that created a series of revenue bonds, called the Connally Bonds that were used to finance the acquisition and expansion of many state parks and state natural areas.

…such as Enchanted Rock, Lost Maples, and Devil’s River…

12—…to a host of other state parks where Texans can now get out and enjoy the great outdoors: the beauty, splendor and wildness that define our state and the place that we love. We’re able to enjoy that a lot more because of the Connally Bonds.

Help Texas Parks and Wildlife celebrate its 50 year anniversary this year by sharing your stories, videos and photographs depicting how you, your family and friends enjoy the great Texas outdoors. Just go to the Texas Parks and Wildlife website for details.

For Texas Parks and Wildlife…Cecilia Nasti

Buffalo Soldiers © Texas Parks and Wildlife Department

History: Buffalo Soldiers as Unsung Heroes Play Now | Play in Popup | Download

Buffalo soldiers were heroes in their time, yet their accomplishments, seldom taught in classrooms, leave many young African American students, like Greg
McClanahan, with a limited sense of their history.

09—They didn’t teach us nothing in school but that we were slaves. They didn’t teach us that we were heroes or nothing. In history, all you ever heard about was slaves this, and slaves that. You didn’t hear about no black heroes.

McClanahan attended public school in Kerrville, where he met Buffalo Soldier reenactors from Parks and Wildlife.

16—What we are doing is taking the legacy of the Buffalo Soldier into the cities and into the schools. And we feel that sharing this story, that we can instill some pride and some resolve in them.

Ken Pollard is a 2006 inductee into the National Cowboys of Color hall of Fame. He said he found out about the Buffalo Soldiers as an adult, but wished he’d known about them earlier.

20—My relatives and kinfolk were cowboys, man. We didn’t have any black cowboys or soldiers, you know, to really look up to. For me, to have the black heroes there when I was growing up, that sense of pride would have been instilled in me. But if I had grown up with that—they would have been my heroes.

Find information about Buffalo Soldiers Heritage and Community Outreach on the Texas Parks and Wildife website.

That’s our show… For Texas Parks and Wildlife…I’m Cecilia Nasti.

Buffalo Soldiers © Texas Parks and Wildlife Department

History: Buffalo Soldiers Play Now | Play in Popup | Download

[SFX…military maneuvers] Establish, fade, roll under actuality & script.

[singing] I was once a captured slave. Now I’m just a black man who came to be….[fade singing and roll under script]

In the 19th Century, Black men who served in the 9th and 10th Regiments of Cavalry and 24th and 25th Regiments
of Infantry of the United States Army were …

I am a Buffalo Soldier! [song ends]

The Native Americans whom they fought during the Indian Wars gave troops the name because of their hair texture, courage, and ferocity in battle.

05—He feared and respected the buffalo. And he learned to fear and respect the black soldier as well.

That’s Buffalo Soldier reenactor, John Olivera, who says Buffalo soldiers played a major role in settling Texas.

12—Seventy-five percent of the soldiers that settled this area were Buffalo Soldiers. The only white men that were with them were the commanding officers. Almost all of the forts were manned and built by Buffalo Soldiers.

Texas Parks & Wildlife Department offers Texas Buffalo Soldier Outdoor Educational Programs. Find their schedule on the Parks and Wildlife website.

11—The Buffalo Soldiers fought not only the Indians, and outlaws, but racism and prejudice. We had a job to do, and we done it.

That’s our show… For Texas Parks and Wildlife…I’m Cecilia Nasti.

Tufted Titmouse from allaboutbirds.org

Wildlife: Backyard Birds Play Now | Play in Popup | Download

Whatever your age or skill level, birding is a simple and satisfying way to engage the outdoors.

09— You know, [it’s] just having the reason to go outside and observe…. Getting out there and looking beyond yourself, I think, provides perspective, and is fulfilling in itself.

Cullen Hanks is an avid birder and administrator of the Texas Natural Diversity Database for Parks and Wildlife.

07—And I’ve connected with birds on many levels; one is just watching and getting a little bit of perspective of the drama in their lives.

And, February 15 – 18, when you witness the drama unfold in your own backyard, share your data with the Great Backyard Bird Count.

37—I haven’t participated specifically in the backyard bird count. However, I do contribute observations and checklists to eBird, which is collaborating with the Great Backyard Bird Count. Why do you feel it’s important to share what you’ve seen in your own backyard? One of the primary reasons, is there’s value in itself in going out and paying attention and creating these lists. And, the eBird interface, and the Great Backyard Bird Count are great ways to do that. In addition, contributing that data, gives us another lens on how to understand how bird populations are changing.

The Great Backyard Bird Count is co sponsored by Audubon and the Cornell Lab or Ornithology Find more information at www.birdcount.org.

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

Bike Fest, Image courtesy Desert Sports

State Parks: Big Bend Ranch Bike Fest Play Now | Play in Popup | Download

CORRECTION: Bike Fest is Thursday, February 14, 2013 to Saturday, February 16, 2013.

This is Passport to Texas

Once called Dirt Fest, the newly named Bike Fest, at Big Bend Ranch State Park, is a mountain bikers dream. Our SP Guide, Bryan Frazier has details.

62—It’s a 54 mile epic ride trail, and you can break it up into various smaller rides. There’s a two-day option where people can stay at the Sauceda bunkhouse. The hose is the Lajitas Resort, which is a fantastic place. It really has become this draw for mountain bikers from all over the country to come every year for this event. It’s challenging, it’s incredible scenery, the weather typically in February in the Big Bend area is wonderful. So, this is just becoming one of those things – for bikers – put it on their bucket list to enjoy the trails out through the Chihuahuan Desert; it’s absolutely unforgettable. Spectacular. Not to be missed if you’re a mountain biking person or a mountain biking fan. And you can sign up through the reservation center here through Texas Parks and Wildlife, 512.389.8919, and then also can find out more information at desertsportstx.com.

Thanks, Bryan.

That’s our show for today…with funding provided by Chevrolet, supporting outdoor recreation in Texas; because there’s life to be done.

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