Passport to Texas

Passport to Texas from Texas Parks and Wildlife

For whatever reason, it seems that…

We spend way too much time indoors.

Walt Dabney, Director of Texas State parks, says visiting a park not only gets kids and adults outside, it gets them in shape.

The other thing about being outside is while some people don’t like structured exercise, when you’re outside in a park—hiking or just doing things—you’re physically active. And it’s very positive for you from a health standpoint.

And with fuel prices continuing to climb, state parks are healthy for your body and your bank account.

We’ve got kayak and canoe rentals. You can bring a bike. You can do all kinds of things unless you’re just looking for a way to burn more gas. And I’ll tell you that the way gas prices are going today, parks are going to be even more attractive. You know, there’s probably one fairly close to where anybody hearing me lives.

Which means a healthy outdoor experience is closer than you think. We have information on state parks, the annual state parks pass and the state park guide at passporttotexas.org.

That’s our show…remember: life’s better outside…For Texas Parks and Wildlife…I’m Cecilia Nasti.

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Passport to Texas from Texas Parks and Wildlife.

Biking is a practical way to stay fit, save on fuel costs, as well an environmentally conscience style of transportation. Use your two-wheeled transportation to escape the hectic urban jungle and ride amid nature for a change of scenery.

Many Texas state parks offer a wide range of biking trails for your enjoyment. There are trails for all abilities, from beginner to advanced, making it easy for anyone to get outdoors to enjoy the natural world in truly intimate way.

Designated biking trails are numbered to indicate their difficulty level. Beginner Level is a course that only requires basic riding skills. Intermediate Level cyclists must have off-road experience and knowledge. Difficult Level tracks demand an advanced biker who can navigate various terrain conditions.

You will enjoy your ride more when you ride with safety in mind. Always wear a helmet. Be aware of hazards in your path such as ruts, rocks and even wildlife. Also, check the air in your bicycle tires regularly to avoid flats and accidents. Pack a large bottle of water—at least eight ounces for every hour of riding.

Find information about biking in state parks at passporttotexas.org.

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

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Passport to Texas from Texas Parks and Wildlife

If you just can’t wait until your community hosts a Texas Outdoor Family workshop—you’re in luck. There’s a workshop planned at Bastrop State Park on August 13.

Which is famous for the lost pines of Texas. And it’s a great state park; it’s a historic state park built by the CCC (Civilian Conservation Corps) in the 1930s. It’s one of the jewels of our park system.

Chris Holmes oversees the Texas Outdoor Families in State Parks program, and says it will be cool and comfortable under the canopy of pines as families learn basic outdoor skills like fishing, kayaking, geocaching and the all important—pitching a tent.

Once we’ve taught all the families to put the tent up, they’ll have some good camp food and we’ll actually have an evening program for the families so that they can learn a little bit more about the park. Perhaps we’ll go on a night hike, or perhaps we’ll do some stargazing.

Families will also learn about stewardship. The cost for the workshop is $55, whether you are a family of two or eight—the maximum family size.

And, when we say family, that can mean grandparents. That can mean single parents. There’s no boundaries. We just require that at least one adult will be there with the children.

Find a link to information about Texas Outdoor Families in State Parks at passportotexas.org.

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

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Passport to Texas from Texas Parks and Wildlife

It’s estimated that more than half of the dog owners in America take their furry friends with them on vacation… Dogs need vacations, too. But if you do decide to bring your pet to a state park, you’ll need to pack more than just their favorite treats and tennis ball.

All pets need to be on a leash when they stay in the park…and the leash cannot exceed six foot in length. They need to make sure that they have a collar on them for identification, in case they get loose and also their rabies tags that are current.

Wes Masur is the Director of State Park Law Enforcement at Texas Parks and Wildlife. Another thing to remember is Texas summers can be brutal on any animal with a fur coat…

Just make sure that they can get in a cool place, when it gets really hot those animals need abundance of water as well.

As tempting as it is, your dog is not allowed to go swimming in any state park pool…

Everybody has to control their animals, we want everyone to have a good time…

To learn more about bringing your pet into a state park, log onto the Texas Parks and Wildlife website.

That’s our show for today…thank you for joining us…Joel Block engineers our program. For Texas Parks and Wildlife, I’m Cecilia Nasti.

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Passport to Texas from Texas Parks and Wildlife

If your family’s outdoor skills are rusty, you’re in luck. Texas Outdoor Family workshops are as close as a state park. Chris Holmes coordinates this new program.

It’s going to be basic outdoor camping skills. We’ll teach them about using a GPS unit (global positioning system) and exploring the trails. We’ll teach them how to fish. If there’s kayaking available, we’ll teach them how to paddle and kayak. And then the main program in the afternoon will be how to set up a camp properly.

The first workshop is August 4 at Galveston Island SP. Family size is limited to eight, and the cost for the weekend is $55. Leave No Trace developed the program’s camping component.

And so, it’s a national certification, environmentally friendly program. And the families together will have fun, and learn how to pitch a tent, place the tent properly on tent pads, use a stove correctly and cook food. And we’ll teach them how to build a fire.

Holmes says his favorite part of the workshop comes the following morning.

They’ll have an opportunity to have a coffee with a park ranger and learn about having a conservation career. And then they’ll do a service and stewardship program which is something that they can help the state park. It may be removing some invasive vegetation, it may be building bluebird boxes. It may just be simply picking up litter at the state park.

We have details about Texas Outdoor Family Workshops in State Parks at passporttotexas.org.

That our show for today…remember: life’s better outside. For Texas Parks and Wildlife…I’m Cecilia Nasti.

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