Passport to Texas

Passport to Texas from Texas Parks and Wildlife

Work on your camping and hiking skills during an advanced backpacking program at Purtis Creek State Park, southwest of DFW. It’s a chance for kids and adults to get out and play… regardless of experience.

It’s a program for individuals of families that are interested in backpacking who may or may not have some previous experience. It’ll allow them to develop some skills on a short hike with an experienced leader. Purtis Creek State Park backpack trails offer a wide variety of trees and plants, and also opportunities to see some abundant wildlife, including beavers, Blue Heron, and some Egrets.

Lisa Male, Park Interpreter, tells us more about the event.

The hike is about a mile and it’s a pretty much level hike. Sites are wooded and they all have access to the lake. Bring all the necessary equipment, such as the backpack, camping stove, food, sleeping bag, tent. Our overnight program will be based on the “Leave No Trace” program. It’s designed to give visitors and opportunity to develop a respect for nature and wildlife.

This outing will provide the foundation and experience you need for future outdoor adventures.

We just want to encourage people to come out and take advantage of this program. It’s a great opportunity for people to gain some basic skills so that they can progress into more adventurous environments.

The advanced backpacking program is June 16th & 17th, and reservations are required. Find complete details about the program, including cost at passporttotexas.org.

That’s our show for today…with research and writing help from Loren Seeger…For Texas Parks and Wildlife…I’m Cecilia Nasti

June 16–17, 2007 — Purtis Creek SP — Advanced Backpacking — Bring backpack, tent, food, stove and all other necessary items for overnight campout. After a short review of equipment, go on a ranger-led hike into the backpack trails to spend the night in our primitive sites. Overnight program will focus on Leave No Trace camping. Hike is up to 1.5 miles. Equipment list available by contacting the park. 4 p.m. Saturday-9 a.m. Sunday; call for fees; reservations required (903) 425-2332.

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

National Fishing and Boating Week is June 2 through 10– and it shouldn’t surprise anyone that Texas is diving into the celebration.

Well, right here at the beginning of the summer, we want to celebrate the fact that Texas has a multitude of opportunities for people to get out on the water to enjoy fishing and enjoy boasting and enjoy family time.

Ann Miller is aquatic education coordinator for Parks and Wildlife.

All over the state, we’ve got some wonderful family oriented events that are happening. And these events include fishing clinics and fishing derbies, and they cover the entire state from Lake Arrowhead State Park and Eisenhower State Park, up near the Oklahoma border to Galveston Island State Park and Huntsville State Park. And even in San Antonio and the Austin area – we’ve got lots of state parks who are holding these events.

When it comes to enjoying the outdoors, most people like to add water to the mix.

Every person enjoys water in a different way. But I think there’s just something innate in humans that water is just one of those ingredients that create fun.

Find links to boating and fishing opportunities at passportotexas.org.

That’s our show for today… with support from the Sport Fish Restoration Program… encouraging Texans to participate in Free Sport Fishing Day —Saturday, June 2nd. For Texas Parks and Wildlife…I’m Cecilia Nasti.

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

National fishing day is Saturday June 2nd, and activities for kids and families are planned statewide.

From 9 to noon, Bastrop State Park, in the Prairies and Lakes Region, encourages kids from 6 – 13 to attend a Junior Angler Fishing Clinic, where they’ll learn the basics of freshwater angling, and win prizes.

At the Caprock Canyon State Park and Trailway, located in the Panhandle Plains Region, the whole family can fish for largemouth bass, channel catfish, crappie and sunfish in tranquil Lake Theo from 8 to 5.

Have competitive kiddos? Enter them in the All American Fishing derby sponsored by Wal-Mart, which takes place from 10 to 2 at Cedar Hills State Park just southwest of the Dallas/Fort Worth Metroplex. Prizes will be awarded at the end of the day.

If you live along the gulf coast, do not pass up your chance to tour the state-of-the-art Conservation Association/Central Power and Light Marine Development Center State Fish Hatchery, from 8 to noon. Participate in catch and release fishing in two stocked hatchery ponds…but bring your own pole and bait since.

Fishing builds bonds between families and creates lifelong memories…it’s fun you can take to the bank.

That’s our show for today…with support from the Sport Fish Restoration program… encouraging Texans to participate in National Fishing Day —June 2nd.

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

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Passport to Texas from Texas Parks and Wildlife

Window to the Past is a segment airing on the Texas Parks and Wildlife television series the week of May 13. Series writer/producer, Alan Fisher, says it examines prehistoric rock art in the lower Pecos River Region of Texas.

In the canyons and cliffs in and around Seminole Canyon State Park and Historic Site, there are these amazing pictographs – ancient rock paintings.

You go down right in that canyon and you step back three-thousand, four-thousand years.

We followed, not only the personnel at the state park there, but also some scholars who were doing some of the latest research on trying to figure out what these rock paintings really mean to the people who made them so long ago.

Now, another symbol in this rock art that is what is called a crenelated arch; it is there to represent the physical barrier between the real world and the spirit world, or the after world.

There aren’t too many places you can look at something that was made by human hands that is that old in Texas, or really anywhere in North America. So, it’s really remarkable to stand before a painting that was painted so long ago and try to imagine what the people who made it were thinking and what their lives must have been like.

The Window to the Past segment airs the week of May 13, as part of the Texas Parks and Wildlife Television Series.

Check your local listings.

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

Texans don’t need much encouragement to kick up their heels and celebrate. And this Saturday, several state parks celebrate May Day and Cinco de Mayo.

Fulton Mansion State Historic Site is a stately, one hundred thirty year old manor, that faces Aransas Bay. And Saturday, May fifth, this jewel of the Gulf Coast Region celebrates spring, with May Day festivities. If you’re so inclined, go ahead and show off the moves you’ve learn on “Dancing with the Stars” when you trip the light fantastic around the maypole. Or play period games with the kiddos, enjoy old-fashioned pie-eating contests and create beautiful flower crafts. There’s live music, a petting zoo…from 10 to 4 pm.

Not to be outdone, Sebastopol House State Historic Site in Seguin, located in the Prairies and Lakes Region of the state, offers it’s version of May Day festivities. It is a free family event packed with music, a maypole dance, demonstrations, a climbing wall, games, free kid’s prizes and much more! Families are invited to come enjoy time together at this historic setting from 11 to 4.

Cinco de Mayo marks the victory of the Mexican Army over the French at the Battle of Puebla. And on Saturday, the Texas Freshwater Fisheries Center in Athens, offers family activities with a Hispanic theme including games, dancing, music and food, from 9 a.m.- 4 p.m. Reduced admission for adults, and free for kids under 12 years.

For entrance fees and directions to these events, go to the Texas Parks & Wildlife website.

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

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