Passport to Texas

Cooking Crappie at Camp

TPW TV: Spice on Fish Hide Player | Play in Popup | Download

Next week, Texas Parks and Wildlife’s Tim Spice takes viewers from pole to platter, when he cooks up crappie filets outdoors on the Texas Parks and Wildlife PBS TV series.

After cleaning, deboning, skinning and drying the fish…

11- We’re going to lightly prep it with a little bit of salt and a little bit of fresh pepper [grinding pepper]. Just a little bit of pepper, though, because crappies are really nice delicate fish, and you don’t want to overpower it.

Next, he dredges the fish in plain cornmeal.

05- I was raised with simple cornmeal; and you’ll get a great fish flavor just this way.

Buttermilk added to the cornmeal makes a thick batter, but if you want to taste the fish, Spice says: less is more. A camp stove supports a cast iron skillet with hot oil.

15- Alright. We’ve got that temperature right where we like it– about 275. Now, we’re just going to take our fish and put ’em right in the oil. Watch your fingers so you don’t splatter that hot grease. We want to cook the crappie for about two minutes on each side. Nice light brown; that keeps it nice, moist, and tender on the inside.

The filets are done and ready to serve in no time.

08– You want to know how your fish are done? Here’s a simple test: take a fork, and if you can break apart the flakes–that means your fish is done.

For an even lighter dish, Tim Spice demonstrates a pan seared, herb rubbed fish recipe the week of Aug. 17 on the TPW PBS TV series. Check your local listings.

That’s our show… Funding provided in part by Ram Trucks. Guts. Glory. Ram

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

Texas A & M Forest Service volunteering at Blanco State Park, image from Blanco State Park Facebook Page.

Flood of Volunteers Help Repair Parks Hide Player | Play in Popup | Download

Texans are not afraid to roll up their sleeves and pitch in when their state parks need them: such as after the Memorial Day Floods.

04– A lot of our friends groups are leading a lot of those efforts.

Audrey Muntz is the new volunteer coordinator for Texas state parks. She says the opportunities are many.

07– Especially for areas where there has been major trail damage, or major damage to work areas or campgrounds.

The floods may have happened three months ago, but volunteer opportunities to get them sorted are ongoing. So, if you thought your chance to help had passed–you’re in luck!

12– And so I know, Ray Roberts has an ongoing effort that will be ongoing throughout the fall. Brazos Bend and Blanco are also having their friends groups run those. And a lot of our other parks have had groups come out and are up and going.

Audrey Muntz recommends checking each park’s Facebook page for the various one-time volunteer opportunities.

She says you can also log onto the Texas Parks and Wildlife website and register to become a volunteer, receive updates, and search a wide variety of available projects.

That’s our show for today’ We record our series in Austin at the Block House; Joel Block engineers our program.

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

Volunteer with Texas Parks and Wildlife

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Volunteers donate more than a half-million hours of service worth over $17-million dollars annually to all Texas Parks and Wildlife programs.

08— They get to work with really friendly and knowledgeable staff, and they have a great time just being outside and enjoying nature, themselves, as part of their giving back.

Audrey Muntz is the new volunteer coordinator for Texas state parks, and says anyone with an interest can find a volunteer opportunity in parks that suits them.

08— We have hundreds of opportunities throughout the state at state parks. Some of them are one time; some of them are short term. And, the majority of them are ongoing.

One of the most coveted long-term volunteer jobs is state park host. In exchange for their services, park hosts receive a campground site.

23— Those individuals serve up to 24-30 hours a week in exchange for being able to keep their RV in the campground. And so they can help with a huge variety of things, from keeping the grounds clean, to fee collection. And they are the face of the park in many ways, and help campers get to know and learn the park and keep it as beautiful and clean as they can for all of our visitors.

Park host commitments range from two to six months; and, established volunteers often move from one park to another.

Tomorrow: Short term opportunities to help flood ravaged parks.

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

Get yours today!

State Park Guide: Don't Explore Texas Without It Hide Player | Play in Popup | Download

If you love the Texas outdoors, you may wish to keep a copy of the Texas State Park Guide in your glove box.

13- I recommend picking one up and keeping it in your car or RV. There’s an index in the back. You can basically search by each activity of facility that you’re interested in, and easily find which parks meet your needs.

Thomas Wilhelm, with state parks, says they’re available at parks, TXDOT Travel centers, and many Chambers of Commerce.

18- There’s information on some of the local wildlife. There’s a section with maps for each major city, so it shows which parks are nearby. There’s a suggested packing list. There’s a whole section on softer accommodations [not tent camping], so which parks have cabins, screen shelters, yurts. That sort of thing.

Before school starts, head to a Texas State Park. And with a State Park Guide in hand, you’re ready for anything.

23- You know, a lot of times what people imagine a state park may offer is just the tip of the iceberg. You may not realize all of the other facilities and accommodations that even the park you go to all of the time may have. So, this makes it really easy to see exactly what a park offers. Plus, it’s pretty to look at. There are pictures of each park. And you really get a good feel of what makes each park unique. Just get out there and visit. We’d love to have you.

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

Take the Pledge and take Care of Texas

Take Care of Texas and Receive a State Park Guide Hide Player | Play in Popup | Download

If you’re a state park user, or plan to be, and don’t have a free Texas State Park Guide in your vehicle’s glove box, what are you waiting for?

12- That guide has full descriptions of each park; it includes helpful tips like where to go and what to pack, which parks have playgrounds, which parks have pools. That sort of information.

And isn’t that what we all want when planning a state park outing? Thomas Wilhelm works with parks, and says there’s more than one way to get your hands on a guide.

12-So, you can pick up a state park guide at any state park. You can also pick it up at any TXDOT Travel information center. Most Convention and Visitor’s Bureaus or Chambers of Commerce across the state also carry them.

No time to pick up a guide? You can get it in the mail.

14- Through the Texas Commission on Environmental Quality. If you got to takecareoftexas.org, you can take a pledge to take care of Texas, and they will mail you–free of charge–a state park guide.

When you sign the pledge, you promise to be a good steward of Texas’ water, air and land–which you already are, right? So get your hands on a Texas State Park Guide and go outside and enjoy what you treasure about the Lone Star State.

That’s our show… Funding provided in part by Ram Trucks. Guts. Glory. Ram

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