Archive for the 'State Parks' Category

State Parks: Citizen’s Ranger Academy

Thursday, October 2nd, 2014

Dinosaur Footprint at Dinosaur Valley State Park

Dinosaur Footprint at Dinosaur Valley State Park



This is Passport to Texas

There’s more to being a park ranger than putting on a uniform. That’s why the Citizen’s Park Ranger Academy exists at Dinosaur Valley State Park.

07— The academy is the brainchild of our then assistant manager Robert Enckhausen.

Tracy Mays is with Park Operations at Dinosaur Valley SP.

19—He came up with this idea so the citizens of the state could come and see firsthand what park rangers do. Not just park rangers, but police, EMTs, the wildland firefighters… and be able to be hands-on with the activities that we do day-to-day.

Tracy says the purpose of the academy is two-fold.

10—The academy basically is to get people intrigued about being a park ranger, and hopefully making more stewards for our future.

Last year was the first year for the academy, and one of the highlights happened after the helicopter landing zone class.

20—The day that they landed the care flight helicopter so that they could see what it was like to land a helicopter inside the park, well, maybe 30 minutes later we got a call that somebody had fallen, and we needed to land the bird again. And three of our Citizen’s Park Ranger Cadets were able to help us actually land the bird, since they had already done it.

I’ll have details about the academy tomorrow.

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

Recreation: Geocaching in State Parks

Thursday, September 25th, 2014

Geocaching in a state park.

Geocaching in a state park.



This is Passport to Texas

State park visitors hunt for containers filled with trinkets when they’re geocaching. Yet, in time, they discover the real treasure is spending time in nature.

03—I guess maybe that’s the secret cache; the unknown one.

Cassie Cox, with the Texas Outdoor Family Program, aims to change that. The staffs of the Texas Outdoor Family program and state parks teach visitors geocaching as a way to connect them with the natural world.

17—It’s bridges nature and technology. It uses that technology to encourage children, and families and other people to get outdoors, and to get on the trail. You have a mission [to locate a cache], and you’re using that technology to help you find it. And along the way you may discover things that you haven’t ever seen before.

Like wildlife, plant life, or unusual geologic features.

Using coordinates from geocaching.com and a hand-held GPS or smart phone, visitors hit the trail…and ideally… don’t stray far from it.

08—It’s best to stay on the trail – that’s a Leave No Trace principle. It helps you be safe, and it helps protect the resources in the park.

September is the time to learn about geocaching; it’s the outdoor activity of the month at Texas State Parks.

09—Just go on the [TPW] webpage, look at a park near you to see if they’re offering geocaching workshops. Trust me, you’ll have a
great time; it’s addicting. It’s so much fun.

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

Camping: Texas Outdoor Families

Wednesday, September 24th, 2014

Camping at Inks Lake

Camping at Inks Lake



This is Passport to Texas

Longer nights and cooler temperatures make fall an ideal time for overnight camping at a Texas State Park. But if you’re new to the activity and don’t know a tent flap from a flap jack, the Texas Outdoor Family program can help.

05—We provide them some gear and get them a little more comfortable before they actually get out there and do it on their own.

Lindsay Carter is a Park Ranger with the Texas Outdoor Family program. During weekend workshops, rangers and volunteers teach families how to set up camp and get comfortable with the gear. Then there are activities.

14—We love having planned activities for them, which is, of course, not required – but stuff that they can do if they want to hang out with us. Kayaking, geocaching, fishing, outdoor cooking…things like this. We like to have a lot of activities to keep them busy while they’re out there.

Up to six peopek per family can sign up for a one or two night workshop. It’s $65 for one-night workshops and $85 for two-night workshops. TOF provides the tents and cooking gear…

10—We ask that they bring groceries that they would like for the weekend. Sleeping bags. Pillows. We have a list on our website of things to bring. But, basically, that’s it.

Texas Outdoor Family workshops take place throughout the state beginning this month. Visit the Texas Outdoor Family page at texasstateparks.org to find one close to you.

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

TPW TV: Kickapoo Cavern

Friday, September 19th, 2014
Inside Kickapoo Cavern

Inside Kickapoo Cavern


This is Passport to Texas

At Kickapoo Cavern State Park near Bracketville … nature is almost untouched, the way it used to be.

06— It’s a great place to just get away from it all. You can unplug from all the distractions of the city, and just get back in touch
with nature.

Mark Garrett, is a ranger at the park, which offers visitors 64-hundred acres of birding, hiking, and mountain biking. That’s just what’s above ground. Below, in the cavern, ranger Steve Blair says there’s even more to explore, and regularly takes park visitors down under.

17—You’ve got twin columns; the column on your right is the largest column in the state of Texas. It’s eighty feet high, which is a little over 8 stories. You can see the different colored drapery off of it – all the jellyfish looking stuff – I see Mother nature at its best.

From the depths of Stuart Bat Cave at Kickapoo Cavern State Park, Mexican Free tail bats emerge nightly throughout summer to the delight of visitors.

10— The bat flights are pretty spectacular. There are 500-thousand bats here at the cave. It takes approximately an hour and a half for all the bats to get out of the cave.

Ranger Mark Garrett says park staff works hard to keep the site as natural as possible so we can all…

03— Enjoy a part of Texas a lot of people have never seen.

View a segment about Kickapoo Cavern SP this week on the Texas Parks and Wildlife PBS TV series. Check your local listings.

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

Recreation: Texas Paddling Trails

Wednesday, September 3rd, 2014

Family enjoying paddling on Texas paddling trail.

Family enjoying paddling on Texas paddling trail.



This is Passport to Texas

There’s nothing like being on the water, close to nature, in a kayak or canoe.

17— Our feeling is that if we can get people on the water, they will see what Texas is all about. Then they’ll start to get on board with the conservation, and the athleticism of paddling, and fall in love more with Texas and what we do here at Texas Parks and Wildlife.

Ron Smith, with Inland Fisheries, says Texas communities recognize the value of developing paddling opportunities with the Texas Paddling Trails Program. Trails benefit residents and visitors, but also the communities in which they exist.

21— We go back to the communities, and the communities report back to us, that there’s a stronger economic impact in their area because of the trails. They’re starting to see boats on top of cars going through town. People are cleaning up the waterways. [There are] just many, many indicators that the program is working.

Think your community could be the next great paddling destination? First, you need a community partner…

12— And organize it on a local level, and then submit an application to us. And that application is on our website; they can dill it out and submit it to us, and we’ll be happy to take a look at their trail.

A new trail opens this week in the Big Thicket…that’s tomorrow.

Funding for our show is provided in part by Ram Trucks. Guts. Glory. Ram

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