Passport to Texas

Texas Outdoor Family Goliad State Park

State Parks: Texas Outdoor Family Program Play Now | Play in Popup | Download

After a summer hiatus, the Texas Outdoor Family Program is back in full swing. Our state park guide, Bryan Frazier, says it offers an affordable educational weekend of outdoor learning for the whole family.

54—We’ve got a full schedule right now on the website, that goes into December. We provide the tent, expertise, the Texas Parks and Wildlife volunteers tht are trained will be out there. All people need to bring is food and a sleeping bag and that’s it. But up to six people, for $65, for an entire weekend can learn how to safely start a fire, set up and take down a camp, how to do geocaching, how to do all kinds of outdoor activities from fishing to kayaking to nature watching. We’re teaching families and groups and all kinds of people how to reconnect with the outdoors safely so that they on their own can go out and do it by themselves and really see what they’ve been missing. So, check out the website; there’s a programs link on texasstateparks.org, and find out everything about the exciting Texas Outdoor Family program.

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.

Paddling in State Parks

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Canoeing, kayaking and pedal boating in state parks has never been easier. Our state park guide, Bryan Frazier, has details.

60—Lots of the state parks we have rent them, and you can certainly bring your own. And we’re talking about in lakes, along the Texas coastline, rivers, streams, ponds that we have in our state park systems. They’re great ways to see the wildlife, they’re great family activities. They’re good ways for exercise when you’re out there paddling. And it’s just another way to see and enjoy the water that maybe you otherwise wouldn’t. And state parks are just great places for access, whether you’re bringing your own and unloading it there, or you’re renting it from one of our friendly and professional park staff. We encourage people to check out the paddling trails that are available; it’s just a great trip. You even can do a picnic – paddle out to some island out on the lake; it’s just a really unique way to see the water and enjoy the water –provides also a different slant on access for fishing. Whatever you’re on the water for, canoeing and kayaking and pedal boats are a different way to see it and enjoy it.

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.

Public Hunting

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This is Passport to Texas

Dove season is underway in the north and Central parts of the state, and if you’re looking for a place to hunt, Texas Parks and Wildlife TV series producer Don Cash says the PBS series can help.

55—One of the segments on the PBS show in September is about finding a place to hunt.

This story airs the week of September 9th through 15th on the PBS stations in Texas. This segment is on our YouTube channel, in case you want to watch it there.

Thanks, Don.

The Wildlife and sport fish restoration program supports our series and celebrates 75 years of funding diverse conservation projects throughout Texas…

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

Asleep at the Wheel

State Parks: Bison Days Celebrations Play Now | Play in Popup | Download

Eighty Bison roam freely at Caprock Canyons State Park.

04—We are home to the official bison herd of the state of Texas.

Park Superintendent Donald Beard says the animals are direct descendents of the southern plains bison. Through ongoing restoration efforts the herd is healthy and expanding. To acknowledge this success, and to raise awareness and funds for continued restoration efforts, the park hosts Bison Celebration Days this month.

25—September 14th, 15th and 16th is going to be our bison celebration days. Friday, the 14th will be for school kids. Saturday morning we’re going to have some events going on: car shows, food vendors and craft vendors. And the living history as well. Sunday morning the vendors will be back out, and then Sunday afternoon at 2 p.m. the concert with Asleep at the Wheel starts.

It’s fitting to showcase Western Swing band Asleep at the Wheel during the celebration, as the King of Western Swing, Bob Wills, grew up nearby.

Tickets for the concert are $20 in advance and $25 at the gate.

09—You can call here, and we’ll actually take your credit card information and run it through. And we’ll actually take your credit card information and run it through. And then we’ll either mail the tickets to you or set ‘em up on “will call” so they’ll be ready and waiting when you get here.

There’s more information about the Bison Days Celebration, September 14th through 16th at Caprock Canyons State Park at texasstateparks.org/bison.

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

Palo Pinto Loop

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Folks living in the Fort Worth area have something to look forward to: Palo Pinto Mountains State Park. Our state park guide, Bryan Frazier, has details.

51—We’re so excited to be able to talk about Palo Pinto Mountains State Park. It’s just outside the little town of Strawn, and it’s about an hour’s drive from the Fort Worth Metroplex. It’s that beautiful north Texas Hill Country, which is actually part of an ancient mountain range – the Palo Pinto Mountains. So, this is 33-hundred acres that’s going to be developed, and we’ve already hired one park employee there. The master planning has begun. We’re going to take a real hard look at how we can develop this efficiently to utilize what’s there. There’s a 90 acre lake there, there’s pecan bottoms, and just this beautiful ecosystem that’s primed and ready for park development. And the future of this park will depend on what funds are available that are able to be put toward park development. But the planning is underway; so, stay tuned for future updates for that park.

Learn about all Texas State parks at www.texasstateparks.org.

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.

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