TPWD TV - PARKS VOLUNTEERS: Meet people who relax by volunteering at state parks ... on Passport to Texas ... ____________________________________________________________ Passport to Texas from Texas Parks and Wildlife A Day at Pedernales is a segment airing this week on the Texas Parks and Wildlife television series. Writer / producer, Ron Kabele: "And it's about the volunteers at Pedernales State Park. And what I learned about it is how much the parks depend on their volunteers. At any one time, there are twelve volunteers working within the park." These volunteers - who include Sherry and Vern Metzger - annually contribute a combined fifteen thousand hours of work to the park. "[Sherry]This is the real exciting part of the day; someone's gotta do it. *sound of flushing toilet* [Vern] This is the job I would rather have here than any other jobs, because when we're done for the day, we're done for the day. [Sherry] Once I get this job over with, I'm gonna go and enjoy those hiking trails." The park has a small staff, so volunteers supply much needed manpower to keep it running. Ron Kabele. "And, with out them, the park wouldn't be nearly as nice a place to go to. And, especially in tough economic times, these are the people who make all the difference in the world. They make the parks nice places." The Texas Parks and Wildlife Television series airs on PBS stations ... check your local listings. That's our show for today ... For Texas Parks and Wildlife ... I'm Cecilia Nasti.