TEXAS OUTDOOR FAMILY, 2: Expansive growth means 
rethinking the Texas Outdoor Family Program ... ahead on 
Passport to Texas ... 

This is Passport to Texas

Being popular is a good problem to have for the Texas 
Outdoor Families program. It means lots of people want 
to learn how to engage the outdoors. To accommodate as 
many families as possible, program director, Robert Owen 
says TOF is recruiting and training nonprofit community 
partners to facilitate the weekend campouts.

13 -- We're setting up these partners to run an event with some 
ranger guidance in the beginning, and then turning them loose 
after we feel confident in their abilities to have a safe, low, 
impact and fun time in a state park.

After a successful 3-year pilot program in Houston, Owen 
says they're expanding to DFW, Austin and San Antonio.

14 -- We're looking to grow by quite a few partners. In order for 
folks to get on board, would encourage them to give me a call 
to talk over the program and the opportunities and just hear 
where this organization is coming from -- to see how our goals 
overlap.

Owens says the program needs at least 10 nonprofit 
community partners in each region.

24 -- We hope that organizations see the return in time spent 
outside. Some recent research has suggested that youth benefit 
from time spent outside through unstructured play, but also 
through the opportunity to make their own decisions and find 
themselves in a challenging environment. And camping does 
provide that. It's very much a growth experience.

Find Robert Owen's contact information and details about 
the program at texasstateparks.org/tof

For Texas Parks and Wildlife ... I'm Cecilia Nasti.






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