August 2nd, 2010
This is Passport to Texas
It’s been called the Grand Canyon of Texas, and for good reason. Palo Duro Canyon, located in the Texas Panhandle, never disappoints visitors with its majestic beauty and recreational opportunities.
This month you’ll get a close-up look at this magnificent natural wonder on the Texas Parks and Wildlife Television series. Producer, Ron Kabele says Palo Duro is a revelation to first time visitors.
Once you go in there you can see why. Everything is flat all around it, and then suddenly you come across this huge canyon.
If you’ve ever driven across the Texas Panhandle, it’s like basically driving on the world’s largest billiards table; and then we get to Palo Duro Canyon, and the bottom just drops out of it.
It’s a very strange sight, because it almost looks like there’s mountains.
All these things behind me, are not mountains, they’re the edge of the rim of the canyon. We’re 800 feet below the level of the ground.
When you come into the park all you see is grassland farmland, and they just can’t believe that this is here. And when you start down to the bottom of it, it’s just awesome. I can hear, Oh my, look at that. The show airs on PBS outlets throughout the state.
Find a PBS station near you that airs the television series on the Texas Parks and Wildlife website.
That’s our show…For Texas Parks and Wildlife…I’m Cecilia Nasti.
Posted in State Parks, TPWD TV | Comments Off on TPW TV–Palo Duro Canyon
July 30th, 2010
This is Passport to Texas
When Walt Dabney became Director of Texas State Parks, most parks, and their equipment, were in sad shape.
07—That’s much better now. We’re not where we need to be, but we are moving along in a very positive fashion right now.
After 11 years of hard work with a talented and dedicated staff at Parks and Wildlife, Dabney is retiring, and insists the Texas Park system will be fine without him.
24—And I absolutely expect this to be the case: that it makes no difference when I leave. To the extent that isn’t the case, then I really didn’t succeed. Because any organization that’s dependent on a given personality isn’t going to be a successful organization. And so, I feel absolutely great that if I go out of here that there are people who can step in and probably take it to a higher level even than it is now.
Dabney has worked in the national and in state park systems for 42 years, and until his last day on August 31, he will continue to make Texas State Parks the best they can be…and finally even spend time enjoying them.
24—Somebody the other day said you’ve got the best job in the world, you spend all your time in parks. And I looked like them like I thought they were kidding. I don’t spend almost any time in parks. And when I do it’s to help them with a problem or something like that. I love to mountain bike, I love to fish and hunt, and I wouldn’t even mind swinging a golf club every once in awhile. I’ve got some park related projects that I want to do. You can’t do that by being in the office all day long.
We hope you enjoy your retirement, Walt, and we hope to see you in Texas state parks soon.
01—Oh, you will.
For Texas Parks and Wildlife…I’m Cecilia Nasti.
Posted in State Parks | Comments Off on Dabney Says: State Parks Will Thrive
July 29th, 2010
This is Passport to Texas
11—My colleague who was the director at Utah state parks, when he heard I was taking this job said: do you have any clue what you’re getting into. And in retrospect I didn’t.
Good thing, too, because if Walt Dabney had known the condition in which he’d find Texas state parks 11 Years ago, he might have passed on the director’s job.
14—The people were incredible, but the conditions of the park system was absolutely applauding. We didn’t have any money; we were very understaffed in many places. Many of our facilities were in very bad shape.
Dabney hit the ground running and never looked back.
18—We got to work. And when I say ‘we,’ this isn’t a Walt deal. This is all of us pulling together, really working hard. And then about five years ago, the legislature did start to understand that their park system was in deep trouble. And since that time we really have started turning it around.
With an infusion of funding from the legislature, equipment, facilities, staffing, interpretive programs, and park law enforcement improved.
14—We’ve gotten repair funds, we’re making great progress there. We’ve added program support where we have the professional capability in-house now to support the things you need to do to run a great park system.
After more than a decade at the helm of Texas State Parks, and more than 40 years in the state park business, Walt Dabney is retiring. That’s tomorrow.
For Texas Parks and Wildlife…I’m Cecilia Nasti.
Posted in State Parks | Comments Off on Walt Dabney’s Life in Parks
July 28th, 2010
This is Passport to Texas
The average age of Texas hunters is mid-forties. As these hunters decrease their time in the field, some increase their time in the classroom.
06—Some become [hunter education] instructors, and really want to give back to something they’ve enjoyed all throughout their lives.
Terry Erwin oversees the hunter education program at Texas Parks and Wildlife, where there’s a growing need for instructors with special skills.
13—Parks and Wildlife has a lot of constituents who are bilingual, and who just speak Spanish. We are looking for bilingual instructors that are able to teach the hunter education program in Spanish and English.
The Hispanic population in Texas is growing, and Parks and Wildlife wants to ensure this group has access to hunter education, and a great outdoor experience.
11—We certainly could use those instructors to help us reach those constituents that we normally wouldn’t be able to reach. And, we do want to offer them [Spanish speaking constituents] an opportunity to get out in the outdoors and enjoy it.
We have information on becoming a volunteer Hunter Education instructor at passporttotexas.org.
We record our series at the Production Block Studios in Austin.
The Sport Fish and Wildlife Restoration Program supports our show…and is funded by your purchase of fishing and hunting equipment and motor boat fuel.
For Texas Parks and Wildlife…I’m Cecilia Nasti.
Posted in Education, Hunting | Comments Off on ¿Habla usted español–Help Train Hunters
July 27th, 2010
This is Passport to Texas
Learn what happens when a couple of middle-aged men challenge themselves to experience Big Bend Ranch State park on foot, bike, raft and horseback. It’s in the August issue of Texas Parks and Wildlife magazine; Editor, Louie Bond.
Last August we had a great adventure, and it was so much fun that we decided to repeat it again this year. So we’ve sent two of the state’s top talents—photographer Laurence Parent and writer Joe Nick Patoski off on another great adventure.
Last year they walked the spine of the Franklin Mountains in one day, which was quite grueling, and a great armchair adventure for all of us. This year, they’ve taken on Big Bend Ranch State Park, the largest state park in the state, and probably the most rugged.
So, they’ve taken on Big Bend Ranch State Park by hiking, by mountain biking, by raft, and much against their will, on horseback. And, over the course of a few days, they logged, 13 miles on bicycles, 6 miles hiking, 5 miles on horseback, and 8 miles paddled on a very still river.
It’s a great read, and a lot of fun, and I think our readers will enjoy it.
The August issue of Texas Parks and Wildlife magazine is on newsstands now. Or you can subscribe. Find out how at passporttotexas.org.
For Texas Parks and Wildlife…I’m Cecilia Nasti.
Posted in TPW Mag | Comments Off on TPW Magazine August Preview
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