Passport to Texas

This is Passport to Texas

Coastal game wardens and white bass fishing: two segments you’ll find in June on the Texas Parks and Wildlife PBS TV series. Series Producer, Don Cash.

One of the stories we follow in June on our television show is about game wardens, and what they do for a living. Since most of Texas is inland, a lot of people probably don’t realize we have game wardens along the coast, and they have a completely different job than game wardens, say, maybe in the Panhandle.

The television show goes all over the state, and I hope you get a chance to catch it.

Thanks, Don.

The Sport Fish and Wildlife restoration program supports our series…For Texas Parks and Wildlife…I’m Cecilia Nasti.

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This is Passport to Texas

Summer’s filled with festivals and events; consider attending those that include The Life’s Better Outside Experience: a streamlined, mobile version of Texas Parks and Wildlife Expo.

05—We’re taking a small version of Expo on the road, and going to other parts of the state.

Trey Hamlett is Outreach Events Coordinator for Parks and Wildlife. He says The Life’s Better Outside Experience offers abundant outdoor recreational opportunities that serve as the first steps toward becoming lifelong outdoor enthusiasts.

20—Archery and fishing, hunting and camping—these are things you can do your whole life. And we want to get unengaged urban Texans involved in outdoor recreation. Because if you’re not involved in outdoor recreation, you’re probably not involved in conservation. So, if we can get you to use the outdoors, you come to care about it, and eventually care for it.

There’s an opportunity to try the Life Better Outside Experience June fifth and sixth:

16—That’s in Longview, Texas, at AlleyFest. It’s a fine arts festival that has concerts at night, but is very busy during the day. It’s a family event; we’ll be on the south side of the courthouse the entire block, and it’s going to be a neat deal. You name it; if we do it outside, it’s going to be there.

Find more information about the Life’s Better Outside Experience at AlleyFest in Longview, June 5 & 6, on the Texas Parks and Wildlife website.

That’s our show… For Texas Parks and Wildlife…I’m Cecilia Nasti.

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This is Passport to Texas

The economic bust of 2008 sidelined Texas Parks and Wildlife Expo, but not its outreach mission: to connect unengaged Texans—especially urban Texans—with the outdoors.

15—We needed to continue our outreach effort. And this was an opportunity to get outside of Central Texas. The only gripe against Expo ever was—it was only in Central Texas. And we’re taking a small version of Expo on the road.

Trey Hamlett is Outreach Events Coordinator for Parks and Wildlife. They’ve named this movable mini-expo, the Life’s Better Outside Experience.

16—We have a shooting sport at each one of these events that’s typically archery. Rock climbing, fishing activities, we do a wildlife CSI, which is critter scene investigation. Outdoor family is involved. The events take on the flavor of the region of the state they’re in.

The Life’s Better Outside Experience partners with established events statewide.

25—We’ve got a fairly strict criteria; they have to be family events; it can’t be a first-time even;, it has to have a history where they can give us information on attendance, demographics, that sort of thing. They also have to have an attendance of at least 5,000 visitors a day so we get the most bang for our buck and the opportunity to talk to a lot of Texans. And then geographic importance, and where it fits into our schedule as well.

There’s more information on the Life’s Better Outside Experience on the Texas parks and Wildlife Website.

That’s our show… For Texas Parks and Wildlife…I’m Cecilia Nasti.

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This is Passport to Texas

June 5th is National Trails Day—a nationwide event organized by the American Hiking Society to create awareness about the variety of trails across the country. Texas will observe the day with several events.

Head to Seminole Canyon SP and Historic Site in West Texas, where you can participate in a two-mile round trip guided hike that’s an hour and a half long. You’ll even see some of Texas’ oldest known pictographs. The hike is moderately strenuous; remember your sunscreen and bottled water.

Speaking of water…The San Antonio River Authority hosts the Goliad Paddling Trail Flotilla from 9 am to 2 pm, June 5th. The put in is at the US 59 crossing at the San Antonio River; and the take out is at Goliad State Park. You’ll need your own canoe and kayak, and preregistration is required for this 6.6 mile trip. Register at riverrec.org.

Registration is not required for the San Marcos Greenbelt National Trails Day event, a three-mile photography hike. San Marcos, located between Austin and San Antonio, has some truly stunning natural areas! Professional photographers will be along for the hike to provide you and fellow shutterbugs pointers on shooting breath-taking photos. Dress for the weather, wear appropriate footwear, and remember, it’s a photography hike, so bring your camera! Go to smgreenbelt.org for directions.

Even if you don’t participate in one of these events, there’s a state park near you where you can stretch your legs and appreciate the great Texas outdoors.

That’s our show… For Texas Parks and Wildlife…I’m Cecilia Nasti.

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This is Passport to Texas

Experience the thrill of reeling in a fish, or the joy of boating with family and friends during National Fishing & Boating Week.

05—It’s June 5th through the 13th, and we’re encouraging people to get out on the water.

Frank Peterson is president and CEO of the Recreational Boating and Fishing Foundation, a non-profit organization whose mission is to increase participation in fishing and boating.

07—By helping increase that participation, [we] build awareness for the need to conserve and protect our aquatic resources.

The way anglers and boaters help protect aquatic resources is by doing what they love to do.

13—By using the resource and buying equipment and buying licenses, putting fuel in their boat, registering their boat… there is excise taxes paid on that equipment that goes directly toward sport fish restoration.

Peterson says National Fishing and Boating Week kicks off in Texas and across the country on June 5th…and in Texas you can always fish free at State Parks.

13—A lot of states are starting to do that now, and we encourage that. Because the more people we can get fishing at a younger age, the more they’ll fish as an adult. And through participation they’re helping conserve that resource, and that’s very important so that resource is there for the future.

Go to www.takemefishing.org for more information.

The Sport Fish and Wildlife Restoration Program supports our series. For Texas parks and Wildlife…I’m Cecilia Nasti.

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