Passport to Texas

Passport to Texas from Texas Parks and Wildlife

In the fall of 2002, Krista Allen was a novice to the outdoors.

I was definitely a girly girl and my entire life, I was always looking for a sport and really never found anything that I enjoyed or really stuck too.

A friend at work told Allen about the Becoming an Outdoors Woman workshops offered by Texas Parks and Wildlife; she signed up with the intention to learn how to backpack.

I took a backpacking class, outdoor survival, land navigation – which was compass and map, and camping and I came away feeling so empowered. And I knew I had a really good, solid knowledge base to work from.

Her first workshop sparked Krista’s interest in the outdoors. Since then she’s taken the skills she learned and has turned them into a passion for the outdoors.

Once you start getting into the outdoors and noticing your surroundings, there’s just all sorts of things that may touch off your curiosity.

Allen also wanted to give back.

Government Canyon [in San Antonio] is one the biggest local parks and I wanted to become familiar with that. And as it opened up I volunteered to be on the trail patrol.

To find out more information about the Becoming an Outdoors Woman workshops, visit passporttotexas.org

That’s our show…with research and writing help from Kate Lipinski… For Texas Parks and Wildlife…I’m Cecilia Nasti.

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Passport to Texas from Texas Parks and Wildlife and the Sport Fish and Wildlife Restoration Program

The outdoors can be an intimidating place to learn new skills, especially for women. Texas Parks and Wildlife is trying to change that by offering skills workshops specifically for women.

Ashley Mathews, coordinator of the Becoming an Outdoors Woman workshops, explains the importance of women having experiences outdoors.

It’s important on a number of levels for women to connect with the outdoors either through a solely environmental reason or through outdoor recreation. On a personal level, it’s very rejuvenating to our spirits. Additionally, we tend to be rearing the next generation of individuals who are going to care for our earth and care for our resources and find some value in them. So we have to help those younger children find value and find entertainment and find memories, so they have an appreciation for Texas.

Mathews says women gain more than camping skills at workshops.

It’s a huge self-esteem boost, self-confidence boost. We hear over and over again, I’ve had women tell me I applied for a job that I never thought I could get because I did this Becoming an Outdoors Woman activity and I could do it and so I thought, well I can do these other things too.

Visit passporttotexas.org for more information on the Becoming and Outdoors Woman program.

That’s our show…with research and writing help from Kate Lipinski.. we receive support from the Sport Fish and Wildlife Restoration Program… funded by your purchase of fishing and hunting equipment and motor boat fuels.

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

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Passport to Texas from Texas Parks and Wildlife

If you’re fit, flexible and like crawling around on your hands and knees – make reservations to go on the Wild Cave Tour at Longhorn Cavern State Park.

This is billed as an adventure tour. And, it’s about one and half to two hours in length. And it’s a crawling tour, or what people refer to as a flashlight tour.

Kaye Barlow, Operations Manager at the site, says this tour is physically demanding.

That means it is not recommended for anyone who is physically out of shape, or who is very large. We’ve had people of size that have gone through with no problem, but they’re in good shape.

If you’re strong, flexible and able to crawl extended distances without pain, discomfort, or frequent stopping, you may enjoy this tour. The cavern is nine miles southwest of Burnet in the Hill Country; wild cave participants access parts of the cavern that are not seen on any other tour.

There are small passageways, and getting dirty is definitely part of this tour. It’s not recommended for every guest. Equipment is required, like hard hats, elbow and knee pads, and flashlight. You can bring your own or rent for us. Generally it’s on Saturdays, but we also take reservations at other times during the week, providing you have six people that want to go. And then, we can get a tour guide.

The cost of the tour is $35; $50, if you rent equipment from the park. Find registration information at passporttotexas.org.

That’s our show for today… For Texas Parks and Wildlife…I’m Cecilia Nasti.
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September 2007 — Longhorn Cavern SP — Wild Cave Tour — Explore the caverns the way the early spelunkers did. Our experienced guide will take you to primitive parts of the cave not seen on the regular walking tour. You will crawl, climb and scoot through tight spaces. Special equipment, hardhat (required), flashlight, elbow and knee pads, are highly recommended for this tour. Bring your own or rent from us for $15 for the whole package. 9:30-11:30 a.m.; fee $35 per person; reservations required (877) 441-2283 or (512) 756-4680

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Passport to Texas from Texas Parks and Wildlife

Nature, awe-inspiring for its beauty and power, keeps some of its most impressive work hidden from sight.

Nine miles southwest of Burnet, in the Texas Hill Country, the magnificent subterranean world of Longhorn Cavern provides a stunning still-life of stalactites and stalagmites, calcite channels, sparkling crystals and rock “draperies” frozen in motion.

The cavern, now a State Park, began life millions of years ago as a thick layer of limestone, worn away by water – first as seepage, and then as a roaring underground river.

A constant temperature of sixty-eight degrees and a layer of flint for tools, made the space attractive as shelter for the Comanche people who inhabited the area hundreds of years ago. One of the cave’s chambers is fittingly named “Indian Council Room.”

The Confederate Army discovered the cavern in the 1860s, and used it to manufacture gunpowder in secret during the Civil War. And, fascinating still, is the rumor legendary outlaw, Sam Bass, used it as an underground hideout.

Discover the geology and the history of Longhorn Cavern State Park. Find more information at passporttotexas.org.

Tomorrow: Your chance to take part in a Wild Cave Tour.

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

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