Passport to Texas

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

It’s summer camp season. But instead of sending the kids off to make potholders and Popsicle stick picture frames, send them to fish camp in East Texas where they’ll learn a lifelong skill.
Fish Camp is a four day camp and it will be in the mornings only from nine to one PM. It’s a camp where the kids can learn about fish, fishing, and water in general. They’ll not only learn the basics, but a few extra techniques and things about the tackle and bait, and different kinds of things to use for different kinds of fish.

ZoeAnn Stinchcomb is with the Texas Freshwater Fisheries Center in Athens, the site of the camp.

We really want to get the kids outside and doing things outdoors, because a lot of kids nowadays don’t go outdoors as much as we want them to. Families have kids that are out of school. You can have a little more extra time to spend, and what better time to experience the Texas outdoors.

Fish camp is for kids 9 to 15 years old, and fifty dollars per child. The deadline to register is Friday, June 22.

It’s a fun thing to do and plus we’ll be getting wet, and that’s always a good thing to do during the summer I think.

Fish Camp is July 3rd through 6th at Texas Freshwater Fisheries Center in Athens.

Visit passporttotexas.org to find out how to register.

That’s our show for today…with research and writing help from Loren Seeger…For Texas Parks and Wildlife…I’m Cecilia Nasti

July 3–6, 2007 — Texas Freshwater Fisheries Center — Camp Fish — Boys and girls ages 9-15 can learn fishing techniques and skills and practice them in our stocked casting pond. They will also study aquatic ecology and learn how important water quality is to fish and people. Call for times; fee $50 per person includes daily admission and all equipment; preregistration required, deadline June 22, 2007. To register, e-mail terry.bedford@tpwd.state.tx.us or call (903) 670-2211. (903) 676-BASS.

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

The 12th annual Lone Star Land Steward Awards were handed out last month in Austin to private landowners for the innovative ways in which each manages land for habitat and wildlife.

The highest honor, the Leopold Conservation Award, was presented, in partnership with the Sand County Foundation, to a north Texas couple.

We are pleased to award it this year to 77 Ranch in Navarro County. Gary and Sue price are the owner operators. They’ve done tremendous work in restoring Blackland Prairie, grassland prairie, over many years, and are very deserving of the highest recognition.

Linda Campbell is program director for private lands and public hunting.

They have been working at this for about thirty years. They’ve taken a lot of old, worn out cotton farms; they have reintroduced native grasses… He’s a leader in the community, Mr. Price. And they are true land stewards to the absolute definition of the term. They’ve done a tremendous amount of work on their own place, and have had a lot of influence, I think, on many other landowners as well. :22

The Leopold Conservation Award comes with a $10,000 prize and the Leopold crystal award.

That’s our show for today… with support from the Wildlife Restoration Program… providing funding for the Private Lands and Public Hunting Program.

For Texas Parks and Wildlife…I’m Cecilia Nasti

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

In a state where more than ninety percent of the land is privately owned or managed, it’s essential to recognize and honor the work of private landowners for their achievements in habitat management and wildlife conservation. In Texas we present them with Lone Star Land Steward Awards.

We recognize up to ten winners in each of the eco-regions.

Linda Campbell is program director for private lands and public hunting.

We also recognize a corporate winner, one from our wildlife management associations, and this year we’re recognizing a special category for conservation development.

In partnership with the Sand County Foundation, http://www.sandcounty.net/, Texas Parks and Wildlife bestows the Leopold Conservation Award to an especially deserving land steward.

And, so we have partnered with them to provide the Leopold Conservation Award in Texas to our overall statewide winner. The Leopold Conservation Award is really our highest recognition in Lone Star Land Steward.

Eco-region award recipients and the wildlife management association recipient receive $1,000 from the Foundation; while the Leopold Conservation Award recipient receives $10,000 and the Leopold crystal award.

That’s our show for today… with support from the Wildlife Restoration Program… providing funding for the Private Lands and Public Hunting Program.

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 Restoration Program

Susan Schulte of Manchaca, Texas, grew up on a farm, and spent nearly every waking moment outdoors. When she had daughters of her own, Susan introduced them to the wonders of nature, and does the same for their children.

With my grandchildren, we love to go fishing.

Fishing is a simple and thrilling way to experience the outdoors.

They get so excited when they catch a little fish. And it may just be a little four-inch fish. But to them it’s a monster, you know.

Schulte says first-hand knowledge is priceless.

They realize the sliminess of the worms…and the wind…the waves….the water….they experience that first-hand and that makes an impact on them, as opposed to sitting quietly and passively in front of a screen.

And fishing is just the beginning. If you’re a grandparent, spending time in nature with your grandkids not only impacts their lives, but the lives of generations to come.

Because they’re involved, and it’s outdoors. I just see such a hope for our future, you know? They’re learning. They’re learning something that they will never be able to learn in an enclosed building.

All you have to do it step outside.

That’s our show for today…with support from the Sport Fish Restoration Program…funded by your purchase of fishing equipment and motorboat fuel.

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 Restoration Program

Father’s Day is Sunday, June 17…this year gather the kids and celebrate outside. Ernie Gammage, with Urban Outdoor Programs, shares a favorite memory of time spent with his father.

One of the things that I remember from my childhood is having the opportunity to fish with my dad. And it’s just such a quiet, special time. I mean, I can still visually see everything that we did back then.

Several state parks will host free family fishing events during Father’s Day weekend.

You know, if I had the chance to go to a movie or go to a theme park with my dad on Father’s Day, I believe I would choose going outside because you never know what’s going to happen outside. It’s the wide open spaces, and a lot of the distractions of the work-day world, family obligations, and so forth are put aside and it’s just you and somebody that you love, somebody that you respect.

While there may be a generation gap between parents and children, nature brings everyone together.

I think spending time outdoors with your son or your daughter, or whoever it is, is an opportunity, especially for fathers that already spend time in the outdoors, to pass on some of the things they love and value to their kids. You know, it’s one thing to talk about how to run a computer, and video game, and stuff, but sometimes there’s just no connection. The outdoors tends to be the great equalizer, I think, in that regard.

Visit passporttotexas.org for a link to free fishing events.

That’s our show for today…with support from the Sport Fish Restoration Program…funded by your purchase of fishing and hunting equipment and motorboat fuels. For Texas Parks and Wildlife…I’m Cecilia Nasti.

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