Passport to Texas

Vote on Your Favorite Conservation Plate Design

 Conservation: New Conservation License Plate: Play Now | Play in Popup | Download

Twelve years ago a bluebonnet showed up on a conservation license plate; money raised from the sale of these plates support state parks.

04— The bluebonnet plate has been wildly successful for us, and it’s something we’re going to continue.

Thomas Wilhelm, with State Parks, says 22-dollars of the 30-dollar cost of the plates go back to parks. Since two plates to support state parks are better than one, a new conservation plate is in the works.

13— Well, right now we have three designs that we’re looking at: one is a campfire scene, one is a nighttime tent scene, and then one is a hiking scene.

The new plate is intended to appeal to people who may like to support parks with images related to camping or hiking.

09— The goal was: how can we bring new people in that may want to support state parks, but may not be comfortable putting a wildflower on their 3/4 ton pickup truck.

You can go online and vote for your favorite.

11— Voting is running from now through August 31st. Go to conservationplate.org, or just visit the TPWD website and we’ll have links to a place where they can place their vote.

The winning design will become the new conservation license plate.

10— We’re hoping to have the plates available for purchase starting Spring of 2014. They’ll be available to purchase either online, or at the local DMV when they register their vehicles.

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

A Milestone in Texas Parks and Wildlife’s History: Bighorn Sheep Restoration

 50 Years and 50 Milestones: Play Now | Play in Popup | Download

Looking for an informative summer read? Mike Cox, discusses an article that details Texas Parks and Wildlife’s fifty most significant milestones for the July issue of TPW magazine.

04 – I think we could have done probably 25 more, maybe a hundred more.

Cox, a TPW spokesman, says milestones range from creation of the department in 1963… to the Connally Bonds that allowed the purchase of land for parks… to desert bighorn sheep restoration… to creation of the great coastal birding trail… to the Lone Star Land Stewards Awards Program and more.

16 – The department has really done a lot of good things, and I think everyone is looking forward to what the department can do in the next half century for the people of Texas.

And what might the next fifty years bring?

18 – Hopefully we’ll have a big impact on water… not only quality, but the availability of water… especially as we’re in the middle of a horrible drought. I think that’s something that we’ll look back on 50 years from now and say: ‘Whew – it’s a good thing that agencies like Texas Parks and Wildlife were involved in programs like that to help try to turn things around.’

The July issue of Texas Parks and Wildlife magazine with Mix Cox article on TPW’s 50 Milestones is on newsstands now.

Support provided by Ram Trucks. Doing what’s right and good regardless of the degree of difficulty — takes guts. Those are the people who build Ram trucks. RAM.

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

Vintage image of kids fishing in State Park

 50 Year Anniversary of Texas parks and Wildlife: Play Now | Play in Popup | Download

A legislative act in 1963 merged the Texas State Parks Board and the Texas Game and Fish Commission, creating a new agency…

03 — …called Texas Parks and Wildlife; and now we’re fifty years old.

Mike Cox is a spokesman for the department. We’re observing TPW’s fifty year anniversary throughout 2013, highlighting milestones from the past five decades.

16- A personal favorite of mine is the stocking of rainbow trout in Texas. They’re not native to the state, but they’re pretty tasty and they’re fun to catch. And so, starting in 1965, shortly after the merger, the department started stocking rainbow trout in urban areas, and of course in the Guadalupe River.

Trout stocking, the legislature’s ruling that made redfish and sea trout game fish, as well as giving game wardens full law enforcement authority are a few of the agency’s tangible achievements. There are intangibles, too.

23- The department is always working to improve the environment. The game wardens enforce the anti-pollution laws – that often doesn’t get a lot of publicity – but they’re working toward keeping our water safer and cleaner. We do work to encourage people to practice water conservation; if somebody hears our message that it’s better to rip out your St. Augustine and put in rocks, that saves the whole system.

Mike Cox says while those efforts transpire with little fanfare, they have a long-lasting impact on the well-being of every citizen of the state.

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

State Park Volunteer patch

 State Parks: Become a Volunteer: Play Now | Play in Popup | Download

Maximize your time outdoors when you volunteer at a Texas State Park.

03—We basically have three different categories of volunteers.

These categories include locals who sign up for special projects, friends groups that fundraise for specific sites and—says Lori Reiley—the third category is park hosts.

13—And that is a program designed for—traditionally—retirees who travel around the state and in exchange for a campsite, they do twenty-five hours of labor in the park every week.

Reiley coordinates the state park volunteer program, and says people accepted as hosts, are required to make a time commitment.

12—The time frame is a minimum thirty-day commitment. And, the maximum is typically three months, but it can be extended depending on the park needs. The superintendent has the authority to extend that.

Most Texas State Parks offer host programs with plenty of work to help fill the twenty-five hour labor obligation.

17—We have everything from general grounds maintenance, or it could be cleaning the restrooms. What we really like is when we find people with special skills: carpentry, or graphic artists, or educators doing interpretive tours or education programs. So, it’s a variety.

Find more information on the Texas Parks and Wildlife Website.

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

Garner State Park overlook.

 Recreation: Take Dad Outside for Father's Day: Play Now | Play in Popup | Download

Few people on our gift giving lists are harder to buy for than our fathers. Most men don’t want friends and family to make a big fuss over them on special days – but we’re going to do it anyway.

And on Father’s Day – June 16 — you can show Dad what he means to you by giving him the gift of the great Texas outdoors.

So how do you do that? You could buy him a Texas State Parks Pass (which is really like a gift for the whole family); it allows Dad unlimited access to all state parks for a year, discounts on camping, as well as discounts at state parks stores.

You could take Dad on a picnic at a state park or natural area. We have suggestions for creating a memorable picnicking experience – including recipes to try out — at texasstateparks.org/picnic.

If your dad likes to get out on his own for some quiet time with nature – because let’s face it, you can be a handful — and doesn’t already have a limited use permit from Parks and Wildlife, getting him one gives him access to a million acres of public land in Texas, where he can hike, mountain bike, watch wildlife, fish, and in some cases do a little primitive camping.

Texas is a big state that offers a wide range of recreational opportunities. Doesn’t your dad deserve Texas? After all: Because Life’s Better Outside.

Support for our series is provided by Ram Trucks; doing what’s right and good regardless of the degree of difficulty — takes guts. Those are the people who build Ram trucks. RAM.

For Texas Parks and Wildlife…I’m Cecilia Nasti