Passport to Texas

 Visiting Parks to Save Them: Play Now | Play in Popup | Download

Drought, heat and wildfires of the summer dried up water, killed vegetation and kept visitation and revenue to a minimum…which is why we need your help. Our State park guide Bryan Frazier has details.

60—The record heat wave that we had—and the drought and the wildfires combined—so that we saw for the first time in a long time a drop in visitation and corresponding revenue toward the end of the summer that’s carried over into the fall and into the months where we are now, and it’s made for a 4.6 million dollar gap in our existing budget. And what we’re wanting people to know is that there are ways they can help…and that they can go online on our website any time and make a donation. They can also as of now, donate five dollars or more when they register their vehicle with the DMV and their county tax office. But the most important way that people can help is to simply go out and visit their state parks as much as they can. The fees that we collect amount to more than half of our operating dollars ion state parks. And, when people pay the entrance fees, when people pay their camping fees, or their cabin rental fees, or even when they buy a t-short in the state park store as a souvenir—they’re helping support their parks when they’re out there visiting them.

Go to texasstateparks.org/helpnow to donate.

That’s our show for today…with funding provided by Chevrolet, supporting outdoor recreation in Texas; because there’s life to be done.

For Texas Parks and Wildlife I’m Cecilia Nasti.

 State Parks: Help Now: Play Now | Play in Popup | Download

Record drought, heat, wildfires and a drop in visitation and revenue have led to a critical situation for your state parks. Texas Parks and Wildlife Executive Director Carter Smith is reaching out to Texans to help save these natural treasures.

:10—We depend upon our state park visitors to help keep our state parks open so that all Texans can use and enjoy them. But, if we’re going to do that, we’ve got to raise $4.6 million dollars, and we need to do it very quickly if we’re going to keep these special places open for all Texans to enjoy.

There are three simple ways Texans can help to keep your parks open.

:18—You can go to our website and make a tax deductible contribution to help support your state parks. Coming January when you go to renew your vehicle registration, you’re going to be given an opportunity to make a $5 or more contribution to support your state parks. And also, most importantly, take your family out and go visit one of your state parks and do it as often as you can.

Smith adds that unlike some other states, Texas depends on visitor fees to fund park operations.

12—So by the simple act of all of us going out and visiting a state park you’re helping to keep your parks well stewarded and well cared for. So go out and have fun and take your family out and enjoy your state parks. It will help all of them.

Go to texasstateparks.org/helpnow to find out how you can help save your state parks. That’s texasstateparks.org/helpnow. Thank you.

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

 Resolve to Have Outdoor Adventures!: Play Now | Play in Popup | Download

This is Passport to Texas

Don’t you love the start of a New Year? It‘s totally fresh and filled with possibilities. So, take a few minutes to consider how you’re going to make this year better for you and your family.

One way would be to get outside more, because—as we like to say: life’s better outside.

Spending time in the natural world has a way of resetting the brain and giving you a fresh perspective. Researchers have discovered that children who spend time in nature do better on exams, and are less disruptive in the classroom.

Bring a pair of walking shoes to the office, and during your lunch hour, stroll outdoors in the fresh air. Even if you’re in a city, you can still observe the varied wildlife and plant life you see along the way. It’s amazing how much nature you can actually find in a concrete jungle.

Spend time with friends or family at one of your state parks. Most folks are within 90 minutes of a state park; many are much closer. Take a nature hike, ride a bike. Pitch a tent and sleep under the stars, or find a park with cabins and rough it indoors.

Commit to learning something new about Texas history by visiting one of the state’s incredible historic sites.

There’s a world of wonder out there, and once you spend more time outdoors, you’ll wonder why you didn’t do it sooner.

That’s our show… from all of us at Passport to Texas, we wish you a New Year filled with outdoor adventure…For Texas Parks and Wildlife…I’m Cecilia Nasti

 State Parks and Vehicle Registration: Play Now | Play in Popup | Download

This is Passport to Texas

You’ll have a chance beginning with the New Year to help support state parks when you register your vehicle at the DMV. Bryan Frazier explains.

60—Starting January first, people can donate five dollars or more to benefit state parks when they register their vehicle with the department of motor vehicles in Texas.

It’s down toward the bottom; it’s just a line item. The website is texasstateparks.org/help. And you can find out a little more about the program—the history of it. This is new this year set up by the Texas legislature as an opportunity for us to make some of our budget money for this operating biennium.

That’s our show for today…with funding provided by Chevrolet, supporting outdoor recreation in Texas; because there’s life to be done.

For Texas Parks and Wildlife I’m Cecilia Nasti.

 LBJ State Park Christmas Tree Lighting: Play Now | Play in Popup | Download

When Lyndon Johnson was president, he and the first lady started a tradition: the annual Christmas tree lighting at their Hill Country home in Stonewall.

19—This is one of the special times where community and family and friends can gather together for a traditional tree lighting in the Texas Hill Country. And it was sparked by the president and Mrs. Johnson 42 years ago so that the community could get together and enjoy the holiday spirit.

Since that first tree lighting, the homestead has become the LBJ State Park and Historic Site, and Iris Neffendorf its superintendent.

22—We really go all out here at the state park with decorations. And we open up with a wonderful tree lighting program in our courtyard, with a lighted native cedar tree. And there’s music, and folks that come and do many different things—even a live nativity scene.

This annual event is free and open to the public.

[Music: Here Comes Santa Clause…run through end of show]

20— The 42nd annual LBJ tree lighting is on Sunday, December the 18th at 6 pm. We also do a couple of pre program activities should the public want to come out earlier, and then see how it really turns into a festive event in the evening.

Find full details at www.texasstateparks.org.

For Texas Parks and Wildlife…I’m Cecilia Nasti