Need creative help? Draw inspiration from park events happening on February 14:

• Sweetheart Hike, Dinosaur Valley State Park
• Birding 101 for Bird Lovers and Love Birds, Franklin Mountains State Park
• For the Birds-Owl Around the Camp Fire, Colorado City State Park

Check the Calendar for even more Valentine events. Don't forget to pack a romantic picnic!

Artful fancies take flight in nature. Enjoy these upcoming Arts in the Parks events:

• Native Fibers — Inks Lake State Park, Burnet.  Saturdays, Feb. 14, Feb. 28 from 1-3 p.m.  Limit 30 children and adults. Register at (512) 793-2223, ext. 6.
• Animal Adventures — Purtis Creek State Park, Eustace.Saturdays, Feb. 14, Feb. 28 from 2-3:30 p.m. Limit  20 children ages 5-10 years. Register at (903) 425-2332.
• Mandalas in the Park — Government Canyon State Natural Area, San Antonio. Sundays, Feb. 1, Feb. 22 from 11 a.m.-2 p.m. Limit 20 children and adults. Registration required: contact Niki Lake at (210) 688-9055, ext. 292.
• Voice Lessons for Beginning Singers  — Brazos Bend State Park, Needville. Sundays, Feb. 1, Feb. 22 from 2-4 p.m. Open to children and adults. No registration required.
• When Nature Sings —  McKinney Falls State Park, Austin. Saturdays, Jan. 31, Feb. 7, Feb. 21 from 2-4 p.m. Open to children and adults. Led by Tekina-eirú, a proud blood descendent of the native Tainos of Puerto Rico. No registration required.

Check the Arts and Crafts Calendar for more creative opportunities.

Image: Up, Up and Away by Erin W, age 12, Galveston Island State Park

Have an iPad? Then get ready to have the Texas outdoors at your fingertips with the Texas Parks & Wildlife magazine’s new iPad app! The app will be launching in the next few weeks. Sign up if you would like us to notify you when the app is ready to download.  Enjoy the January/February iPad issue for free and we’d love it if you rate it in the Apple store.

The new March issue is also available, plus you can buy an iPad annual digital subscription for just $9.99 and get a whole year of issues packed with outstanding photos and articles about fishing, hunting, camping, birding, boating, traveling, and bonus content only available on the app.

A $70 Texas State Parks Pass is a passport to adventure. It is also a clear money-saver for individuals and families who visit state parks:

1. Unlimited entry to Texas state parks – As a pass holder, you and your carload of guests can enjoy unlimited visits to each park in the system for a year. You can buy a second pass for someone who lives at the same address as you for $25.
2. Overnight discounts – You receive four discounted camping nights. The discount is for 50% off the second night, when staying two or more nights in a campsite or regular screen shelter.
3. Shopping discounts – You get a 10% discount on eligible retail and rental items in many Texas state park stores! Be sure to mention your park pass when making your purchase.

Read more about the benefits of a Texas State Parks Pass.

Buy your pass at any Texas state park and use it right away! Or call (512) 389-8900 to order (add shipping and handling).

The early history of African Americans in Texas often goes untold. The Star of the Republic Museum at Washington-on-the-Brazos State Historic Site helps tell the story with the following events:

• “Enduring Spirit: African Americans in 19th Century Texas,” Feb. 1, 2015 - Feb. 15, 2016 – This year-long exhibit, opening February 1 recounts challenges African Americans faced in Texas in the 19th century. Artifacts include slave records, freedmen contracts, stoneware pottery made at Wilson Pottery, the first African American business in Texas, as well as an example of the intricate Pine Burr pattern quilt. Free admission on opening day, Feb. 1.
• “The 1836 Texas Rebellion,” February 7, 2 p.m. – Program featuring Dr. Fred McGhee, adjunct professor of anthropology, Austin Community College. Free admission all day.
• “African Americans: Many Rivers to Cross,” February 14, 2 p.m. – Showing of first and second episodes of the PBS series. Free admission all day.
•  "The Other Great Migration: The Movement of Rural African Americans to Houston, Texas," February 21, 2 p.m. – Program featuring Dr. Bernadette Pruitt, professor of history, Sam Houston State University. Free admission all day.

The Star of the Republic Museum is located within Washington-on-the Brazos State Historic Site. Together with nearby Independence Hall  and Barrington Living History Farm, visitors can delve into the diverse history of early Texas.

Image: Annie Groves Taylor, from the exhibit “Enduring Spirit: African Americans in 19th Century Texas," Star of the Republic Museum

Many schoolchildren have never heard of the story, but these African American-only regiments were some of the fiercest fighters in the history of the U.S. military. One youthful State Park Ambassador from Houston tells his story of discovery in this video.

At posts from Texas to the Dakota territories, their main job was to support the westward expansion of the United States through the construction of roads, telegraph lines and forts. They also fought outlaws, thieves and hostile Native Americans. One group worked as some of the first park rangers in national parks. The Iron Riders pioneered off-road biking for the Army, riding thousands of miles across the country.

Watch a video about the Texas Buffalo Soldiers program. If you can teach an outdoor skill, take great photographs, or just want to help, email the Buffalo Soldiers BuffaloSoldiers@tpwd.texas.gov, call (512) 389-8569, or visit our Volunteer page.

Texas State Parks are good for the economy, according to a recent study from Texas A&M University. In a nutshell:

• State parks generate $774 million in retail sales annually
• Contribute $351 million in economic benefits
• Create 5,800 jobs statewide

“The take-away message from this study should be that the state park system is an important contributor to the Texas economy, particularly in rural areas and that the state’s net investment in parks is returned many times over as visitors travel to enjoy the outdoors and leave their dollars behind,” according to Dr. John Crompton, research team leader.

The economic impact of some of the most popular parks:

• Balmorhea — $2.3 million in value added; 50.3 jobs
• Bastrop — $1.7 million in value added; 35.6 jobs
• Big Bend Ranch — $1.9 million in value added; 27 jobs
• Cedar Hill — $3.1 million in value added; 41.7 jobs
• Garner — $6.9 million in value added; 16.1 jobs
• McKinney Falls — $883,146 in value added; 16.1 jobs
• Palo Duro Canyon — $3.7 million in value added; 86 jobs
• Pedernales Falls — $1.7 million in value added; 41.1 jobs

Read the full report here.

Mountain bikers have options during the Bike Fest:

• Staff-guided rides on Thursday, Friday and Saturday
• Two-day self-guided EPIC Option - The park’s 54-mile Fresno-Sauceda Loop has been designated an “Epic” ride by the International Mountain Bicycling Association. It’s the only Epic ride in Texas, and one of only two in the southwestern United States.
• Riders may also wander the open trails of the Big Bend Ranch State Park and Lajitas Golf Resort at their leisure.

Get all the Bike Fest details from rides and registration to logistics, gear lists, and housing.

Learn about other mountain biking opportunities in Texas State Parks.

This moment in nature is brought to you by the EMMY-winning Texas Parks & Wildlife TV Show. Now in its 29th season, the show airs on every Texas PBS station, as well as a number of other public television stations around the country and about 50 city government access channels across the state. Here’s where to watch.