In This Issue:
 Everybody who loves the natural world, wildlife and state parks should be smiling for years to come about the very recent acquisition of the 17,351-acre Powderhorn Ranch along the Texas coast in Calhoun County. Watch a video about this pristine property that is one of the largest remaining tracts of unspoiled coastal prairie in the state and will someday be a state park and wildlife management area.
“This transformational project will conserve irreplaceable wildlife habitat and will bring the people of Texas an exciting new recreational opportunity,” said Dan Friedkin, Chairman Emeritus of the Texas Parks and Wildlife Commission.
The property between Corpus Christi and Houston includes unspoiled coastal live oak forest and intact wetlands perfect for public hunting, fishing, hiking, paddling and birdwatching. Thousands of acres of freshwater wetlands and salt marshes offer vital fish and wildlife habitat, provide natural filtering to improve water quality, and shield people and property from storm surges and sea level rise.
Through a fundraising effort led by the Texas Parks and Wildlife Foundation, the NFWF Gulf Environmental Benefit Fund has committed $34.5 million over the next three years, making this the biggest land acquisition in the nation so far using BP spill restoration dollars. The Conservation Fund and The Nature Conservancy also played critical roles in the acquisition.
|
Back to Top
 Expand your horizons, see more, and learn more when you plan a visit to a state park. If you’re choosing a park destination or looking for an activity to enjoy while there, check the State Parks Events Calendar to learn what will be happening. Every park offers an array of tempting activities that may include nature talks, bird walks, hikes, trail rides for bikes, campfires, stargazing parties, special celebrations and more.
Events are added all the time to the Events Calendar, so check it often. Search by park or activity to plan an adventurous state park visit.
Here are some major upcoming events for September and October:
|
Back to Top
 There they are, bigger than life – the only known dinosaur footprints on public land in Bexar County! The evidence is set in stone within Government Canyon State Natural Area. The 110-million-year-old tracks are believed to have been left by Acrocanthosaurus and Sauroposeidon dinosaurs.
Texas Parks and Wildlife and the Witte Museum in San Antonio have formed a new partnership to develop and provide interpretation, tours and exhibits about the tracks, as well as devise methods of conservation and protection for them. The public will be able to see the tracks either by visiting the Witte’s new dinosaur exhibit or by hiking to the dinosaur track location inside the state natural area.
Acrocanthosaurus was a large theropod (carnivorous, bipedal dinosaur) up to 40 feet long and weighing 2 to 3 tons. Sauroposeidon was genus of sauropod, the large, four-legged, herbivorous dinosaurs with very long necks, small heads, and long tails. It reached sizes up to 100 feet long and 60 tons.
|
Back to Top
 Like the outdoors in fall? Like mysteries? Try a digital outdoor treasure hunt - geocaching. It’s a great reason to roam as cooler weather and rustling leaves tempt us to spend time in Texas State Parks.
Never tried it? Here’s a how-to video to help you get started.
You’ll need a GPS unit or smartphone app to find the coordinates (the exact location) of a geocache nearby. Take along a small inexpensive item to swap when you find a cache. Learn more online and find a geocaching lesson or event on the geocaching calendar. Join the ongoing Texas State Parks Geocache Challenge and set out on your detective adventure, enjoying the natural world along the way!
|
Back to Top
 Many peoples walked the wild lands of the American Southwest long before those lands became Texas state parks. The evidence, still there for us to ponder, adds history and depth to park visits.
October - Texas Archeology Month - is a great time to take a trek to view rock art and explore natural history. Check the Archeology and Rock Art Tours calendar for timely opportunities.
Through interpretive exhibits, park ranger talks, guided tours and more, visitors can imagine life across the centuries.
Three examples of parks with active history and culture programs are:
Use the History & Culture Calendar to chart your history-related trail through the fall.
|
Back to Top
 Just in time for fall color, the Visitors Center at Lost Maples State Natural Area will be sporting a bright and updated exhibit space about the park’s geology, ecosystems and the history of the famous maple trees and their isolated stand in the park.
There's even more to Lost Maples than beautiful fall foliage. In any season, visitors can learn more about local species and see a three dimensional topographic model of the park. A display about the lithic reduction stone tool-making process includes locally-found darts and points and was inspired by the rich presence of chert (stone favorable for making tools) in the area.
Be sure to visit the expanded park store featuring books, t-shirts, magnets, mugs, ornaments, postcards and more to help commemorate your trip.
P.S. Planning a trip for the color? Check the Fall Foliage Report to know what you'll see.
|
Back to Top
 Kids visiting parks can now pick up a free Junior Ranger Activity Journal, another feature of the Junior Ranger Program. The journal will help each child explore, observe and learn about nature.
Through the Junior Ranger Program, parents can also check out a free Junior Ranger Explorer activity pack at many state parks. Each pack comes with a pair of binoculars, magnifying glass, animal tracking key, sketchbook, pencil, crayons and watercolors, colorful guides to identify the flowers, birds, butterflies, trees, rocks, wildlife and plants, and a journal to record what they see and learn. Plus, there's room in the pack to carry your own water and snacks! A child who completes a certain number of activities can take home a Junior Ranger badge.
Remember, kids 12 and under get free admission at Texas State Parks! Check the Kids Page to find more things kids can enjoy at parks and resources for parents and teachers.
|
Back to Top
 Fall is for the birds and those who love them! All state parks offer birding opportunities, but fall is an especially busy season as many species fly south for the winter along the great Texas flyway.
To help you enjoy the wealth of birdwatching opportunities, check out the 2014 Fall/Winter Birding Calendar from Texas Parks & Wildlife magazine.
Fluff up for the fall migration season by reviewing 12 Texas birds we should all know. Many parks also have birding checklists to help discover the local birds. Visit the TPWD YouTube Birding playlist to learn more about special Texas bird species.
Birding walks hosted by local staff and volunteers are a great way to learn more about local species. Find all the birding events on the Birding Calendar.
|
Back to Top
 Want to learn what it’s like to be a park ranger? There’s still time to sign up for the Citizens Park Ranger Academy, slated to begin September 20 at Dinosaur Valley State Park. Spend four Saturdays learning wildland firefighting techniques, search-and-rescue strategies, heavy equipment operation, park law enforcement, helicopter land zone preparation and park interpretive programs. On most days, students will be asked to apply their new-found skills in simulated scenarios. The classes will be taught by park staff.
The course runs through October 18. Classes meet each Saturday from 8 a.m. to 1 p.m. Academy participants must be at least 15 years of age. If the student is between the ages of 15 and 17, they must be enrolled in high school or equivalent.
Participants must be physically and mentally prepared to walk, hike, crawl, dig, stand, jump, lift and perform other physically demanding tasks as part of the academy. Academy graduates will receive a certificate and t-shirt.
For an application, contact Tracy Mays at Dinosaur Valley State Park at (254)897-4588 or tracy.mays@tpwd.texas.gov.
|
Back to Top
 Families still have opportunities to attend a fall Texas Outdoor Family fall workshop. Sign up now for a family weekend that takes you on a camping adventure with TPWD staff and volunteers who will teach you basic camping skills. No experience necessary to have a great time. Watch this brief video to get the idea.
-
September 19-20 - Lake Mineral Wells State Park (two nights). This workshop allows you to test your skills at rock climbing, with professional help! It will also include geocaching and kayaking.
-
October 4 - Guadalupe River State Park (one night). This workshop is a special Dutch Oven event, where you can rent out an oven and learn how to use it while cooking outdoors. Other activities include a hike to Honey Creek State Natural Area, fishing and swimming.
-
November 8 - Bastrop State Park (one night). This workshop will be a fun-filled day for everyone! Activities will include a fire hike (see the regrowth of the forest from the devastating fire of 2011) kayaking, fishing and geocaching.
The cost is $65 for one-night workshops (up to 6 persons) or $85 for 2-night workshops. All camping gear is provided. You bring food and bedding. We'll teach you the how-to.
|
Back to Top
 The stars have gotten even easier to see at Copper Breaks State Park and Enchanted Rock State Natural Area. Each has received gold-tier status from the International Dark Sky Parks Program of the International Dark-sky Association. Already known for their stargazing programs, they now have adjusted park lighting to provide safety and visibility for visitors without creating light pollution.
These two properties join Big Bend National Park and the City of Dripping Springs as the only locations in Texas to have earned the coveted Dark Sky Places recognition. The awards are the first for land managed by the Texas Parks and Wildlife Department.
Lighting improvements not only save energy, but also assure that visitors from the city experience a night sky uninterrupted by bright lights and skyscrapers. Learn more about the Dark Skies Program and the negative effects of light on visibility, wildlife, human health and energy use.
Celebrate fall with a star walk or star party. Find one near you on the Stargazing Events Calendar.
|
Back to Top
Thanks to the following sponsors and partners:
|
