Outreach and Education Committee

Wednesday, 9:00 am, January 21, 2009

Texas Parks and Wildlife Department
Commission Hearing Room
4200 Smith School Road, Austin, TX 78744

Commissioner Margaret Martin, Committee Chair
Lydia Saldaña, Committee Liaison

Approval of Previous Meeting Minutes

  1. Update on TPWD Progress in Implementing the TPWD Land and Water Resources Conservation and Recreation Plan
    • Big Time Texas Hunts Update
    • Houston School's Nature Realized Program
    • Youth Hunts at Parrie Haynes Ranch
    • 20-Year Anniversary of Mandatory Hunter and Boater Education
    Staff: Carter Smith
  2. Texas - The State of Water Communications Effort
    Staff: Lydia Saldaña
  3. Women of the Land Program Update
    Staff: Linda Campbell

Committee Agenda Item No. 1
Presenter: Carter Smith

Outreach and Education Committee
Update on TPWD Progress in Implementing the TPWD Land and Water Resources Conservation and Recreation Plan
January 21, 2009

I. Executive Summary: Executive Director Carter Smith will briefly update the Commission on the status of the agency's efforts to implement the Land and Water Resources Conservation and Recreation Plan (the Plan).

II. Discussion: In 2001, the 77th Texas Legislature directed that the Texas Parks and Wildlife Department (TPWD) develop a Land and Water Resources Conservation and Recreation Plan (Tex. Park & Wild. Code §11.104). In November 2002, the Texas Parks and Wildlife Commission (the Commission) adopted the first Plan. A revised Plan was adopted by the Commission in January 2005. The Plan is available on the TPWD web site. Executive Director Carter Smith will update the Outreach and Education Committee on TPWD's recent progress in achieving the Plan's Goals and Objectives as they relate to the Outreach and Education Committee.

The Plan consists of 8 Goals and a total of 56 Objectives. The Goals stated in the Plan are as follows:


Committee Agenda Item No. 2
Presenters: Lydia Saldaña

Outreach and Education Committee
Texas - The State of Water Communications Effort
January 21, 2009

I. Executive Summary: The Texas Parks and Wildlife Department is committed to educating Texans about the importance of water to the future of fish and wildlife in Texas. A multi-year communications initiative began in July 2002 with a special July edition of the Texas Parks & Wildlife magazine, and it has evolved since then to include video documentaries, education material and other efforts.

II. Discussion: Communications Director Lydia Saldaña will discuss the status of the on-going effort. The fourth hour-long documentary in the series is scheduled to air on prime-time PBS stations across Texas on February 12, 2007. Planning for the 8th special July issue of the magazine is underway as we continue to focus attention on this important conservation issue.


Committee Agenda Item No. 3
Presenters: Linda Campbell

Outreach and Education Committee
Women of the Land Program Update
January 21, 2009

I. Executive Summary: Linda Campbell, Wildlife Division Program Director for the Private Lands and Public Hunting Program, will brief the Commission on an outreach program designed to provide land management information and outdoor skill-based instruction to women who own and manage land in Texas.

II. Discussion: The Becoming an Outdoors Woman (BOW) Program conducted research in 2005 designed to provide information and skills to women landowners. One objective was to identify educational needs and interests of women landowners. Pilot outdoor skills workshops were held in Wisconsin, Montana, and Texas. The 2005 pilot workshop in Texas attracted 32 women landowners from 19 Texas counties. Course offerings included: Firearm Safety, Beginning Shotgun, Archery, Whitetail Deer Ecology, and Fly Fishing. Workshop success and effectiveness were based on responses given in post-workshop evaluation forms. Nearly all respondents indicated they would consider attending a similar program in the future. Based on the results of the pilot, Texas Parks and Wildlife Department and Texas Wildlife Association partnered to develop Women of the Land workshops. Three weekend workshops have been held to date and a fourth is being planned. We have sought to combine information on land management with skill-based outdoor recreation in a venue that encourages women to ask questions, improve outdoor skills, and network with women of similar interests. Survey respondents comment that they enjoyed the interaction with other participants and instructors, gained greater understanding of land management, felt more equipped as land stewards, and enjoyed the learning atmosphere. We offer this model as a way to engage women in outdoor activities while also appealing to their need for practical land management information.