Commission Agenda Item No. 8
Presenter: Chris Holmes
Ky Harkey

Briefing
Texas Outdoor Family Program
November 6, 2014

I.                   Executive Summary:  State Parks staff will provide the Commission with a brief overview of the Texas Outdoor Family Program (TOF).  The program’s purpose and goals will be explained as well as an outline of its evolution into the Houston area and planned expansion into other major metropolitan areas.  The briefing will note the lessons learned from past efforts and provide updates on other statewide initiatives. The program has developed to include programs such as Geocache Challenge, Junior Rangers, Arts in Parks and night sky programs.

II.                Discussion:  The Texas Outdoor Family program has evolved since its inception in 2009 to expand its scope and vision. In 2012, Texas Parks and Wildlife Department (TPWD) and Texas Parks and Wildlife Foundation successfully applied for a 3 year $300,000 grant to expand efforts into the Houston market. This has resulted in a shift in the program’s goals from program delivery towards partnership development with non-profits and school groups in the Houston area to support underserved audiences with educational workshops and access to outdoor equipment. As a result of this shift, the program altered its goal of families reached from 750 annually to 7,000.

In addition to implementing a “train the trainer” model TOF is also teaching many “day camps” to targeted user groups which are used as a stepping stone for those audiences who are uncomfortable with an overnight stay. These outreach events are typically held within the community at a local park, shopping mall or festival.  This spring 23 events were held in the Houston Area. Several other programs have grown from TOF, such as the Texas Geocache Challenge, Junior Ranger journals and daypacks, Arts in the Parks, dark sky programs and the Texas State Park Ambassadors Program. Recognizing the need to involve new and younger audiences into gateway programs like TOF will help to introduce a new generation of Texans into outdoor experiences.  The evolution of TOF seeks to ensure our programs are relevant to non-traditional users and urban families with so much competition for their time.