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  • NEWSROOM: TEXAS NATURE CHALLENGE 2015: GET OUTSIDE AND START EXPLORING

    April 24, 2015—COLLEGE STATION, Texas—It’s that time of year again—Texas Nature Challenge 2015 begins this weekend and lasts through July 31. Time to round up the family, get outside and reconnect with nature.

    The goal of Texas Nature Challenge is to get families outdoors by visiting participating parks and nature areas in Texas. For Team Parker-Derasari this was one of the appeals of the challenge.

    “I think it’s great to find new places and activities to do with my family,” Lisa Parker said. “Even after living in Austin for many years, I was surprised by all the places we didn’t know about.”

    At each site, participants complete family-fun challenges designed for nature exploration.

    “This is our fifth year participating in Texas Nature Challenge. We loved it so much we kept coming back,” Parker said. “The challenges were fun and educational; we’ve learned about identifying volcanic rocks, created art at UMLAUF Sculpture Garden and participated in letter boxing—a type of geocaching for smaller children.”

    There are many challenges that can be enjoyed with family members and friends, young and old.

    “We made lots of memories with family and friends,” Parker said. “It’s so much fun and doable for the whole family, from the little ones to older relatives. I highly recommend it to all my local friends.”

    Texas Nature Challenge is possible through the partnership of Texas A&M Forest Service, Austin Nature and Science Center and many sites from San Marcos to Waco. 

    The opening ceremony begins Saturday, April 25 at the Austin Nature & Science Center from 12–4 p.m. Attendance is not required to participate in challenges.

    “More than ever, we want to help kids and families explore their local world. What better way to spend time together than visiting our local natural areas,” said Texas A&M Forest Service Conservation Education Coordinator Leslie Kessner.

    Get a head start and begin planning the challenges your family will complete first. For your region’s challenge printouts, registration and general information visit http://naturechallenge.tamu.edu or contact your regional coordinator listed below.

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    Contacts:
    Jennifer Chapman, Texas Nature Challenge Central Texas Coordinator
    Austin Nature & Science Center
    512.974.3868, jennifer.chapman@austintexas.gov

                                                                          
    Leslie Kessner, Texas Nature Challenge Statewide Coordinator
    Texas A&M Forest Service
    979.458.6600, lkessner@tfs.tamu.edu

     
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