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September 7, 2001

Texas Wildlife Expo
is true family event

It has been 10 years since 7,000 people came out for Texas Parks and Wildlife's first open house to thank the people who support wildlife conservation in Texas. This Oct. 6-7, close to 50,000 people are expected to come to Texas Wildlife Expo from all parts of the state.

The event features more than 100 activities ranging from shooting sports and fishing to birdwatching and mountain biking. Significantly, while costs have continued to rise in the past decade, the event remains free to the public through the support of major corporations, vendors, conservation groups and other sponsors.

Texas Wildlife Expo has grown into the nation's largest free family festival focusing on wildlife and parks, and several fish and wildlife agencies in other states are now looking to the Expo as a model to produce similar events, according to Ernie Gammage, Expo director for TPW. Texas Parks and Wildlife, the Wyoming Game and Fish Department, and the Weatherby Foundation International partnered to create a manual on how to stage outdoor festivals that has since been distributed to all the states.

"Expo is the premiere outdoor event in Texas," Gammage said. "Where else can you catch a fish, skeet shoot, mountain bike, bird watch, kayak, see native Texas wildlife and rock climb in one location in one day — for free?"

Over the years, both the focus and the goals of Expo have evolved, according to Gammage. It started out as a hunting and fishing event and has become an all-inclusive festival covering natural and cultural resource conservation and recreation, with a primary goal of promoting family participation in outdoor activities and raising awareness of the conservation ethic. Fly fishing, kayaking, mountain biking, bird watching, living history and rock climbing have been added to attract a more diverse audience and introduce visitors to a wide range of outdoor activities.

Texas Wildlife Expo remains free to the public through the generous support of sponsors, including Anheuser-Busch, Inc., BP Amoco, Chevrolet Suburban, Compaq Computer Corporation, Dow Chemical Company, Mossy Oak Camouflage, Academy Sports and Outdoors, Austin American-Statesman, Austin Coca-Cola Bottling Company, Careco Multimedia, Chevron Companies, Coastal Conservation Association of Texas, Weyerhaeuser and Winchester Ammunition.

TPW, conservation organizations, sponsors and more than 3,000 volunteers will host Texas Wildlife Expo 2001. From archery exhibitions and birds of prey demonstrations to fly fishing instruction and special activities for the youngest children, Expo is designed to keep visitors of all ages entertained for hours. New displays and activities include a Global Positioning System Satellite Challenge and the Outdoor Kids Challenge.

For the new Outdoor Kids Challenge, each child that completes a prescribed number of diverse activities at the Expo will be automatically entered in a drawing to win an all-inclusive hunting, fishing or camping trip, plus an premiere equipment package.

"The event really is designed for the entire family," Gammage explained. "Nearly all of the activities are open to both adults and children, and we have many activities specifically for younger children."

Perennial favorites such as John Karger's birds of prey demonstration, shooting sports, rock climbing walls, and trout and catfish fishing tanks remain the anchors of the event. Recent additions bolstering the educational component of Expo include displays and activities to promote the importance of water in ecosystems, wildscaping instruction and the junior angler program to teach youth how to fish.

Growing crowds at Expo over the years have presented parking challenges; but after reaching near capacity last year, coordinators plan to install a new temporary entrance into the hayfield parking area to reduce congestion at the entrance. The free shuttle, from Nelson Field at Reagan High School in northeast Austin, is still the best way to get to Expo, according to TPW.

For more information on Texas Wildlife Expo visit the Expo Web pages (http://www.tpwd.state.tx.us/expo/) or call (800) 792-1112.