2016 Toyota Texas Fest

Tackling TPWD’s Outdoor Adventures

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Patrick Houston, wife Crystal, and their sons, Damon, 12, Austin, 10 and Blayr, 10, take on Texas Parks & Wildlife Outdoor Adventures Area outside Toyota Stadium. This year at Toyota Texas Fest, the area features kid-friendly activities that emphasize TPWD’s youth programs.
Patrick Houston, wife Crystal, and their sons, Damon, 12, Austin, 10 and Blayr, 10, take on Texas Parks & Wildlife Outdoor Adventures Area outside Toyota Stadium. This year at Toyota Texas Fest, the area features kid-friendly activities that emphasize TPWD’s youth programs.
Their first encounter is with Janis Johnson of the TPWD, who gives the boys a rundown of the activities they can experience. If they fill out the list of several, they can enter for a daily camping pack giveaway. Johnson also told them how the Toyota Texas Fest has helped the TPWD double their youth outreach fishing program.
Their first encounter is with Janis Johnson of the TPWD, who gives the boys a rundown of the activities they can experience. If they fill out the list of several, they can enter for a daily camping pack giveaway. Johnson also told them how the Toyota Texas Fest has helped the TPWD double their youth outreach fishing program.
At the Backyard Bass booth, the boys learned fish identification, regulations and safe casting.
At the Backyard Bass booth, the boys learned fish identification, regulations and safe casting.
Reeling in one of the fish also earned Blayr a prize of fish cards.
Reeling in one of the fish also earned Blayr a prize of fish cards.
Keira Quam of TPWD Aquatic Education tells the boys about the Take Me Fishing trailer, which showed the items one might need for a fishing trip, among other information.
Keira Quam of TPWD Aquatic Education tells the boys about the Take Me Fishing trailer, which showed the items one might need for a fishing trip, among other information.
Addison Mizell, 8, and his grandmother take a look at the types of fishing lures as they fill out their sheet in hopes of being drawn to win the camping pack.
Addison Mizell, 8, and his grandmother take a look at the types of fishing lures as they fill out their sheet in hopes of being drawn to win the camping pack.
Austin draws back at the Get Outside booth, which was partnered with the National Archery in Schools Program.
Austin draws back at the Get Outside booth, which was partnered with the National Archery in Schools Program.
Damon lets loose and hits the turkey. Eduction can certainly be made fun.
Damon lets loose and hits the turkey. Eduction can certainly be made fun.
Meet the Giant Salvinia Monster (his real name is John Findeisen). Asked if he was glad it wasn’t sunny and 90 degrees, he quipped, “I prefer sun. Clouds interrupt my chlorophyll intake.” That's how you stay in character while informing folks of the invasive water plant’s negative affects.
Meet the Giant Salvinia Monster (his real name is John Findeisen). Asked if he was glad it wasn’t sunny and 90 degrees, he quipped, “I prefer sun. Clouds interrupt my chlorophyll intake.” That’s how you stay in character while informing folks of the invasive water plant’s negative affects.
Austin takes aim at the Outdoor Kids air rifle station.
Austin takes aim at the Outdoor Kids air rifle station.
Damon gets the next turn. Kids just love shooting, and teaching how to do it safely has long been a mission of the TPWD.
Damon gets the next turn. Kids just love shooting, and teaching how to do it safely has long been a mission of the TPWD.
An art station allowed visitors to paint, while it showcased the great artwork from kids in the State Fish Art Contest.
An art station allowed visitors to paint, while it showcased the great artwork from kids in the State Fish Art Contest.
Zoe Ann Stinchcomb pulled out these other great examples of the artwork done by Texas school children.
Zoe Ann Stinchcomb pulled out these other great examples of the artwork done by Texas school children.
This simulated stream in the Rivers and Streams tent just screamed touch me. And Dallas’ Beckham Spooner, who turns 5 this month, gladly obliged.
This simulated stream in the Rivers and Streams tent just screamed touch me. And Dallas’ Beckham Spooner, who turns 5 this month, gladly obliged.
Colton Marks, 4, of Melissa, Texas, wasn’t far behind, despite the efforts of his sister to stop him. Say, who does your hair? Nice Colton.
Colton Marks, 4, of Melissa, Texas, wasn’t far behind, despite the efforts of his sister to stop him. Say, who does your hair? Nice Colton.
Andrew Martinez of Carlton, Texas, checks out one of the mussel sniffing dogs. There are a number of dogs within the TPWD stable that have been trained to sniff out invasive mussels on boats being brought to Texas waterways.
Andrew Martinez of Carlton, Texas, checks out one of the mussel sniffing dogs. There are a number of dogs within the TPWD stable that have been trained to sniff out invasive mussels on boats being brought to Texas waterways.
Michael Baird, a TPWD fisheries biologist, is with the trailer that shows off the top Toyota ShareLunker bass in the program’s history.
Michael Baird, a TPWD fisheries biologist, is with the trailer that shows off the top Toyota ShareLunker bass in the program’s history.
Baird points to the largest bass in the Toyota ShareLunker Program, an 18.18-pounder caught by Barry St. Clair from Lake Fork in 1992.
Baird points to the largest bass in the Toyota ShareLunker Program, an 18.18-pounder caught by Barry St. Clair from Lake Fork in 1992.
Colton Harbough, 7, of Prosper, gets a workout at the Clean, Drain and Dry tent. Wearing an Aquatic Invader Fighter! cape, he was given the task of finding mussels hidden in the boat. John Tibbs and John Findeisen (Giant Salvinia Monster) provide some clues.
Colton Harbough, 7, of Prosper, gets a workout at the Clean, Drain and Dry tent. Wearing an Aquatic Invader Fighter! cape, he was given the task of finding mussels hidden in the boat. John Tibbs and John Findeisen (Giant Salvinia Monster) provide some clues.
Colton might have needed a few of the tips, but he crawled all over that boat looking for his quarry.
Colton might have needed a few of the tips, but he crawled all over that boat looking for his quarry.
There were cheers when he found the final bag in 2 minutes, 44 seconds, a record!
There were cheers when he found the final bag in 2 minutes, 44 seconds, a record!
Carson Davis, 4, of Decatur, tries to get a closer look at the Operation Game Thief trailer. All the game were illegally taken or possessed.
Carson Davis, 4, of Decatur, tries to get a closer look at the Operation Game Thief trailer. All the game were illegally taken or possessed.
Billy Conway, who hosts a radio show in south Texas, said this trophy buck was smuggled into Texas in violation of the Lacey Act, which warranted $1 million in fines. TPWD Game Wardens from the Special Operations Unit made the arrest.
Billy Conway, who hosts a radio show in south Texas, said this trophy buck was smuggled into Texas in violation of the Lacey Act, which warranted $1 million in fines. TPWD Game Wardens from the Special Operations Unit made the arrest.
Matthew Waller, 12, of Fort Worth came to the Fest with his father, Matt. The youth donned a life jacket at a booth designed to increase awareness of life jacket safety.
Matthew Waller, 12, of Fort Worth came to the Fest with his father, Matt. The youth donned a life jacket at a booth designed to increase awareness of life jacket safety.
Sam Kieschnick of the TPWD Wildlife Division gets animated as he discusses the fur-bearing animals native to Texas.
Sam Kieschnick of the TPWD Wildlife Division gets animated as he discusses the fur-bearing animals native to Texas.
Kieschnick shows a bison skull to the youth. The Houston clan made it through the Wildlife Outdoor Adventures Area and hoped to win that camping pack.
Kieschnick shows a bison skull to the youth. The Houston clan made it through the Wildlife Outdoor Adventures Area and hoped to win that camping pack.

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