The State Park Annual Youth Pass available from the Texas Parks and Wildlife Department may be something new to many who have worked with a Scout group. The Pass use restrictions have changed and is now available as way for you to take your 4-H group into a park and minimize the costs of an outing. Check out the details below and go to their webpage for the application and more details.
The Pass is intended for
organizations whose primary purpose is to serve youth. The following information
will help you understand how the pass works and some of the changes that have
been made to open up this resource to be utilized by more youth groups.
1.
The pass can now be purchased by any non-profit that is a 501c-3 that
serves youth. (This has changed in the past few years. It had
been only open to scouting groups in the past.) This is a positive change to
increase access to parks by all non-profits that serve youth.
2.
Rather than being issued at the state parks which sometimes are
challenging to get to if you are in an urban community, they are now offered
through TPWD headquarters and sent out to the organizations.
3.
Youth ages 13-17 and their adult chaperones, councilors or youth
program team members are also covered by the pass when attending the
youth trip. The ratio of child to adult must not exceed 50% adults on the
trip.
4.
If you are taking a youth group to a park and considering doing a
service project, always contact the state park manager or interpreter to find
out how they can assist with the project.
5.
For more information visit- http://www.tpwd.state.tx.us/publications/pwdforms/media/pwd_1338_p4000_youth_group_annual_entrance_pass_application_packet.pdf
These are some great changes
that are designed to help get more kids into nature and enjoying their public
lands.
For more information contact Jennifer Bristol (512) 321-3740, jennifer.bristol@tpwd.state.tx.us
