Take Me Outdoors Houston set for Sept. 15 at Discovery Green

Media Contact: Heidi Rao, TPWD/Houston, (713) 829-1377, icle__media__contact">Media Contact: Heidi Rao, TPWD/Houston, (713) 829-1377, heidi.rao@tpwd.texas.gov

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HOUSTON — At a time when people in big cities are becoming increasingly disconnected from the world of nature and the outdoors, the 4th annual Take Me Outdoors Houston is set for Sept. 15 at Discovery Green.

The free, family-oriented outdoors festival will feature hands-on activities, booths and opportunities for people to experience the great outdoors even if they haven’t had much exposure to Texas beyond the city limit signs.

“By introducing Texans, especially urban adults and kids, to outdoor recreation, our woods and waters and natural places become more relevant and important to them,” said Heidi Rao, Texas Parks and Wildlife Department hunter education specialist. “We believe recreation leads to conservation. Folks out there enjoying the natural world come to care about it and finally to care for it.”

Take Me Outdoors Houston will run from 10 a.m.-3 p.m. Saturday, Sept. 15 at Discovery Green, a 12-acre park created by a public/private partnership between the City of Houston and the non-profit Discovery Green Conservancy. The park’s mission is to provide a beautiful, urban green space in the heart of Houston that serves as a village green for the city. It is located across Avenida de las Americas from the George R. Brown Convention Center and the Hilton Americas Hotel, sitting between the Toyota Center and Minute Maid Park. Since the park opened in April 2008, it has welcomed more than 1 million visitors and hosted more than 800 public and private events.

Take Me Outdoors Houston will consist of a variety of exhibitors clustered in topical zones and a wide range of activities, including:

The Nature & Environmental Zone will include a Rock Climbing Wall; TPWD’s State Parks Division, Becoming an Outdoors-Woman Program, and Urban Outdoor Program; Katy Prairie Conservancy; Armand Bayou Nature Center; Wetlands Center and Baytown Nature Center; Student Conservation Association; and Nature Heritage Society.

The Hunting & Wildlife Conservation Zone will include TPWD’s Hunter Education Program & Instructor Association, Spanish Hunter Education Program, Youth Hunter Education Challenge; SCI Houston’s Sensory Safari; and Texas State Rifle Association & air gun booth.

The Fishing & Aquatic Conservation Zone will include TPWD’s Coastal and Inland Fisheries Divisions, TPWD Angler Education Program with Backyard Bass casting, Texas Toyota Bass Classic booth & Neighborhood Fishing program; Texas Coastal Watershed Program; and Landry’s Downtown Aquarium.

There will also be two educational demonstrations of live hawks and other raptors in flight by master falconer John Karger of “Last Chance Forever – the Bird of Prey Conservancy.” Flying demonstrations will be at 11 a.m. and 1 p.m.

Visit the Discovery Green website at:  http://www.discoverygreen.com/ebevents/ for more information on the Take Me Outdoors Houston event. News 92FM is a proud media partner of Discovery Green.