NUCFAC PLT Greenschools! YLINC Summer 2014 Day 6 and 7: Birthday and Farewells

The whole gang celebrating Smokey's birthday at the Texas Forestry Museum in Lufkin They had a blast dressing up in period costumes!

The campers enjoyed their last days here at YLINC.

Saturday was largely a day freed up so that they can enjoy the weather, the kayaking, and the fun of camping on the shores of Lake Sam Rayburn, although we did stop by the Texas Forestry Museum to wish Smokey Bear happy 70th birthday! Woodsy Owl also gave him well wishes, and the students got to explore what life was like in the times when trees were being felled all over East Texas.

The students reflected on their time at camp and evaluated their experiences, and overwhelmingly said it was a life changing one.

Woodsy Owl taking a Canoe ride on Lake Sam Rayburn

On Sunday, the students packed up and said goodbye. Each camper received a certificate, awarding them for the unique way they contributed to the Youth Leadership in Nature Challenge of Summer 2014.

Their very last stop was Scott's Ridge Day Use Recreation Area in the Sam Houston National Forest. Ten years ago, Scott's Ridge was only a boat ramp, with hundreds of Latino families gathered around it every weekend. One young master's student did her thesis on the efficacy of a program that could reach out to the Spanish speaking community with messages of conservation and stewardship. Soon she was handing out trash bags, talking about litter and the National Forest System and getting Spanish speakers involved in the environment. That research project led to the growth of Latino Legacy, which led to the creation of the Friends of the National Forests and Grasslands in Texas, as well as the designation of Scott's Ridge as a day use area. 

That master's student was Tamberly Conway, who has been a tornado of support and enthusiasm since FNFGT began. We thank her for all her support from the bottom of our hearts, and we are glad we have her as a friend.

One last bit of natural relaxation at Scott's Ridge Day Use Area.

Stay tuned to this blog for more updates on FNFGT's projects, events and volunteer opportunities, and thank you for being a loyal reader!

NUCFAC PLT Greenschools! Y-LINC Spring Break 2014: Day Two

On the Little Lake Creek trail at Little Lake Creek Wilderness.

Little Lake Creek Wilderness features the increasingly rarefied gem of southern eastern U.S. forests: the bottomland hard woods.

Fungi devour snags and fallen logs largely undisturbed in the Wilderness, thanks in part to regulations that exclude motorized vehicles and permanent structures. However, considerate forest users are the most effective protection against disturbance.

Our kids enjoyed a four hour hike through Little Lake Creek Wilderness in the Sam Houston National Forest. It was the perfect way to celebrate the 50th Anniversary of the Wilderness Act, which has been protecting special places from development since 1964.

NUCFAC PLT Greenschools! Y-LINC Spring Break 2014: Day one

Luis Cruz, Emerson Hernandez and Nestor Vazquez pitch their tent by the calm waters of Lake Stubblefield.

Our kids arrived safe and sound at Stubblefield Lake Recreation Area in the Sam Houston National Forest, to kick off our journey into nature. They pitched their tents fairly quickly for frist time campers, working together to figure out which pole went where. Tomorrow we will be boldly going into the Little Lake Creek Wilderness to celebrate the 50th Anniversary of the Wilderness Act and learn more about how the National Wilderness Preservation System secures access to true natural solitude for all Americans.  

"Like" the Sam Houston National Forest? Then donate for free.

If your reading our blog, we already know that you like nature. More than likely, one could even say you love it! Now, through BMW of North America, showing your love on social media is as good as showing your love with a donation, and strangely enough, it costs you nothing!

1 "Like" on Facebook = $1 for Nature!

BMW of North America has given us at FNFGT a unique opportunity to find funding to support our efforts to get more people outside, just by clicking "Like" on Facebook! Starting this Monday, we posted pictures of BMW's new car, the X1, shining in the sun at the shores of Double Lake Campground in the Sam Houston National Forest, part of the National Forests and Grasslands in Texas that FNFGT is all about. For every "Like" on this link, X1RTOSamHoustonnationalForest.com, BMW will donate a dollar to support the Sam Houston National Forest.

Our partner, the U.S. Forest Service has asked FNFGT to administer this grant and leverage the funds towards programs that help us with programs like, Youth-LINC, Prescriptions For Nature (NatureRx), Forest for Every Classroom, GreenSchools, TFS NatureLIVE!, The Children's Forest in Texas, and more! So, every "Like" directly goes to bringing more people, especially the little people, outdoors to enjoy the wonders of nature.

We are well on our way to our goal of $10,000 but we need your help! As of September 7th 2012, 11:54 pm CDT, we've got 4596 likes from 4596 loyal nature lovers! Add to our good progress by sharing this blog post! E-mail it, plus it on Google+, Facebook it, Tweet it! Everyone who reads has an opportunity to get more kids out there in the sunshine!

Getting kids up a going can be as simple as showing them how much you love getting out there. It can also be as simple as the press of a button!