Official Site of the Aransas National Wildlife Refuge Complex

Aransas NWR Complex
Outreach

1. Wildlife Art Contest
The 2005 Wildlife Art Contest was held in the Austwell-Tivoli and Rockport ISD. The purpose of the contest was:
1) to encourage creativity in our local students,
2) to foster an appreciation of wildlife and our nation's National Wildlife Refuges,
3) and to form partnerships in our local communities.

In Austwell, Gabriel Cortez won Best of Show and Kenna Rojan won Grand Champion. The Grand Champion artwork will be featured this year on one of the Refuge billboards on Hwy. 35.

Austwell-Tivoli 2005 art contest winners

2. Prairie Restoration with the Help of Austwell-Tivoli ISD
On May 12, 2005, 37 students in grades 4-6 from the Austwell-Tivoli Elementary School embarked on an adventure to plant 4 acres of native coastal prairie at the Myrtle Foester-Whitmire Division of the Aransas NWRC. This project is part of a larger effort to restore approximately 50 acres of coastal prairie at Whitmire. The 4 acres of planting completes an element of the 17 acre 5 Star National Fish and Wildlife Foundation Grant.

Austwell-Tivoli student planting native grass sprigs

Four different methods were used when planting including broadcasting seeds, gulf cordgrass sprigs, seed critters, and for seedlings grown by students. Students plantd and grew two species of forbs and made seed critters. The seed animals are made out of a native prairie mix and clay to aid in germination and protect seeds from animals eating it. The planting field trip was a culmination of four in school conservation education classes given by the refuge's environmental education specialist and biological staff. The students learned information about the following topics prairie restoration, conservation, wildlife, native versus introduced, and horticulture.

3. Migration Stewardship: Beyond Borders

Migration Stewardship: Beyond Borders was designed by Biological and Public Use staff of the Aransas National Wildlife Refuge as a two part educational outreach program for one hundred middle school students in the tri-county area. The event was designed to educate students on animal migration and the purpose of adaptation. It is a continuation and expansion of the 2003 monarch migration project.

Phase one of the program was hosted on November 18, 2004 by the Fennessey Ranch in Bayside, TX. Refuge staff presented programs on bird adaptation for migration and monarch butterfly biology and migration. Other activities included bird watching and identification, monarch butterfly tagging and insect collecting, a general wildlife identification tour and various other educational projects. The programs and activities met several Texas state public school requirements.

Phase two of the program coincided with International Migratory Bird Day in May 2005. Aransas National Wildlife Refuge hosted the event. Scheduled activities included guest lecturers from various environmental organizations, educational projects, refuge tours and programs designed to study the migration of various species.

4. Aransas NWRC Annual Fishing Clinic.
The Aransas NWR hosted its annual Fishing clinic on May 3, 2005. Four area schools were in attendance with a student total of 235. Using the Aransas NWR as an outdoor classroom, the goal of the clinic was to educate students about the National Wildlife Refuge System's mission as it relates to the protection of wildlife and fish. This hands-on experience encouraged an interest in fishing and promoted participation. Conservation ethics, fishing responsibility, boating safety, fishing gear, fish identification, and basic fishing

skills such as casting a fly rod were the key elements of the day. Students rotated through eleven different booths. Students had the opportunity to learn the rules and regulations of fishing, fly fishing techniques, create bandanas, hear fish tales and learn about fish migration. They also had an opportunity to identify real fish specimens. They learned proper casting and use of baits and fishing gear. All students were able to practice what they learned by fishing for catfish in a large pond. The construction of the pond was funded by ConocoPhillips. Partners that aided in the day's success were Texas Parks and Wildlife, Pure Fishing, Newwater Boats, TP Productions, and Wal-Mart Corporate.

Biological Program	Fire Management
Refuge Partnerships	Research
Comprehensive Conservation Plan (CCP)	Outreach

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