Urban Wildlife Refuge Partnership City Of Brownsville

abby’s story

Abby’s is age 7 she had just moved from Kansas to Brownsville, and was going through a bit of culture shock. She was STRUGGLING with a new structure and making friends at a new school. The school said that she had made some progress during the school year, but they were worried that Abby would struggle in the upcoming school year after an unstructured summer.

So, Abby's mother Nancy registered her for a summer day camp program. After a short time it was apparent that Abby needed a DIffeReNT camp, one that had more structure. Abby’s mom found the Outdoor Adventure Junior Ranger Program and registered her in hopes that a different camp might better suit her daughter’s needs. In the beginning of the summer, the staff struggled constantly with Abby's behavior, BUT this camp was different than other camps.

At this camp we focused on the outdoors! Every week was geared towards some form of outdoor activity: camping, fishing, hunting, or birding, we did our best to make sure that participants took away with them a

for the outdoors.

Towards the end of the summer we noticed a significant difference in Abby. She was eager to participate in the outdoor activities, and had even begun to make friends. Abby had broken out of her shell. When speaking to her mother she said "Our

whole world changed, the camp gave [her] a fun place [to go] that taught her self-restraint and provide[d] structured play. After the camp it is the first time in our life that Abby can communicate what she wants.”

Abby has shown a continued interest in the discoveries she made during summer camp - her mother shared that "before camp she had to fight to get her to go on hikes and it was just constant[ly] complaining. Now, she has a love for the outdoors, she WANTS to be outside, she is a much happier person to when she is outside."

BROWNSVILLE PARKS & RECREATION DEPARTMENT AND US FISH & WILDLIFE SERVICES

BEING A PART OF SOMETHING bigger THAN OURSELVES

meet

Ranger Georgie

My name is George Garcia (everyone calls me Georgie) I am the Urban Ranger @ Laguna Atascosa in partnership with the City of Brownsville.

I have been working with both for over a year now.

Something you will see is that I am teaching outdoor skills to kids such as catching a fish, gutting it, filleting it, and taking home dinner.

most commonly known phrase

too easy

URBAN WILDLIFE REFUGE PARTNERSHIP – CITY OF BROWNSVILLE

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Junior Ranger Outdoor Adventure Program FOCUS ON THE BIG 6 OF THE USFWS GETTING KIDS OUT INTO NATURE

Putting the FUN in fundamentals…

ARCHERY INSTURCTION

Birdseye view MORE THAN 500 SPECIES OF BIRDS IN LRGV PASSIONATE ABOUT THEIR OWN BACKYARD WHY CARE?

HAND EYE COORDINATION

Learning skills for life

Hooked on fun

COMMINICATION

SPECIAL NEEDS FISHING DAY

TRACKING

FISH IDENTIFICATION

ANIMAL IDENTIFICATION

REEL MECHANICAS

URBAN WILDLIFE REFUGE PARTNERSHIP – CITY OF BROWNSVILLE

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Hello from

brownsville, tx

KAYAKING WEEK 35 YOUTH 6 ADULTS

TOOK TO THE WATERS OF THE RESACAS TO ENJOY AND EXPLORE NATURE. URBAN WILDLIFE REFUGE PARTNERSHIP – CITY OF BROWNSVILLE

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Hello from

brownsville, tx

HUNTING WEEK 35 YOUTH 6 ADULTS

YES, WE REALLY DID - YOU SHOULD SEE THE BOAR!

URBAN WILDLIFE REFUGE PARTNERSHIP – CITY OF BROWNSVILLE

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Hello from

brownsville, tx

CAMPING SURVIVAL 35 YOUTH 6 ADULTS

FLINT BECAME OUR FRIEND! mmm… THOSE S’MORES WERE SO GOOOOODDDDD!!!!!

URBAN WILDLIFE REFUGE PARTNERSHIP – CITY OF BROWNSVILLE

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Hello from

brownsville, tx

FISHING WEEK 35 YOUTH 6 ADULTS

GETTING RID OF THE ICK FACTOR. LOOK MA I DID IT!

URBAN WILDLIFE REFUGE PARTNERSHIP – CITY OF BROWNSVILLE

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Hello from

brownsville, tx

OTHERS WEEKS INCLUDE: SPECIES & NATURE ID ARCHERY BEACH TOO MUCH FUN TO BE HAD!

URBAN WILDLIFE REFUGE PARTNERSHIP – CITY OF BROWNSVILLE

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Urban Core

FROM CLASSROOM

TO LOCAL PARK

The program model UTLIZING A PROGRESSIVE STRATEGY TO ACCLIMATIZE URBAN FAMILIES TO THE OUTDOORS

FROM PARK

Structure FAMILIAR ENVIRONMENT

Strategy

Management

INDOORS TO OUTDOORS INDOORS REALLY CLOSE BY

FIELD TRIP TO LOCAL PARK

Target LAGUNA ATASCOSA & BEYOND EXPERIENCING THE OUTDOORS

TO THE REFUGE URBAN WILDLIFE REFUGE PARTNERSHIP – CITY OF BROWNSVILLE

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BENEFITS OF CAMP

URBAN WILDLIFE REFUGE PARTNERSHIP – CITY OF BROWNSVILLE

BEST SUMMER EVER! BROWNSVILLE PARKS AND RECREATION DEPARTMENT AND US FISH AND WILDLIFE SERVICE

COST SHARE Calendar

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new discoveries

We did some analysis 5,679 Served. 4,137 Youth 1,542 Adults. 150 Special Needs

Served

Youth

Adults

Special Needs

5,679 Served

.

13%

3%

Market 35%

4,137 Youth

.

49%

1,542 Adults 340 Special Needs

| 06% URBAN WILDLIFE REFUGE PARTNERSHIP – CITY OF BROWNSVILLE

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Data analysis

# of participants

BETWEEN MAR – SEPT. @ 14 LOCATIONS. NUMBERS SERVED. 1800 1600 1400 1200 1000 800 600 400 200 0 MARCH APRIL MAY JUNE JULY AUG SEPT

URBAN WILDLIFE REFUGE PARTNERSHIP – CITY OF BROWNSVILLE

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• ALL OF YEAR 1 AND:

next steps

• WORK TO OPEN USFW TRACS • PILOT LENDING LIBRARY TO SUPPORT THE URBAN REFUGE EXPERIENCE • ENHANCE PROGRAM OFFERINGS • GRANTS