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