Updated 02/20/11
The FoGISP monthly meeting is held the second Thursday of every month at 3 p.m. at the Nature Center conference room in the park. Feel free to join us.
The annual meeting is scheduled for the Last Saturday in August. each year
Regularly Scheduled Interpretive and Fun Activities
Below is a schedule of events to be held on a regularly scheduled basis conducted by FoGISP volunteers and TPWD staff. Activities are free of charge. Participants must pay the $5.00 per person park entry fee, and are urged to generously feed the FoGISP contribution box in the Nature Center. Event times are starting times. Please arrive at least 15 minutes before start time to allow for preparations.
Click on the activity picture to see a short video of the event. You must have Microsoft Media Player installed on your computer to see the videos. Please be patient. Some videos may take a minute or two to load.
The entire park is now open every
day from dawn to dusk for all day activities and for limited overnight RV and tent
camping activities. A temporary
park headquarters building has been established on the south side of FM 3005 on
the site of the former building which was destroyed by Hurricane Ike. It is open
every day at 8:00 o,clock AM. Consult the park web site or call 409-737-1222 for
details, camping reservations. and daily and camping fees.
Nature Center Open and Attended Saturdays and Sundays 10
a.m.-2 p.m. –
The Nature Center will serve as the gathering point for the scheduled interpretive activities
listed here. Nature displays
and videos pertaining to the park habitats
plants, and marine
and terrestrial denizens will be available as they are reconstructed
and/or developed. .March 19, 2011 thru November 27, 2011
Beach
and Surf Exploration – Saturdays 10:00 –
11:30 a.m., leaves from the Nature Center – Get a
close-up look at the many critters that inhabit the sand,
surf and seaweed with some hands-on seining and digging under the guidance of volunteer beachcombers
of Friends of Galveston Island State Park and Texas Master Naturalists. You can
help with seining or stay dry and just inspect the catch. March
19, 2011 thru
November 26, 2011
Discovering the Bay Shore and Mud Flats -
Sundays 10:00 am to 11:30 a.m., leaves from the Nature Center.
Learn how to seine and discover the richness of these wetlands nurseries
under
the guidance of FoGISP volunteers. Wear old tie-on closed shoes,
water shoes or waders if you plan to seine or you can stay dry and just inspect
the catch. March 19, 2011 thru
November 27, 2011
Spring
Migration Bird Walks - Sundays 8:30 a.m., leaves from the
Nature Center . Guided walks by knowledgeable
volunteers) through several habitats.. Binoculars and viewer
supplied if
necessary. Walks begin at 8:30 a.m., but please arrive by 8:15 for preparations.
March 27, 2011 through May 08, 2011 except April
10,2011
Sidney
McClendon Memorial Kayak Tours - By appointment kayak tours - Enthusiastic FoGISP
volunteers guide the way through the bayous, coves and natural and man made
marshes of the north side of the park. Enjoy the serenity of
experiencing almost all of the park habitats from water level and especially experience the
long-legged wading birds and raptors as they feed, breed and nest.
FoGISP has 6 tandem sit on top kayaks, paddles and life vests to accommodate 12
persons on each tour. Tours
on any day can be arranged for groups up to 12 on any mutually acceptable date.
To arrange a guided tour for you or your group,, contact Frank Bowser at
409-737-5567 or fjbowser@gmail.com No
group is too small, I'm on the water 2 to 3 times a week anyhow. . You
will be getting in and out of the boat several times, so be sure to wear
substantial water tolerant shoes because your feet will get wet and there are
oyster beds scattered along the route. April 16, 2011 thru
November 26, 2011
Jam Packed Field Trips - Conducted
on a reservations basis for groups of 10 or more - students, conventioneers,
scouts, or members of a church or community organization. Typical field trips
include 45 min to 1 hr beach and bay guided walks described above. However, we
can arrange for knowledgeable volunteers to guide birding, wildflower and
grasses walk, insect collecting and examination, freshwater pond dipping, or
water quality testing. Contact education coordinator, Nathan Veatch at
nveatch@swbell.net
Family Fishing Clinics
Family fishing clinics will be conducted by TPWD again this summer. Breinning or aspiring fishermen, boys, girls, men and women, will receive expert instruction on fish types and characteristics, fishing regulations, tackle types and tying, and casting tecniques. Rod, reel, tackle and bait are provided. Actual casting and fishing experiences take place in our grassy shored lagoon at the event site. Take a look below at the action at last year's events. Fishing clinic dates this year are Saturdays:
April 16, 2011
May 21, 2011
June 25, 2011
July 23, 2011
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05/09/09
After the paper work was all done and the wait for 9:00 o'clock to come, the instruction began.
After that everyone got their bait wet and showed off their casting and waiting skills.
Some got to show off their catches.
06/06/09
140 registrants lined the park roadway and the pond shores.
Quite a few of them caught fish.
Take a good look at the size of that speckled trout in the second picture from the left.
07/11/09
The folks signing in got a chance to inspect TPWD's "Take me fishing" displaymobile
After learning about fish and how to fish, the poles got a workout.
The drought has left the fishing hole almost dry, so the pickings were slim.
Although there weren't many fish around, there were plenty of prizes.
Copyright © 2006 Friends of Galveston Island State Park. All rights reserved. Last updated January 25, 2010
