take a kid (or yourself!) birding this April-May

Shelly Plante

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Mar 26, 2013, 8:26:10 PM3/26/13

to texas-childr...@googlegroups.com

With the Birding Classic team registration deadline less than a week away, I wanted to be sure to send one more email reminder in case any folks are still interested in registering a youth, teen, or even adult team for this year’s first statewide Great Texas Birding Classic: www.birdingclassic.org.

Registration fees go toward on-the-ground avian habitat conservation grants right here in Texas, and all participants receive this year’s Birding Classic t-shirt with kingfisher art on it. Additionally, there are prizes up for grabs for all youth teams!

Please see the links in the email below on how to register a team, rules of the game, and even tips on best ways to take kids out birding based on advice from seasoned Birding Classic veterans. Team registration deadline is Monday, April 1^st (6 days away!) and you can select your tournament day on the fly later one (as long as it happens from April 15-May 15).

Feel free to call (512-389-4500) or email me if you have any further questions.

Shelly

From: texas-childr...@googlegroups.com [mailto:texas-childr...@googlegroups.com] On
Sent: Thursday, February 21, 2013 12:38 PM

Looking for a fun way to take kids and teens outside, have some fun, and learn your local birds in the process? Mentor or chaperone a Roughwings (13 years and younger) or Gliders (14-18 year olds) team in the Great Texas Birding Classic. Registration is now open!

A new Birding Classic website has been launched with all the event details including tips from previous teams on how to mentor or chaperone youth and teenage teams, rules for the event, registration form, participation categories, and more!

The annual Great Texas Birding Classic (GTBC), which for the last 16 years has occurred solely on the Gulf Coast, has been expanded - to include the entire state of Texas!

Participate from anywhere in Texas, April 15 - May 15, 2013 (this year, you get to select which day your team birds!)

Here's why the 2013 GTBC will be the best ever!!!

- Savings: lower registration fees for teams

- Online access: register and access all materials online at www.birdingclassic.org

- NEW month-long format gives flexibility in the tournament, making it easier to participete: allows you to work around kids’ schedules to pick any day in this time frame to accommodate their busy schedules. Or you can even take part in more than one category, if you wish -- such as doing multiple a Big Sit! all ages team and a Roughwings team (13 years old and younger) while still having time to do a State Park Tournament all ages team as well; or mentoring a Gliders team and still doing a Big Sit! and Roughwings team! There are lots of options!

- Tournament day flexibility: also allows you to choose your participation day(s) on the fly instead of when you register. Now plan your dates based on weather, personal schedules, work, school or when you think birds are most likely to be seen. Teams just email the GTBC staff within 24-hours of their selected date.

- More categories: 42 different categories offer something for everyone, regardless of birdwatching experience, age, ability, location, length of time you prefer to bird, etc.

- NEW tournaments: State Park Tournament, Sunrise-to-Noon Tournament, Regional Tournaments for all age groups and statewide versions of past tournament categories.

Start Planning your Team Now—Registration deadline is April 1

Be sure to get your team's registration in before April 1 to assure you're included. If you have any question, please don’t hesitate to contact me directly. It would be great to have some youth and teenage teams in all nine regions of the tournament as well as teams participating in the new statewide tournaments, State Park Tournament, and Sunrise to Noon Tournament.

We look forward to your joining the fun at Texas' first statewide Great Texas Birding Classic.

Remember, as in previous years, the proceeds for this tournament are for the birds! Registration fees and sponsorship dollars go toward Conservation Grants for birding and habitat restoration and enhancement projects throughout the state, and some winning teams will help select which projects are funded.

Regards,

Shelly

______________________

Shelly Plante

Nature Tourism Manager, Texas Parks and Wildlife Dept.

4200 Smith School Road, Austin, Texas 78744

Phone: 512-389-4500; Cell: 512-241-9163; Fax: 512-389-8029

Great Texas Wildlife Trails - www.tpwd.state.tx.us/wildlifetrails

Texas Paddling Trails - www.tpwd.state.tx.us/paddlingtrails

Great Texas Birding Classic - www.tpwd.state.tx.us/gtbc

Learn how you can help Texas State Parks: <http://bit.ly/sVdilb>

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