Dear Stewards, Happy summer! I hope you're all getting a healthy dose of sunshine, staying cool and hydrated, and getting to spend quality time with your friends and family. We're gearing up for the wildest event of the year: the infamous All-Stewards Dove Hunt on Sept. 5-6. Tickets will go on sale very soon...stay tuned! The SCC's annual West Texas Trip on Oct. 9-12 is almost sold out. There is only one spot remaining, so grab it while you can! You don't want to miss your chance to spend time on the incredible Caldwell Ranch located in the most underrated region of Texas and potentially see some desert bighorn sheep up close and personal! The TPWF Board Fellow Program application is now open and will close July 25. We are looking for two new board fellows to serve as non-voting, visiting members of the TPWF board in 2026-2027. If you've served as a SOTW leader, please consider applying. Learn more about this incredible opportunity here. The Mentored Hunting & Fishing Initiatives applications are also open! We're looking for new and novice hunters and anglers to participate in our incredible, diverse hunts and fishing trips across the state. We are also always looking for new mentors and volunteers to bring into the fold. Learn more and apply here.
In this issue:
- Check out upcoming events
- Meet Austin Chapter and SCC member Nick Fisher
- Read a recap of the SCC trip to Port O'Connor
- Apply for the 2025-2026 Mentored Hunting and Fishing Season
- Learn about TPWD's new Trinity River WMA
- Learn about the 2025 Lone Star Land Steward Leopold Conservation Award winner
- Read about new trail upgrades at Lake Corpus Christi State Park
- Check out the TPWF 2024 Annual Report
Cheers, Katie
P.S. Have you checked on the status of your SOTW membership lately? Only current members will receive the SCC newsletter, have access to the "Conservation Connections" webpage, and be able to register for SCC events! If you need to renew, sign into your Wild Apricot account or visit stewardsofthewild.org/become-a-member. |
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Roseate Spoonbills at Sheldon Lake State Park Photo By: Theodore Scott |
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Upcoming Stewards of the Wild Events |
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Stewards of the Wild Highlights & News |
Meet Austin Steward Nick Fisher
When Nick Fisher was just three years old, his family moved from Indiana to rural Bastrop County, Texas. His mom was nervous—mostly about snakes. Nick, on the other hand, was thrilled.
“I was always flipping over rocks, looking for creepy crawly creatures,” he says. “I used to gift my mom bugs—sometimes alive, sometimes not—because I appreciated them and figured she should, too.”
That early fascination became the spark for a lifelong passion. Today, Nick is a region manager at Plateau Land and Wildlife Management, where he helps private landowners across Central Texas transition from traditional agriculture to wildlife management. Since 2021, he’s helped convert over 70,000 acres to conservation-focused practices that support native wildlife and ecosystems. |
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Nick credits his parents and the Texas outdoors for nurturing his curiosity. He grew up fishing with his dad and camping in state parks, often with a headlamp on, searching for frogs and snakes late into the night. In high school, he became intrigued by conservation efforts aimed at protecting the endangered Houston toad, and the more he learned, the more convinced he became that he was meant for a career in wildlife. He earned his wildlife biology degree from Texas State University, where herpetology was, unsurprisingly, his favorite class.
But the road to a conservation career wasn’t immediate. For 13 years, Nick worked at H-E-B, starting as a high school bagger and rising through the ranks to store leadership. It was a demanding job—but even in the grocery aisles, Nick found ways to put his wildlife knowledge to work.
“Any time a bat got into the store, I was the one they called to safely catch and relocate it,” he recalls. “I once pulled a rat snake out of someone’s engine in the parking lot because she refused to leave until it was gone. I used it as a chance to explain how beneficial they are.”
Those moments of wildlife rescue in the most unexpected places kept his conservation fire lit. When a full-time position opened at Plateau, Nick brought with him not only field experience and a wildlife degree, but also years of leadership and customer service. It was a natural fit. |
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Statewide Conservation Committee Coastal Trip to Port O'Connor
The Coastal Subcommittee of the SOTW Statewide Conservation Committee (SCC) hosted a trip to Port O’Connor June 6-8. The event kicked off Friday evening with Pat Murray, CCA National President, who spoke to the group about the importance of creating advocates for conservation work across the state. He answered Stewards’ questions about the coast, their own conservation interests, and how to get more involved.
Saturday morning, the group headed to Powderhorn Wildlife Management Area (WMA), where they heard from Sarah Affeldt, Powderhorn State Park Superintendent, and Tori Haynes, Powderhorn WMA Biologist. Sarah and Tori shared the history of the property, current habitat management strategies, and future plans for both the WMA and state park. Tori led the Stewards through native grass identification and hands-on transplantation of a particular native grass species across the WMA. Sarah later took Stewards on a tour of the future state park, followed by lunch at the restored lodge and fishing off the bulkhead. One Steward even caught his first red drum! The folks at Texas Parks and Wildlife Department (TPWD) graciously donated their recent trout and red drum catch for dinner that evening.
To put a cherry on top of a great weekend, Ranch Water Rentals donated boats and guides to take participants fishing Sunday morning! Not much compares to watching the sun rise over the bay. Attendees departed with a deeper understanding of the coastal prairies and valuable hands-on educational experiences.
Special thanks to TPWD's Tori Haynes & Sarah Affeldt, Pat Murray, Ranch Water Rentals, the SCC Coastal Subcommittee, and other supporters for making this special trip possible! |
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What is the Statewide Conservation Committee (SCC)?
The volunteer-led SCC was established to bolster the educational and non-consumptive opportunities offered to SOTW members across the state. The committee is made up of five subcommittees: Legislative, Private Lands, Game Species, Native Habitats, and Coastal, all of which will hold events relevant to their subject area. The full committee also holds virtual Lunch & Learns and additional events throughout the year. Want to get involved? Click here! Stay tuned to hear about more SCC opportunities coming this fall! |
Stewards Wanted: Apply Now for ’25-’26 Mentored Hunting & Fishing Season Not everyone grows up with access to the outdoors, and fewer people than ever are learning to hunt and fish. In a 2022 U.S. Fish & Wildlife Service report, it was estimated just 6% of Americans had hunted even once that year, and only 15% reported fishing. Without firsthand experience, it’s easy to lose sight of how hunting, fishing, and conservation go hand in hand.
That’s why SOTW created a Mentored Hunting & Fishing Initiative for its members—a hands-on way for novice adult hunters and anglers to build skills, confidence, and a lifelong connection to conservation.
Through exceptional guided hunting and fishing experiences, members can learn about habitat and species conservation, land access and stewardship, and ethical hunting and fishing practices—all while forging deep ties to Texas’ landscapes and longstanding outdoor traditions. |
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The mentee application for the 2025-2026 Mentored Hunting & Fishing Season is now open and will close on July 15 at 11:59 p.m.
Stewards members may apply to be selected for dove, duck, quail, or big game hunts on private lands—or for coastal fishing adventures. These immersive experiences are designed to give novice or first timers the tools to continue hunting and fishing on their own and to become thoughtful advocates of our wild things and wild places.
If you are a current Stewards member who is an experienced hunter or angler looking to give back, our mentor and volunteer application is open year-round. We’re always looking for Stewards of the Wild members who are ready to share their knowledge and passion for our Texas wild, because the future of Texas conservation depends on meaningful action today. |
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TPWF Board Fellows Program Application Now Open
The TPWF Board Fellows Program application is open now through July 25! This program offers rising conservation leaders in Texas an opportunity to gain invaluable experience and mentorship in nonprofit management and board governance while supporting our mission. The program is an important element of SOTW's ongoing mission to grow the next generation of conservation leaders in Texas.
Board Fellows, Role Details & Requirements:
- Fellows will serve a two-year term with the opportunity to serve a second term as a senior board fellow.
- Fellows are non-voting, visiting participants of the TPWF board.
- Fellows are strongly encouraged to attend all board meetings (3 per year) but may miss up to one meeting per year if absolutely necessary. Board meetings are typically held in January, April/May, and October, but these timeframes may vary. Board meetings may take place anywhere in Texas.
- Fellows will be required to execute a long-term project (either self-conceptualized or assigned) that directly supports the Stewards of the Wild mission and elevates their experience/influence within the conservation realm.
- Fellows must be current members of a Stewards of the Wild Chapter.
- Candidate must have co-chair experience on a Stewards of the Wild Chapter Advisory Council, and/or equivalent leadership experience and a history of taking serious initiative within their Stewards chapter.
- The ideal applicant for the Board Fellows Program should have a good understanding of, and deep interest in, conservation issues affecting Texas.
To learn more, please contact TPWF Engagement Manager Katie Spurgin at (214) 773-5268 or kspurgin@tpwf.org.
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Texas Parks and Wildlife Foundation Updates |
Honoring Our 2025 Lonestar Land Stewards
Texas Parks and Wildlife Department (TPWD) held its annual Lone Star Land Steward Awards in Austin on May 21 to honor the very best of private land stewardship across Texas.
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The Boggy Slough Conservation Area (BSCA), located along the Neches River in Houston and Trinity Counties, received the 2025 Texas Leopold Conservation Award. Given in honor of renowned conservationist Aldo Leopold, this prestigious award recognizes extraordinary achievement in voluntary conservation and natural resource management by American ranchers, farmers, and foresters in 28 states.
“Boggy Slough has been a cornerstone of the Neches River corridor for the better part of a century,” said Tim Siegmund, Private Lands Program Leader for TPWD’s Wildlife Division. “The careful stewardship by the T.L.L. Temple Foundation, and its enrollment into a conservation easement, ensure it will continue to serve as a cornerstone and example of excellent land management for generations to come."
BSCA is bordered by 18 miles of river frontage with about 4,500 acres of rare bottomland hardwood habitat. Home to an abundance of wildlife including white-tailed deer, waterfowl, squirrels, red-cockaded woodpeckers and many other species, Boggy Slough is considered by many to have “brought deer back into East Texas” through their historic 20th century re-stocking program and dedicated stewardship of the property.
Use the link below to learn more about the T.L.L. Temple Foundation’s work to conserve BSCA. |
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Phillips 66 Blazes New Trail at Corpus Christi
Visitors to Lake Corpus Christi State Park can now enjoy easier access to key areas of the park—thanks to a trail upgrade made possible by Phillips 66 through its longtime partnership with TPWF.
The project resurfaced and extended a popular interpretive trail leading to the birding and educational zone and the historic Civilian Conservation Corps Refectory, known as “The Castle.” Previously, the trail ended in a rough, grassy patch with no clear path forward, limiting access for many visitors. |
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A historic, locally sourced material called caliche-crete was chosen for the new trail surface. Used when the park was first developed in the 1930s, the cement-treated caliche offers a thoughtful nod to the original craftsmanship that shaped the park nearly a century ago. “This initiative underscores our company’s commitment to sustainability and community engagement,” said Jessica Follett, Regional Public Affairs Advisor at Phillips 66. “By using locally sourced materials to resurface the trail, we not only enhance the park’s natural beauty and accessibility but also support local businesses and reduce our environmental footprint." The new trail has already proven its durability by holding up well during recent rains, offering a safer and more welcoming experience for all. Phillips 66 and park staff celebrated the trail improvements on May 20 with the installation of the final signage—marking another successful collaboration between Texas State Parks, TPWF, and Phillips 66. |
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What else has TPWF been up to?
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Want more? Check out these interesting articles and resources: |
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Thank you to our statewide program sponsor! |
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The Caesar Kleberg Wildlife Research Institute at Texas A&M University-Kingsville is the leading wildlife research organization in Texas and one of the finest in the nation. Its mission is to provide science-based information for enhancing the conservation and management of wildlife in South Texas and related environments.
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Stewards of the Wild, Texas Parks and Wildlife Foundation’s conservation leadership program, equips emerging leaders aged 21 to 45 with opportunities to actively participate in the stewardship of Texas’ wild things and wild places by providing education, networking, and outdoor experiences.
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Copyright © 2025 Texas Parks and Wildlife Foundation, All rights reserved.
Our mailing address is: Texas Parks and Wildlife Foundation 6220 Gaston Ave. #700 Dallas, Texas 75214 |
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