December 2015
Silver Bulletin

Wrap up 2015 with a bang!

Keep rockin' your programs, start recruiting your friends &  

check out the 2016 schedule! 

In This Issue
2015 Cadet 
The two documents below contain basic contact information for all 2015 Texas Brigades cadets.  
We hope you will not only contact your fellow camp cadets, but others from your area, and invite them along when giving programs
 
We hope you will not only contact your fellow
camp Cadets, but others from your area. Invite them along when doing programs!

Updates:
We will be switching emails for the new year! Zelina will be using [email protected] until December 31st 2015.  Her new email address is [email protected]. Please be sure to update this information. 

Our new Executive Director, Aimee Carrasco, is using [email protected]. Please add this to your address book. 

Thank you! 
Aimee & Zelina 
 
Save the dates!
 2016 Camps 
June 11-15 - Rolling Plains Bobwhite Brigade
June 12-16 - South Texas Buckskin Brigade
June 24-28 - South Texas Bobwhite Brigade
July 6-10 - Bass Brigade
July 17-21 - Waterfowl Brigade
July 18-22 - Ranch Brigade
July 24-28 - North Texas Buckskin Brigade
NEW FOR 2016 
July 26-30-Coastal Brigade
 
Tips & Quick Reminders:
  • MONTHLY REPORTS - 3 months left to do programs
    Remember to send Zelina (
    [email protected])
    a monthly report of at least one activity, for an additional 50 points towards your Book of Accomplishments. 

  • For those of you participating in hunting and fishing trips - take pictures & share them with us! #TexasBrigades

We hope you continue to educate your communities, and we'll continue to offer our support. Please let us know how we can help you!

 

Amiee & Zelina  

Tip of the Month:
RECRUIT!!!
You may earn up to a maximum of 300 points for received applications for cadets and adults. Plus, you receive 150 points for each accepted application. Applications must be received by the deadline, and your name must be listed to receive points.

Congratulations to these Early Bird Winners!
South Texas Bobwhite
 
South Texas Buckskin
 
Rolling Plains Bobwhite
 
Aidan Sibley

  Jose Morales-Wade
 

Alexandria Butler

Luis Morales-Wade
Cooper Moore
  
Tommy Johnson
 
Sean Young
  
Kyle Kolbe

Weston Lilie
  
Lane Boekner

Taylor Drozd

Brandon Powell
 
Ethan Ayala
 
Wyatt Daughtry
Jett Vann  
Jacob Cole
 
Alex Faith
 

Chris Childress

Blaine Kayga 
North Texas Buckskin
 
Bass
 
Waterfowl
 
Naaman Johnson

Sydney Faust

Tucker Saunders

Sam Keierleber
 
Riley Lucherk

Madison Franks
 
Ray Edwards
 

Ryder Merta

Connor Himly

Stetson Dierlam
 
Hannah Reed

Garrett
 Stapleton
 
Reid Aschenbeck

Bennett Folsom 

Ranch
 
Micayla Pearson

Elise Hesseltine

JB Stegall 
 We received many great Early Bird Books! We hope to receive even more Books of Accomplishments!

Even if you did not send in an Early Bird book,
you may still work towards submitting a Book of Accomplishments.
Your reward?
College scholarship money
and an invitation to serve as an Assistant Leader.
website

Support Materials 

We try our hardest to equip you with everything you need to become conservation ambassadors.  Please utilize the materials and technology we have worked so hard on:
  • DVD - sent to you in the mail within 2 weeks after camp, includes all the pictures from camp, the PowerPoint, and additional resource materials your instructors thought would be beneficial for you to have.
  • Texas Brigades website - please visit www.texasbrigades.org, you'll find information about earning program points for your Book of Accomplishments, camp PowerPoints, and much more!

Promotional Materials


E-mail us if you would like Texas Brigades brochures or posters! 

Educate, Recruit, Research

If you're questioning whether a program will earn you points,
ask yourself if it meets one of the criteria listed below.   

 

Educate others about what you learned at camp; wildlife, leadership, conservation, habitat management, land stewardship, etc.

Program examples: manned or unmanned display, presentation, article, wildlife expos, ag fairs.  These are just a few examples of ways to educate!

 

Recruit others to participate in the Texas Brigades, both youth and adults.

Program examples: creating and displaying a new trifold, presentation, article, posting Brigades posters, radio interview. These are just a few examples of ways to recruit! 

 

Research Texas' wildlife, conservation and management methods, and methods to become a conservation ambassador.
Program examples: ranch management plan, food plots, species census surveys, plant collection. These are just a few examples of research programs! 
JOIN THE TEXAS BRIGADES NETWORK
We've officially launched the Texas Brigades Network!
We would like to connect every Texas Brigades graduate, all past Adult Leaders, volunteers and instructors, as well as donors, friends and Texas Brigades families.  With this expansive network, we will magnify our outreach, but we need your help! 
Please click the link below to join the Texas Brigades Network and give us your current contact information.  You will be added to our network and receive information about the Texas Brigades on a regular basis. Then, help us promote the Brigades; recruit new cadets and adult leaders, serve as an Adult Leader, connect us with potential donors or make a donation yourself.
Please email us to let us know if you're able to make any of the upcoming events on the calendar below, we'd love to have you with us!
 

WE NEED YOU:

Former Asst Leaders/Future Special Agents

 

Becoming a Special Agent means not only doing programs but

coordinating programs for cadets as well. We could always use your help with upcoming events, but we REALLY need your help with the events below! You'll be representing the Texas Brigades, just as a staff or committee member would. Contact Helen for specific information.

 

Upcoming Events
 
January 7-10  
 
 Dallas Safari Club Annual Convention January 7-10, 2016  
 
we are looking for someone to represent the Brigades. Contact Zelina at [email protected]

January 24
Fort Worth Stock Show - Kids Gone Wild  
we are looking for someone to represent the Brigades. Contact Zelina at [email protected]
 
  
 
For fun! Deadline unknown
 
http://sportingclassicsdaily.com/issue/2015-1/article/blaser-sporting-classics-essay-contest

 
ON-GOING ACTIVITIES
 
For events in your area, visit the Texas Parks & Wildlife website calendar section at
 
Find a Ducks Unlimited banquet in Texas at http://www.ducks.org/texas/events.
 
Find a Delta Waterfowl banquet in Texas at http://www.deltawaterfowl.org/events/.
 
Any cadet is invited to speak to the Big Country Master Naturalists (Abilene) who meet on the third Thursday of each month - call Rodney Sturdivant (Rolling Plains Bobwhite and Waterfowl Brigade) at home, 325-625-2715.
 
Get on the radio!
There are several radio stations across the state which host outdoor radio shows. Call them (or email) and ask to be on to promote Brigades!
 
  •  Lone Star Outdoors Show (KHYI 95.3) www.lonestaroutdoorshow.com
  •  Rusty Baker Outdoors (KZNE 1150) [email protected]
  •  Texas Fishing & Outdoors Show (KRLD 1080) www.texasfishingandoutdoors.com;
    888-256-1080
  •  Big Billy Kinder (WBAP) [email protected]; 877-820-2256
 
Thanks to the Texas Parks & Wildlife Hunter Ed Instructors for their support!!
 
Rodney Sturdivant (Rolling Plains Bobwhite & Waterfowl Brigade instructor) teaches Hunter Ed classes several times a year. Contact him at 325-625-2715.
 
Kim Price (Covey Leader and mom of Brigade grad, Faye Price) is also a Hunter Ed instructor from Iowa Park. She'd love to have you speak at one of her classes since Faye has left for college! Contact her at [email protected].
 
TEXAS QUAIL YOUTH PAGE!
Find instructions on this webpage http://wildlife.tamu.edu/quail/northern-bobwhite-kids-reverse-quail-decline-initiative/) for conducting experiments with scent stations and dummy nests. Share you results on Facebook. Contact Kristen Tyson at [email protected] if you have questions.
--------------------------------------------
Texas Trophy Hunters Magazine
Publishes a Texas Brigade story in every issue. We are looking for stories about your Brigade camp experience or about your experience on a Brigade hunt. Articles should be 500-1000 words and submitted to [email protected] by the following deadlines:
 
  •  Jan. 29th
  •  Mar 29th
  •  May 29th
  •  July 29th  
  •  Sept. 29th
  •  Nov. 29th
--------------------------------------------
If you live in or near Atascosa County, Natalie Bartek (South Texas Bobwhite Camp Coordinator) can get you a speaking engagement at the local Soil & Water Conservation District meeting or Texas Farm Bureau. Both organizations meet monthly and would love to hear from a Brigade cadet. Contact Natalie at
[email protected] 
 
                                                                              
 

Texas Youth Hunting ProgramTYHP
They sponsor introductory, instructive youth hunts for deer, turkey, hogs, javelina, exotics, dove, small game, waterfowl, varmints and other species. Normally, they provide mentors, lodging and meals.
 
To participate as a Youth Hunter in the Texas Youth Hunting Program, you must. . .
  • Be 9 to 17 years old.
  • Complete the Hunter Education Program.

  • Have a valid Texas hunting license and appropriate tags or stamps when required.

  • Be accompanied by a parent or guardian.

Visit http://texasyouthhunting.com/ for more information!  

TBGA
Texas Big Game Awards
If you harvest a white-tailed deer, mule deer, pronghorn or javelina this hunting season be sure to enter the Texas Big Game Awards.
 
Visit http://texasbiggameawards.org/ for more information!  
Contact Info

  

 

Zelina Alvarado
Program Coordinator

830-538-8911 - cell