None The Nature Conservancy in Texas Press Releases Search All Press Releases Niki F. McDaniel Senior Media Relations Manager, nmcdaniel@tnc.org, 210-224-8774, ext. 217

Nature Conservancy to offer free camping and events at Davis Mountains Preserve March 16-20

San Antono, Texas—March 6, 2006—Join the Friends of the Davis Mountains Preserve for an open weekend on the preserve from Thursday through Monday, March 16-20, featuring guided and self-guided hiking, guided and self-guided birding, trail riding (BYOH – Bring Your Own Horse), four-wheel-drive tours, a barbecue potluck and camping on the Davis Mountains Preserve. All events and camping are free and open to the public. Gates will open at 5 p.m. on Thursday and close at 4 p.m. on Monday.

Owned and managed by The Nature Conservancy of Texas, the 32,000-acre Davis Mountains Preserve on Hwy. 118 near Fort Davis is a spectacular representative of “sky island” ecology, providing home to animals and plants that live nowhere else in Texas and some found nowhere else on Earth.

Overnight primitive camping will be available, with camping areas within a short distance of the parking area. Gas and charcoal barbecue grills are available for campers and for the Saturday night potluck. No other open fires will be permitted but camp stoves may be used. Participants should bring food, water, weather-appropriate clothing, hats, and sun and rain protection.  

Cameras and binoculars will come in handy for most events. Horses must show Coggins test documentation. Four-wheel-drive tours are weather- and road-condition permitting, and vehicles must have a low range in the gear transfer. A sag wagon for gear will be available for back-country overnight camping trips. Some events include time set aside for picnicking.

Friday events include a guided hike at 9 a.m., a BYOH tour at 10 a.m. and a two-night, back-country camping trip starting at 1 p.m. that will include some strenuous day hiking. Saturday events include a guided birding tour at 7:30 a.m., a BYOH tour at 10 a.m., a four-wheel-drive tour at 10:30 a.m. and a barbecue potluck beginning at 6 p.m. Sunday events include  a BYOH tour at 10 a.m., a four-wheel-drive tour at 1 p.m., and a one-night back-country overnight camping trip starting at 10 a.m. A BYOH tour could be scheduled for Monday if there is enough interest.  

Early registration is encouraged, as participation in some events is limited. Call Crawford Marginot, (432) 426-2390, Ext. 1, before March 15 to register or for more information.

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The Nature Conservancy is an international, nonprofit organization that preserves plants, animals and natural communities that represent the diversity of life on Earth by protecting the lands and waters they need to survive. To date, the Conservancy and its nearly 1 million members have been responsible for the protection of more than 15 million acres in the United States and have helped protect more than 117 million acres in Latin America, the Caribbean, Asia and the Pacific. In the Lone Star State, The Nature Conservancy of Texas owns 35 nature preserves and conservation projects and assists private landowners to conserve their land through more than 70 voluntary land-preservation agreements. The Nature Conservancy of Texas protects 250,000 acres of wild lands and, with partners, has conserved close to a million acres for wildlife habitat across the state. Visit The Nature Conservancy of Texas on the Web at nature.org/texas.