7415 Southwest Pkwy Bldg 6, Ste 500 #434
Austin, TX 78735
OK, TX
From the Chihuahuan Desert and high plains of Big Bend National Park, across broad swaths of prairie and plateau, to Big Thicket National Preserve tucked deep in the Pineywoods, and on to the popular Padre Island National Seashore, this region’s national parks awe visitors with their diversity. There's history here, too. Pick through a flint quarry, remember the Spanish missions, learn the secrets of Pleistocene mammoths, and visit a President's ranch - all in one weekend. NPCA’s Texas Regional Office works throughout the states of Texas and Oklahoma to educate, empower, and engage people in support of this region’s present and future parks.
Our Texas & Oklahoma-based team preserves our national parks by working in communities across the region to build new and diverse park advocates. They prioritize finding new entry points for connecting people to parks in ways that are most meaningful and inclusive to the local community. Passionate about connecting with future generations and our military community, this team provides interactive engagements that build a larger base of national park advocates.
NPCA Find Your Voice: Big Thicket
National Parks belong to you. See how a group of young advocates in Texas learned how to explore, protect, and advocate for their park as a part of the National…
See more ›The Texas Regional Office also works with a multitude of partners and organizations, and across all levels of government – from local to international – on a variety of park-protecting initiatives. In 2018, the region culminated a 10-year coalition effort to plant 180,000 longleaf pine trees in the Big Thicket National Preserve. This restoration project enhanced storm resiliency and floodwater mitigation for an ecosystem internationally recognized for its diversity of plant and animal species. Through partnerships, the Texas team has achieved great victories, including the 2015 establishment of Waco Mammoth National Monument and the designation of San Antonio’s five Spanish colonial missions as a UNESCO World Heritage site.
Texas Regional Office News
These newsletters provide timely updates and perspectives on issues of interest to our members and supporters in Texas and Oklahoma.
See more ›Looking ahead, the Texas team will continue their engagements and coalition building to protect our parks and their natural and cultural stories. Stay informed about our current work by signing up for action alerts today and help us succeed in:
Establishing the Blackwell School as a new park site that tells the story of a de-facto segregated school of Mexican and Mexican American children in Marfa, Texas;
Clearing the air above Guadalupe Mountains National Park and Big Bend National Park from pollutants causing harmful haze in the region;
Preserving the intrinsic value of the night sky in and around our national parks;
Enhancing protections for Big Thicket National Preserve for the betterment of the South East Texas region; and,
Improving the sustainability of Big Bend National Park.
We look forward to your engagement with us. As always, this team will encourage everyone to “Find your voice, y’all,” for our national parks.
Birding at Big Bend
Recognized as a world famous birding destination, this park is visited by or home to more than 350 different species of birds.
Field Offices in the Texas Region
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Dallas Field Office
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More about the Texas region
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Read more about Don't Divide Our Habitats, Ecosystems and Communities
NPCA at Work Don't Divide Our Habitats, Ecosystems and Communities Oppose new walls and fencing along the U.S.-Mexico border.
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Read more about Congress Averted an October Shutdown. But What’s Next?
Blog Post Congress Averted an October Shutdown. But What’s Next? National parks are open, thanks to late-night actions by Congress Sept. 30. But parks could face the same situation in mid-November that they just narrowly avoided if long-term funding issues aren’t resolved soon.
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Read more about What a Federal Government Shutdown Means for National Parks
Blog Post What a Federal Government Shutdown Means for National Parks If Congress fails to pass appropriations bills by deadline, the federal government will shut down. This puts the National Park Service in the unfortunate but necessary position of having to close its parks — putting family vacations, school trips, park protection and local economies in jeopardy. Here are 10 frequently asked questions.
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Read more about Texas Young Leaders Advocacy Council
Resource Texas Young Leaders Advocacy Council NPCA’s Texas Regional Office created the Texas Young Leaders Advocacy Council (YLAC) as part of NPCA’s strategic effort to engage young people with varying backgrounds, community connections and experiences to develop their voice, and speak up for our parks and expand our core of young advocates and volunteers.
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the parks within the system aim to tell the full American story and preserve these sites so those very stories live on for generations to come! — Chris & Alex
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Read more about 7 Tips for Telling Your Park Story Like a Documentary Photographer
Blog Post 7 Tips for Telling Your Park Story Like a Documentary Photographer We love national park photos, but posed images can’t tell the whole story — especially years later. An award-winning documentary photographer shares how to turn your family adventure into cherished memories.
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Read more about National Parks Are in Climate Distress. This Law is One Step Toward a Solution.
Blog Post National Parks Are in Climate Distress. This Law is One Step Toward a Solution. A year after its passage, 2022’s Inflation Reduction Act remains a historic climate investment in national parks. It can’t be the only one.
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Read more about Latinos Are Critical to the Environmental Movement
Blog Post Latinos Are Critical to the Environmental Movement Latino Conservation Week highlights the contributions of Latinos in caring for the environment, while encouraging the community’s culture of stewardship. Here’s how NPCA supports Latino engagement every day.
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Read more about Conservation Groups Sue EPA to Enforce State Plans, Clear Haze Pollution
Press Release Conservation Groups Sue EPA to Enforce State Plans, Clear Haze Pollution NPCA, Sierra Club, Environmental Integrity Project and Earthjustice filed suit against the Environmental Protection Agency to clear hazy skies.
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Read more about Regional Haze Pollution in EPA Region 6
Resource Regional Haze Pollution in EPA Region 6 Strong state regional haze plans are critical to restoring clean air and clear skies for treasured places like Carlsbad Caverns, Guadalupe Mountains and Big Bend National Parks, and Caney Creek Wilderness Area. Unfortunately, states in EPA’s Region 6, also known as the South Central region, are failing to adequately cut air pollution impacting these parks and wilderness areas and our communities.
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Read more about Texas Field Representative
Staff Cristóbal López Cristóbal López joined NPCA in 2023 as a Texas Field Representative. Cristóbal earned his M.A. in History from the University of Texas at San Antonio in 2022 and his B.A. in History from Tarleton State University in 2019. He wrote this M.A. thesis on the history of Mexican immigration and labor from 1930-1980. His area of focus includes the U.S. Southwest Borderlands and Mexican immigration. Since finishing his M.A., he has served as an advocate for public history and cultural resource management.
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Read more about Behind the Scenes at Padre Island
Podcast Episode Behind the Scenes at Padre Island Award-winning journalist Ben Goldfarb shares some of the unexpected adventures that shaped his new feature story in National Parks magazine — and how he built his career traveling to exciting places and writing about them.
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Read more about Into The Wind
Magazine Article Into The Wind At Padre Island National Seashore, not even a gale can ruin your trip.
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Read more about Comeback Bears
Magazine Article Comeback Bears How black bears crossed an international border and miles of desert to recolonize Texas’ Big Bend National Park.
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Read more about Celebrating Places and Stories Within Nature: Blackwell School National Historic Site
Blog Post Celebrating Places and Stories Within Nature: Blackwell School National Historic Site The second video in a new series showcases park advocate Daniel Hernandez and his deep generational connection to Blackwell School National Historic Site in Texas.
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Read more about NPCA and Nature Valley
Video Series NPCA and Nature Valley Watch the full video showcasing Daniel Hernandez’s experience and learn more about NPCA’s partnership with Nature Valley and its impact.
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Read more about National Parks Conservation Association y Nature Valley anuncian nueva serie de videos que celebra los espacios naturales y las historias que ellos inspiran
Press Release National Parks Conservation Association y Nature Valley anuncian nueva serie de videos que celebra los espacios naturales y las historias que ellos inspiran National Parks Conservation Association y Nature Valley fomentan la protección permanente de lugares que honran a personas e historias personales que han influido en la historia de nuestros terrenos públicos.
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Read more about NPCA and Nature Valley
Video Stories NPCA and Nature Valley Watch the full video showcasing Josie Gutierrez’s experience and learn more about NPCA’s partnership with Nature Valley and its impact.
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Read more about Park Talks
Regional Events Park Talks Join our NPCA community for virtual "Park Talks" to learn about our work and ways you can get involved.
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Read more about Associate Director, Communications
Staff and Media Personnel Kyle Groetzinger Kyle Groetzinger joined NPCA in June 2019 and serves as Associate Director of Communications. He leads communications strategy and media outreach efforts for the Mid-Atlantic, Southeast, Sun Coast, and Texas regions, along with the organization’s cultural resources and future parks teams.
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Read more about Texas Regional Director
Staff Cary Dupuy As Texas Regional Director for the National Parks Conservation Association, Cary works to engage new advocates for national parks and grow initiatives to support the 18 national park sites in Texas and Oklahoma.
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Read more about 10 Ways to Be a Park Advocate
Resource 10 Ways to Be a Park Advocate Want to be an advocate for parks, but don't know where to start?
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Read more about Regional Director of Development
Staff Sarah Reed Sarah joined NPCA in 2017, with 13 years of development experience she serves as the Regional Director of Development for the Texas and Sun Coast Regions.
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Read more about A Legacy Threatened
Report A Legacy Threatened NPCA's photo book shows the damage to parks caused by the 2017 hurricanes.
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Read more about A Healthy Advantage
Report A Healthy Advantage The Lower Rio Grande Valley (LRGV) Active Plan is a blueprint for a 428-mile trail network that will link the rich natural, cultural and historical resources of the Lower Rio Grande Valley.
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Read more about NPCA Find Your Voice: Big Thicket
Video NPCA Find Your Voice: Big Thicket National Parks belong to you. See how a group of young advocates in Texas learned how to explore, protect, and advocate for their park as a part of the National Parks Conservation Association’s Find Your Voice initiative.
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Read more about Associate Director
Staff Erika Pelletier Erika is the Associate Director of the Texas and Oklahoma Regional Office.
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Read more about San Antonio Missions Boundary Expansion Flyer
Fact Sheet San Antonio Missions Boundary Expansion Flyer Please join Bexar County Judge Nelson Wolff, Congressman Lloyd Doggett, and other local elected officials to celebrate the boundary expansion of the San Antonio Missions National Historical Park and San Antonio’s World Heritage Delegation.
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Read more about LSCNRA partners and supporters
Resource LSCNRA partners and supporters The Partners Coalition is comprised of agencies, organizations, governmental entities and other stakeholders that are interested in participating in the Lone Star Coastal National Recreation Area. The Coalition works with the Steering Committee to develop a proposed framework that, if adopted, will establish the composition and function of a governing body. The Partners Coalition also facilitates stakeholder dialogues with other local organizations, businesses, and communities, helps to identify additional site partners, and provides guidance to the planning team.
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Read more about Proposed Lone Star Coastal NRA Resources
Resource Proposed Lone Star Coastal NRA Resources View the related maps and documents. Read what others are saying about the project. Learn more about the rich cultural heritage, the outstanding wildlife diversity, and the recreation opportunities of the bays and their gateway communities.
Explore Our Parks
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- Alibates Flint Quarries National Monument ›
- Amistad National Recreation Area ›
- Big Bend National Park ›
- Big Thicket National Preserve ›
- Blackwell School National Historic Site ›
- Chamizal National Memorial ›
- Chickasaw National Recreation Area ›
- El Camino Real de los Tejas National Historic Trail ›
- El Camino Real de Tierra Adentro National Historic Trail ›
- Fort Davis National Historic Site ›
- Guadalupe Mountains National Park ›
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Preserve Our Parks
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