Be there, or be square:

ETHS Annual Camping Trip 2004

Friday April 23-Sunday 25

Martin Dies , Jr. State Park

All ETHS members are invited to the ETHS annual spring camping trip. We are providing 3 screened shelters accommodating up to 8 people each, it is recommended that you bring your own tent to pitch on the site. Shelters include electricity, water, picnic table, small grill, and fire pit. You can bring your own firewood or purchased at the camp store. If we have more than the allotted 8 persons per site overflow camp sites will also be provided by ETHS. If you are interested in attending please let us know. If you have never been to our camp-outs we would like to encourage you to attend and share your herping adventures with us. Hope to see you there…

Martin Dies, Jr. State Park, until 1965 known as the Dam B State Park, is a 705-acre recreational area in Jasper and Tyler Counties between Woodville and Jasper on B. A. Steinhagen Reservoir (15,000 acres). The land for the park was acquired under a 50-year lease from the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers in 1964 and was opened in 1965.

Activities: Visitors can enjoy camping, hiking, boating, canoeing, fishing, swimming, mountain biking and wildlife and bird watching (Herping, new to the park by ETHS). There are canoes, kayaks, cycles, and a flat bottom boat for rent.

Tours: There are naturalist activities on weekends and outdoor educational facilities. For information on the schedule for these activities, contact the park.

Flora/Fauna: Located at the edge of the Big Thicket National Preserve, the park is in the heavily-forested area known as the "East Texas Pineywoods." The park has numerous creeks, known as sloughs, and cypress, willow, beech, magnolia and sweet bay are common. Each fall the golden hues of beeches are brilliant against the reds of blackgums and oaks, mixed among the evergreen pines. Hiking trails provide excellent opportunities to view wildlife, including woodland warblers, woodpeckers, bluebirds, herons, wood ducks, cranes, and alligators, as the park is adjacent to Angelina-Neches-Dam B Wildlife Management Area.

Directions: From Houston, take US Highway 59 north to Livingston, and then travel east on US Highway 190 for 65 miles to the park via Park Road 48; 11 miles east of Woodville, Texas.

Additional information can be found on the internet. http://www.tpwd.state.tx.us/park/martindi/

Visit eths.org to contact someone and let them know you're coming.