When traveling through Texas, if you happen to be in the Houston area, The Houston Arboretum & Nature Center offers a unique urban forest and swamp refuge from city life right in the heart of Houston! As an ambassador for GoRVing, I spent the morning hanging with the local CW affiliate KIAH-TV and had the opportunity to speak to future generations of RVers and explorers during their summer camps.

This 155-acre nature preserve is located inside Houston’s Memorial Park, a 1500-acre wooded park that boasts hiking and biking trails, tennis courts, a golf course and other recreational activities. Bounded by what is called the Buffalo Bayou, this ‘wild’ urban waterway is part of the city’s flood management system but has been left in its natural oasis for locals to enjoy. With over 5 miles of trails, the Arboretum has boardwalks to explore and according to Arboretum officials, is home to more than 160 species of birds, 75 species of native trees, 33 different kinds of butterflies, 16 species of turtles and 10 species of frogs. Visitors can walk through swamps into pine forests and experience one of the most unique and informative nature centers I have ever visited.

Throughout the morning, I had the unique opportunity to speak with children from ages 6-12, all part of the Arboretum’s youth camp program. Multiple times I found myself in AWE over just how smart and progressive kids are these days! What floored me was when an 11-year old asked me why I hadn’t installed a hydrogen fuel cell on the ‘Green RV’. I then had to chuckle when I was told by an 8-year old, ‘If you are going to litter, why not litter into your trash can!’ Being able to speak, teach and ultimately learn from what will be our nation’s future generation today in a place so far from a city center, yet so close, was an experience I will remember forever.

]]> http://www.brianbrawdy.com/green-rver-teaches-future-generation-of-explorers/feed/ 2 http://www.brianbrawdy.com/green-rver-brian-brawdy-teams-with-gorvingcom/ http://www.brianbrawdy.com/green-rver-brian-brawdy-teams-with-gorvingcom/#comments Fri, 13 Mar 2009 16:15:07 +0000 Brian Brawdy http://wonderexplorebelieve.net/?p=1461 PRESS RELEASE – Brian Brawdy & Associates

Green RVer Brian Brawdy teams with GoRVing.com bringing experience, national exposure and tips in their ‘Go Green in Your RV’ section.’ “I am very excited to work with GoRVing to help spread the message of Green RVing, Dry Camping, Bookdocking and overall energy independence. I am looking forward to contributing to their efforts in a considerable way including video podcasts available in the very near future” says Brawdy. Visit GoRVing.com for more information.

A recent article from The Christian Science Monitor reported on the recent visit of President Barack Obama’s to Elkhart, Indiana. The article states, “… or that the average RV has the carbon footprint of a Third World nation.” Green RVer Brian Brawdy, “Yet another slam from the media on the RV industry. It is clear they have not done their homework and are oblivious to the RV lifestyle.” Additionally, last October, RVIA released the results of their environmental impact study – Study Shows RV Vacations Leave Smaller Carbon Footprint the Fly/Drive/Hotel Vacations. According to Brawdy, “This reference to the RV industry ranks right up there with McMansion, Frankenbus, Gas Guzzling Behemoth and Road Hog. Obviously some journalists choose to rely on old cliches as opposed to reporting the facts.”

Please leave your comments as to ways Brian can continue to educate the media.

He made me think back to my first camping trip with my Dad on Bear Mountain. Although our “RV” was a station wagon, the overnight in the woods, vision of campfire flames shooting into the air, smell of wood smoke, the animal sounds late into the evening and my first experience in a tent have stuck with me all these years.

I now realize that trips in RV’s, regardless of their design, reawaken the nomadic in each of us. Exploration, camping, adventure, RVing and communing with Nature reminds you that there is truly Dirt in Your DNA.

Today, scientists still debate the cause of bipedalism in the human family tree. For me, there is no question that our ancient ancestors stood to see around the bend in the path, over the next hill. They stood to see if they could walk to the rising sun or reach, on foot, the setting moon. They stood, and walked, for the sole purpose of exploration. In the debate between “Nature and Nurture,” wilderness exploration and adventure are a part of our very fabric. We needn’t learn it, it’s in us; the natural human tendencies of adventure and exploration are innate.

Though we may not all travel the world, have Doctorates and work for National Geographic or explore the wilderness full time, that does nothing to lesson one essential fact – RVers are 21st Century Explorers, the adventurers keeping the covered-wagon spirit of exploration and discovery alive.

First, a very special thanks to Jack Cole and Norm Jacobson from Lance Camper. Not only did they invite me into their home but our technical discussions will lead to the snow melting procedures I will use this winter when the temperatures up north make harvesting rainwater a bit of a challenge.

I want to also mention Bob Livingston from Affinity Group. He always challenges me to push the envelope and think of cutting edge ways of doing things with the Mobile Base Camp. His passion is as contagious as it is inspiring.

I can’t thank Steven and Don from Xantrex enough for their time and expertise in helping educate me and creating an amazing design for the Green RV’s energy management system (the brains of the operation) in utilizing the energy generated by the Kyocera PV’s and the Air Breeze wind turbine. I am blown away by their knowledge as well as the Xantrex products that will keep me off the beaten path and off the grid.

With Alaska now just two short weeks away, the conversation I had with Kip from Atwood Mobile Products about their revolutionary Excalibur XT two stage heater will not only help with the comfort level inside the rig but with energy conservation as well. This amazing heating system is fine-tuned to only use the power it truly needs to get the job done; not a drop more.

Terry from Fantastic Vent brought me up to speed on both the thermal domes I will need in this winter exploration season and the best way to employ my three Fantastic Vent Units already on board.

On the safety side of the vehicle, Wayne from RoadMaster Inc designed the perfect system of steering and stabilization. I cannot think of a better way to complement the SuperSprings and Rickson Truck Wheels.

When it comes to “Bringing the far away to your own front door”, Transfer Flow has made it possible for me this year. Ben continues to teach me how to be as efficient as possible in doing so. In the hunt for biodiesel, my fuel tank is one of my most important tools.

I am also very excited about my time with Nadine and Mary from Thetford. Their new EPA Certified & award winning products are worthy of all of our attention and applause.

Dave from Hamsar Diversico knows his stuff. HIs streamlined plan for rig-wide LED lighting is going to make a huge difference in the Green RV. Just wait and see.

Royal from MotoSAT is helping me keep abreast of the latest breaking wherever I am. He stayed late two evenings to help hook me up with HDTV.

I also want to thank the entire team at Go RVing and RVIA for making me feel right at home in a Show and an industry that I am brand new.

I believe passionately that in order to defend the wilderness, you must first discover it for yourself, personally. To save a wild place, we must first savor it.

That RVers, for the most part, do what we can to protect the very environment we love exploring, is a fact that seems to escape many in the media and on Main Street. From the Recreational Vehicle Industry Association website I learned that “Study Shows RV Vacations Leave Smaller Carbon Footprint than Fly/Drive/Hotel Vacations.

I’ve only been a “RVer” for a few months now. In that short time I’ve heard quite a bit about “gas guzzlers”, “road hogs” and even “eco terrorist. For those that have been RVing for a while, I don’t know how you have put up with it quite frankly. I was surprised just how skeptical, even cynical some folks can be.

It seems to take a good bit of time and effort to erase old, inaccurate stereotypes. How cool is it when the truth starts to take over?