For the fourth year in a row, Whole Earth Provision Co. is stepping up to support Texas State Parks. This Texas-based travel, adventure and nature store is hosting two events with proceeds going to helping state parks day-to day operational expenses and enhanced visitor programs.

This first event is “April is Texas State Parks Month.” Throughout April, customers at the nine Whole Earth Provision Co. locations in Austin, Dallas, Southlake, Houston and San Antonio will have the option at check-out counters to donate to Texas State Parks. For every $20 or more donated, Whole Earth will give customers a $5 state park gift card redeemable for park entrance fees and merchandise at state park stores throughout Texas. If the customer donates $50 or more, they will be offered a BUFF headpiece, in addition to a $5 Texas State Parks gift card.

On April 26, from 2-4 p.m., state park rangers will be handing out Texas State Park Guides at all nine locations while talking about the numerous activities people can do in state parks.

In addition, Texas State Parks is the beneficiary of ticket sales from the Banff Mountain Film Festival World Tour, a film festival held in Austin that is sponsored by Whole Earth. The festival is held at the Paramount Theater and includes the Radical Reels Tour, a sampling of breathtaking outdoor adventure films, on Saturday, April 18. Banff Mountain World Tour Films, which are international documentaries about unique places around the world, will be featured Sunday, April 19. View Film Line-ups, Event Trailers and Ticket Information online at http://wholeearthprovision.com/banff/.

“We are blessed in Texas with an excellent state park system that provides an unrivaled range of outdoor adventures,” says Jack Jones, Whole Earth Provision Company founder and lifelong Texas state park advocate. “These magical places belong to the citizens of Texas and are available for all of us to visit and enjoy.”

Mild weather, blooming flora and active wildlife make spring an ideal time of year to visit state parks, and most urbanites are closer to a state park than they might imagine. There are 12 state parks within an hour’s drive of Austin, nine within an hour’s drive of San Antonio, eight within a 60-minute drive of the Dallas-Fort Worth Metroplex, 11 within 90 minutes of Southlake and seven an hour or less drive from Houston.

“We depend on public-private partnerships with businesses such as Whole Earth Provision Co. to provide additional and much-needed funding to operate our state parks,” says Texas State Parks Director, Brent Leisure. “The month-long promotion at one of the state’s premier outdoor retailers helps us create a park experience that Texans expect and deserve.”

Texas State Parks provide an affordable and healthy way to spend time with family and friends. Children 12 and younger get in free. For more information about visiting Texas State Parks, visit: http://www.texasstateparks.org.