Events, Volunteer Opportunities,
Continuing Education, & Deadlines
We've gathered some interesting events that naturalists of all ages may enjoy!
Blue text = LMNGBR event | Black text = Public event
Ongoing
LMNGBR is now accepting applications for the Spring 2020 Master Naturalist certification class. There are 20 spaces in the class and are filled on a first come-first serve basis. The final deadline to apply is February 4, 2020.
November 23, 2019
Caroline Dormon Lodge Hike
10:00 a.m. - 12:00 p.m.
@Chicot State Park, Louisiana State Arboretum, 1300 Sudie Lawton Ln, Ville Platte, LA 70586
Experience the rolling hills and lovely beech-magnolia forest of the Arboretum from our original entrance on HWY 3042. We will meet at the Caroline Dormon Lodge and take a hike through this beautiful area of the arboretum. The Lodge is located at 4213 Chicot Park Rd, Ville Platte, LA 70586. For more information please call us at 337-363-6289.
November 23, 2019
Animal Detectives
2:00 p.m. - 3:00 p.m.
@Chicot State Park, Louisiana State Arboretum, 1300 Sudie Lawton Ln, Ville Platte, LA 70586
Our resident critters can be great hiders but with the right training and practice you can learn where they go and what they do when we aren't around. Become an animal detective in this fun program and search for the animals that live in the Arboretum. Meet at the Arboretum Nature Center. For more information call us at 337-363-6289.
November 26, 2019
Snap It! An iNaturalist Training
5:00 p.m. - 6:00 p.m.
@Southeast Louisiana National Wildlife Refuges Complex, 61389 LA-434, Lacombe, LA
Join refuge volunteers for a FREE, one hour fun-filled educational program aimed at helping visitors explore nature with their smartphone or digital camera utilizing iNaturalist. The goal of this program is to connect people to nature and to assist the refuges in generating scientifically valuable biodiversity citizen science data.
November 25 - 26, 2019
Hummingbird Gardening Camp for 7-10 year olds
9:00 a.m. - 1:00 p.m.
@LSU Hilltop Arboretum
Your children will be the Hummingbird expert in your family at the end of this two-day camp on Monday and Tuesday of the Thanksgiving Holiday, 9am-1pm. Who does not enjoy watching Hummingbirds in a garden! Unfortunately, due to land development and climate change, hummingbird-friendly habitat may be changing across many hummingbird migration routes. Hummingbirds are likely to be present year-round in Baton Rouge, even in the winter! The children will learn how they can help Hummingbirds by creating a backyard habitat in which they can live and by becoming a Citizen Scientist. For 2 Days: $50 Members; $85 Non-Members (Includes one year membership). Registration
November 30, 2019
The Wild Turkey
10:00 a.m. - 11:00 a.m.
@Chicot State Park, Louisiana State Arboretum, 1300 Sudie Lawton Ln, Ville Platte, LA 70586
Learn all about the life and habits of the Wild Turkey in this fun program. A turkey craft will follow the presentation. This event is at the Arboretum Nature Center located inside of Chicot State Park. For more information call us at 337-363-6289.
November 30, 2019
Getting Kids Back To Nature
2:00 p.m. - 3:00 p.m.
@Chicot State Park, Louisiana State Arboretum, 1300 Sudie Lawton Ln, Ville Platte, LA 70586
Find out how much we can actually learn from nature. We will be dip netting for aquatic critters, learning new languages, using math skills, writing poetry and drawing and learning about the history of the park all while walking on the arboretum trails. Meet at the Arboretum Nature Center located inside of Chicot State Park. For more information call us at 337-363-6289.
December 5, 2019
Snap It! An iNaturalist Training
5:00 p.m. - 6:00 p.m.
@Southeast Louisiana National Wildlife Refuges Complex, 61389 LA-434, Lacombe, LA
Join refuge volunteers for a FREE, one hour fun-filled educational program aimed at helping visitors explore nature with their smartphone or digital camera utilizing iNaturalist. The goal of this program is to connect people to nature and to assist the refuges in generating scientifically valuable biodiversity citizen science data.
December 7, 2019
LMNGBR Natural History Workshop & Graduation!
December 7, 2019
Snap It! An iNaturalist Training
9:00 a.m. - 10:00 a.m.
@Southeast Louisiana National Wildlife Refuges Complex, 61389 LA-434, Lacombe, LA
Join refuge volunteers for a FREE, one hour fun-filled educational program aimed at helping visitors explore nature with their smartphone or digital camera utilizing iNaturalist. The goal of this program is to connect people to nature and to assist the refuges in generating scientifically valuable biodiversity citizen science data.
December 8, 2019
Expedition Paddle
8:00 a.m. - 3:00 p.m.
@Bayou La Fourche
If you are ready to put your paddling skills to the test, then this is the experience for you! Join the BREC Outdoor Adventure team and explore one of Louisiana’s beautiful waterways. This is for intermediate to advanced paddlers as it is a trip that features moving water and beautiful surroundings. Limited space is available, transportation and equipment are provided. Single and tandem kayaks available at first come first serve when registering. $10-30 per person. Ages: 12+.
December 13, 2019
Geminid Meteor Shower
9:00 p.m. - 1:00 a.m
@Highland Road Park Observatory, 13800 Highland Rd, Baton Rouge, LA
The Geminids are one of the major meteor showers of the year—the only one caused by an asteroid. Come see it at the observatory and watch for some “earthgrazers”! Enter the main building to sign in and receive instructions before setting your chairs or blankets. The observatory is the only BREC property on which the public is allowed for viewing this event. Free. Note: This event may shift by one day.
December 14, 2019
Snap It! An iNaturalist Training
9:00 a.m. - 10:00 a.m.
@Southeast Louisiana National Wildlife Refuges Complex, 61389 LA-434, Lacombe, LA
Join refuge volunteers for a FREE, one hour fun-filled educational program aimed at helping visitors explore nature with their smartphone or digital camera utilizing iNaturalist. The goal of this program is to connect people to nature and to assist the refuges in generating scientifically valuable biodiversity citizen science data.
January 17, 2020
2020 Arbor Day Celebration
LSU and Baton Rouge Green will be welcoming Dr. Ed Gilman, world-renowned University of Florida professor of Environmental Horticulture, as the keynote speaker for the 2020 Arbor Day Celebration. Details to be announced.
January 17 - 20, 2020
MLK Fest
Stay tuned for details on this big community cleanup event.
January 18, 2020
Native Plants & Native Landscapes Gardening Seminar
7:30 a.m. - 1:30 p.m.
@West Monroe Convention Center
The LSUAgCenter is hosting their 10th annual January gardening seminar and seed swap. Featured speakers include: "Louisiana Prairie Restoration" by Dr. Charles Allen, "Southeastern Grasslands Initiative and Plant Conservation" by Dr. Dwayne Estes, and "My Weeds, My Bugs, and Why They Matter" by Tammy Baumgarten. $20 pre-registration or at the door.
January 19, 2020
Arbor Day at Burden
9:00 a.m. - 1:00 p.m.
@Burden Woods, LSU AgCenter Botanic Gardens
Plant a family tree and watch it grow through the years. Visit Smokey Bear, enjoy StoryTime, a scavenger hunt, children’s tree climbing activity and more. Free admission.
January 20, 2020
Impacts of Protozoan Parasite on Gulf Coast Monarchs
6:30 p.m.
@Community Church Unitarian Universalist, 6690 Fleur de Lis Dr, New Orleans, LA 70124
Hosted by the Orleans Audubon Society. Monarch butterflies are a pollinator and major food source for dozens of insectivorous birds and insect species and are famous for the annual long-distance migration from southern Canada to Michoacán, Mexico, where they over-winter in reproductive diapause. In the last decade, a small population of monarchs along the Gulf Coast has been found to be dropping out of migration, and instead breeding over-winter on non-native milkweed, Asclepias curassavica, which is often planted in urban environments and remains in bloom after native milkweed has senesced. Work by Satterfield et al. 2015 has shown that the protozoan parasite Ophryocystis elektroscirrha is up to nine times more abundant in these non-migratory populations compared to migratory populations. Currently at Tulane University, a team of researchers has been tracking the population dynamics and disease status of non-migratory monarchs in New Orleans. Graduate student Christen Steele will discuss the latest results of their research.
January 25, 2020
Nature's Best Hope: A New Approach To Conservation That Starts In Your Yard
8:15 a.m. - 1:00 p.m.
@EBR Main Branch Library Conference Room, 7711 Goodwood Blvd, Baton Rouge, LA 70806
Featuring Douglas W. Tallamy. Tallamy's first book, Bringing Nature Home, awakened thousands of readers to an urgent situation: wildlife populations are in decline because the native plants they depend on are fast disappearing. His solution? Plant more natives. In this new book and talk, Tallamy takes the next step and outlines his vision for grassroots approaches to conservation. Nature's Best Hope shows how homeowners everywhere can turn their yards into conservation corridors that provide wildlife habitats. Because this approach relies on the initiatives of private individuals, it is immune from the whims of government policy. Even more important, it's practical, effective, and easy - you walk away with specific suggestions you can incorporate in your own yard. Registration
January 25, 2020
Designing Plant Communities for (More) Resilient Landscapes
9:00 a.m. - 5:00 p.m.
@The New Orleans Botanical Garden
Lecture and workshop by Thomas Rainer and Claudia West, the co-authors of the critically acclaimed book, Planting in a Post-Wild World. Lecture with Thomas Rainer: Learn how to create beautiful, lush, ecologically functional plantings for green infrastructure, public plantings, and residential gardens based on native plant communities. This lecture will focus on rebuilding biodiversity in New Orleans urban landscapes and gardens. After the lecture, join leading plantswoman Claudia West for a hands-on design workshop to learn how to translate ecological principles of wild plant communities into planting design tools that will help you create better planting. Learn why so many rain gardens, meadows, and ecological plantings fail. This interactive workshop will introduce you to the science behind stable and lasting plant combinations. You will learn the skill of creating plant communities in a hands-on design exercises. Workshop tickets $150.
January 29, 2020
Caernarvon Swamp Restoration
8:30 a.m. - 3:30 p.m.
@Braithwaite Boat Launch
Join the Lake Pontchartrain Basin Foundation for Swamp Restoration! This planting season, LPBF is aiming to get 6,000 trees into the ground and you can help us reach that number. Sign up to volunteer today!
February 5, 2020
LMNGBR Orientation for the Spring Certification Class
February 6, 2020
Night at the Museum: Plants
Doors open at 5:30 p.m.
Program 6:00 p.m. - 7:30 p.m.
@LSU Herbarium, Life Sciences Building Annex
Ever wonder what lies behind closed doors at the LSU Museums? “Night at the Museum” will give you a glimpse into the specimen collections and cutting edge research happening at LSU. “Night at the Museum” is a FREE public event and everyone is welcome to attend. The evening starts with short, engaging talks by researchers and graduate students about their research. The second half of the evening is a tour of the researcher's collection - space is very limited space for the tour, so reserve a spot in advance.
February 7 - 9, 2020
Louisiana Native Plant Society Meeting
@Wesley Center, 2350 Methodist Parkway, Woodworth, LA 71485
February 15 - 16, 2020
NOLS Wilderness First Aid Training
8:00 a.m. - 5:00 p.m.
@LSU Hilltop Arboretum
If you plan to spend time in the backcountry, you need to be prepared. Fast-paced and hands-on, this two-day course covers a wide range of wilderness medicine topics. The NOLS Wildnerness First Aid Course will help you prepare for the unexpected. The training is designed to meet the needs of trip leaders, camp staff, outdoor enthusiasts, and individuals working in remote locations. It will introduce you to caring for people who become ill or injured far from definitive medical care. $260 tuition. Registration opens in October.
February 29, 2020
Herb Day
8:00 a.m. - 2:00 p.m.
@Burden/LSU AgCenter Botanic Gardens
Herb Day is an educational outdoor and gardening event and sale sponsored by the American Herb Society Baton Rouge Unit. There will be an Herb “Petting Zoo” and other children’s activities to make this event fun for all ages. Herb classes will start at 9:30 a.m. and continue every hour. The event is free and open to the public.
February 29, 2020
Caernarvon Swamp Restoration
8:30 a.m. - 3:30 p.m.
@Braithwaite Boat Launch
Join the Lake Pontchartrain Basin Foundation for Swamp Restoration! This planting season, LPBF is aiming to get 6,000 trees into the ground and you can help us reach that number. Sign up to volunteer today!
March 5, 2020
Night at the Museum: Fish
Doors open at 5:30 p.m.
Program 6:00 p.m. - 7:30 p.m.
@LSU Museum of Natural Science, Foster Hall
Ever wonder what lies behind closed doors at the LSU Museum of Natural Science? “Night at the Museum” will give you a glimpse into the specimen collections and cutting edge research happening at the LSUMNS. “Night at the Museum” is a FREE public event and everyone is welcome to attend. The evening starts with short, engaging talks by researchers and graduate students about their research. The second half of the evening is a tour of the researcher's collection - space is very limited space for the tour, so reserve a spot in advance.
March 6 - 7, 2020
Environmental Education Symposium
Fontainebleau State Park, Mandeville
Save the Date! The Louisiana Environmental Education Commission (LEEC) is offering a fantastic professional development opportunity for educators. This year's symposium theme is "Take It Outside! Explore Nature's Classroom." This two-day event will offer short courses and concurrent sessions on a variety of environmental education topics with a focus on outdoor learning.
March 8, 2020
LMNGBR Plants Certification Workshop
March 14, 2020
LMNGBR Forest Ecology Certification Workshop
March 28, 2020
LMNGBR Field Trip to CERF
March 29, 2020
LMNGBR Birds Certification Workshop
April 2, 2020
Night at the Museum: Amphibians & Reptiles
Doors open at 5:30 p.m.
Program 6:00 p.m. - 7:30 p.m.
@LSU Museum of Natural Science, Foster Hall
Ever wonder what lies behind closed doors at the LSU Museum of Natural Science? “Night at the Museum” will give you a glimpse into the specimen collections and cutting edge research happening at the LSUMNS. “Night at the Museum” is a FREE public event and everyone is welcome to attend. The evening starts with short, engaging talks by researchers and graduate students about their research. The second half of the evening is a tour of the researcher's collection - space is very limited space for the tour, so reserve a spot in advance.
April 4, 2020
LMNGBR Stream Ecology Certification Workshop
April 4, 2020
Master Gardener Plant Sale
8:00 a.m. - 2:00 p.m.
@Burden/LSU AgCenter Botanic Gardens
Shop from over 5,000 homegrown perennials and annuals specifically selected by the East Baton Rouge Master Gardeners for success in your garden! The EBR Master Gardener Annual Plant Sale raises money to support the educational activities of the Master Gardeners and the LSU AgCenter Botanic Gardens. The event is free and open to the public.
April 17 - 19, 2020
Rendezvous 2020: Statewide Master Naturalist Conference
@Camp Hardtner, Pollock, LA
The Louisiana Master Naturalist Association annual conference. Registration opens in January.
April 25 - 26, 2020
LMNGBR Arthropods and Nocturnal Naturalist Certification Workshops
April 26, 2020
Louisiana Earth Day Celebration
Save the Date!
April 28, 2020
LSU Science Café: Our Changing Oceans
5:00 p.m. - 7:00 p.m.
@Varsity Theatre, 3353 Highland Road, Baton Rouge, LA
LSU marine biologist Morgan Kelly will present on how climate change is affecting life in the ocean and which species are likely to be the most vulnerable. Join us to learn more about the future of seafood. Morgan Kelly is an assistant professor in the LSU Department of Biological Sciences. Her research focuses on the ecology, evolution, and conservation of marine invertebrates—including oysters—in coastal Louisiana. She is an LSU Rainmaker and recipient of the prestigious Alfred P. Sloan Foundation Research Fellowship. For more info, please call 225-578-3870.
May 9, 2020
LMNGBR Natural History Certification Workshop
May 30, 2020
LMNGBR Amphibians and Reptiles Certification Workshop
June 20, 2020
Garden Fest
8:00 a.m. - 12:00 p.m.
@Burden/LSU AgCenter Botanic GardensBring the family for some summertime fun in the gardens! Garden Fest is a family friendly festival in the middle of Baton Rouge that promotes locally grown foods. Your family will enjoy fresh morning omelets by the Louisiana Egg Commission, famous Bloody Mary samples by Mason's Grill and local food trucks. Activities for kids include water slides, "Touch-a-Tractor" and hayrides! There will be vegetable trials and tastings and a chance to meet amazing local plant and gardening clubs in Baton Rouge. Admission is $5 per person and free for children ages 3 and under. Bring your swimsuits and prepare for a fun Saturday at the Botanic Gardens!
LMNGBR is now accepting applications for the Spring 2020 Master Naturalist certification class. There are 20 spaces in the class and are filled on a first come-first serve basis. The final deadline to apply is February 4, 2020.
November 23, 2019
Caroline Dormon Lodge Hike
10:00 a.m. - 12:00 p.m.
@Chicot State Park, Louisiana State Arboretum, 1300 Sudie Lawton Ln, Ville Platte, LA 70586
Experience the rolling hills and lovely beech-magnolia forest of the Arboretum from our original entrance on HWY 3042. We will meet at the Caroline Dormon Lodge and take a hike through this beautiful area of the arboretum. The Lodge is located at 4213 Chicot Park Rd, Ville Platte, LA 70586. For more information please call us at 337-363-6289.
November 23, 2019
Animal Detectives
2:00 p.m. - 3:00 p.m.
@Chicot State Park, Louisiana State Arboretum, 1300 Sudie Lawton Ln, Ville Platte, LA 70586
Our resident critters can be great hiders but with the right training and practice you can learn where they go and what they do when we aren't around. Become an animal detective in this fun program and search for the animals that live in the Arboretum. Meet at the Arboretum Nature Center. For more information call us at 337-363-6289.
November 26, 2019
Snap It! An iNaturalist Training
5:00 p.m. - 6:00 p.m.
@Southeast Louisiana National Wildlife Refuges Complex, 61389 LA-434, Lacombe, LA
Join refuge volunteers for a FREE, one hour fun-filled educational program aimed at helping visitors explore nature with their smartphone or digital camera utilizing iNaturalist. The goal of this program is to connect people to nature and to assist the refuges in generating scientifically valuable biodiversity citizen science data.
November 25 - 26, 2019
Hummingbird Gardening Camp for 7-10 year olds
9:00 a.m. - 1:00 p.m.
@LSU Hilltop Arboretum
Your children will be the Hummingbird expert in your family at the end of this two-day camp on Monday and Tuesday of the Thanksgiving Holiday, 9am-1pm. Who does not enjoy watching Hummingbirds in a garden! Unfortunately, due to land development and climate change, hummingbird-friendly habitat may be changing across many hummingbird migration routes. Hummingbirds are likely to be present year-round in Baton Rouge, even in the winter! The children will learn how they can help Hummingbirds by creating a backyard habitat in which they can live and by becoming a Citizen Scientist. For 2 Days: $50 Members; $85 Non-Members (Includes one year membership). Registration
November 30, 2019
The Wild Turkey
10:00 a.m. - 11:00 a.m.
@Chicot State Park, Louisiana State Arboretum, 1300 Sudie Lawton Ln, Ville Platte, LA 70586
Learn all about the life and habits of the Wild Turkey in this fun program. A turkey craft will follow the presentation. This event is at the Arboretum Nature Center located inside of Chicot State Park. For more information call us at 337-363-6289.
November 30, 2019
Getting Kids Back To Nature
2:00 p.m. - 3:00 p.m.
@Chicot State Park, Louisiana State Arboretum, 1300 Sudie Lawton Ln, Ville Platte, LA 70586
Find out how much we can actually learn from nature. We will be dip netting for aquatic critters, learning new languages, using math skills, writing poetry and drawing and learning about the history of the park all while walking on the arboretum trails. Meet at the Arboretum Nature Center located inside of Chicot State Park. For more information call us at 337-363-6289.
December 5, 2019
Snap It! An iNaturalist Training
5:00 p.m. - 6:00 p.m.
@Southeast Louisiana National Wildlife Refuges Complex, 61389 LA-434, Lacombe, LA
Join refuge volunteers for a FREE, one hour fun-filled educational program aimed at helping visitors explore nature with their smartphone or digital camera utilizing iNaturalist. The goal of this program is to connect people to nature and to assist the refuges in generating scientifically valuable biodiversity citizen science data.
December 7, 2019
LMNGBR Natural History Workshop & Graduation!
December 7, 2019
Snap It! An iNaturalist Training
9:00 a.m. - 10:00 a.m.
@Southeast Louisiana National Wildlife Refuges Complex, 61389 LA-434, Lacombe, LA
Join refuge volunteers for a FREE, one hour fun-filled educational program aimed at helping visitors explore nature with their smartphone or digital camera utilizing iNaturalist. The goal of this program is to connect people to nature and to assist the refuges in generating scientifically valuable biodiversity citizen science data.
December 8, 2019
Expedition Paddle
8:00 a.m. - 3:00 p.m.
@Bayou La Fourche
If you are ready to put your paddling skills to the test, then this is the experience for you! Join the BREC Outdoor Adventure team and explore one of Louisiana’s beautiful waterways. This is for intermediate to advanced paddlers as it is a trip that features moving water and beautiful surroundings. Limited space is available, transportation and equipment are provided. Single and tandem kayaks available at first come first serve when registering. $10-30 per person. Ages: 12+.
December 13, 2019
Geminid Meteor Shower
9:00 p.m. - 1:00 a.m
@Highland Road Park Observatory, 13800 Highland Rd, Baton Rouge, LA
The Geminids are one of the major meteor showers of the year—the only one caused by an asteroid. Come see it at the observatory and watch for some “earthgrazers”! Enter the main building to sign in and receive instructions before setting your chairs or blankets. The observatory is the only BREC property on which the public is allowed for viewing this event. Free. Note: This event may shift by one day.
December 14, 2019
Snap It! An iNaturalist Training
9:00 a.m. - 10:00 a.m.
@Southeast Louisiana National Wildlife Refuges Complex, 61389 LA-434, Lacombe, LA
Join refuge volunteers for a FREE, one hour fun-filled educational program aimed at helping visitors explore nature with their smartphone or digital camera utilizing iNaturalist. The goal of this program is to connect people to nature and to assist the refuges in generating scientifically valuable biodiversity citizen science data.
January 17, 2020
2020 Arbor Day Celebration
LSU and Baton Rouge Green will be welcoming Dr. Ed Gilman, world-renowned University of Florida professor of Environmental Horticulture, as the keynote speaker for the 2020 Arbor Day Celebration. Details to be announced.
January 17 - 20, 2020
MLK Fest
Stay tuned for details on this big community cleanup event.
January 18, 2020
Native Plants & Native Landscapes Gardening Seminar
7:30 a.m. - 1:30 p.m.
@West Monroe Convention Center
The LSUAgCenter is hosting their 10th annual January gardening seminar and seed swap. Featured speakers include: "Louisiana Prairie Restoration" by Dr. Charles Allen, "Southeastern Grasslands Initiative and Plant Conservation" by Dr. Dwayne Estes, and "My Weeds, My Bugs, and Why They Matter" by Tammy Baumgarten. $20 pre-registration or at the door.
January 19, 2020
Arbor Day at Burden
9:00 a.m. - 1:00 p.m.
@Burden Woods, LSU AgCenter Botanic Gardens
Plant a family tree and watch it grow through the years. Visit Smokey Bear, enjoy StoryTime, a scavenger hunt, children’s tree climbing activity and more. Free admission.
January 20, 2020
Impacts of Protozoan Parasite on Gulf Coast Monarchs
6:30 p.m.
@Community Church Unitarian Universalist, 6690 Fleur de Lis Dr, New Orleans, LA 70124
Hosted by the Orleans Audubon Society. Monarch butterflies are a pollinator and major food source for dozens of insectivorous birds and insect species and are famous for the annual long-distance migration from southern Canada to Michoacán, Mexico, where they over-winter in reproductive diapause. In the last decade, a small population of monarchs along the Gulf Coast has been found to be dropping out of migration, and instead breeding over-winter on non-native milkweed, Asclepias curassavica, which is often planted in urban environments and remains in bloom after native milkweed has senesced. Work by Satterfield et al. 2015 has shown that the protozoan parasite Ophryocystis elektroscirrha is up to nine times more abundant in these non-migratory populations compared to migratory populations. Currently at Tulane University, a team of researchers has been tracking the population dynamics and disease status of non-migratory monarchs in New Orleans. Graduate student Christen Steele will discuss the latest results of their research.
January 25, 2020
Nature's Best Hope: A New Approach To Conservation That Starts In Your Yard
8:15 a.m. - 1:00 p.m.
@EBR Main Branch Library Conference Room, 7711 Goodwood Blvd, Baton Rouge, LA 70806
Featuring Douglas W. Tallamy. Tallamy's first book, Bringing Nature Home, awakened thousands of readers to an urgent situation: wildlife populations are in decline because the native plants they depend on are fast disappearing. His solution? Plant more natives. In this new book and talk, Tallamy takes the next step and outlines his vision for grassroots approaches to conservation. Nature's Best Hope shows how homeowners everywhere can turn their yards into conservation corridors that provide wildlife habitats. Because this approach relies on the initiatives of private individuals, it is immune from the whims of government policy. Even more important, it's practical, effective, and easy - you walk away with specific suggestions you can incorporate in your own yard. Registration
January 25, 2020
Designing Plant Communities for (More) Resilient Landscapes
9:00 a.m. - 5:00 p.m.
@The New Orleans Botanical Garden
Lecture and workshop by Thomas Rainer and Claudia West, the co-authors of the critically acclaimed book, Planting in a Post-Wild World. Lecture with Thomas Rainer: Learn how to create beautiful, lush, ecologically functional plantings for green infrastructure, public plantings, and residential gardens based on native plant communities. This lecture will focus on rebuilding biodiversity in New Orleans urban landscapes and gardens. After the lecture, join leading plantswoman Claudia West for a hands-on design workshop to learn how to translate ecological principles of wild plant communities into planting design tools that will help you create better planting. Learn why so many rain gardens, meadows, and ecological plantings fail. This interactive workshop will introduce you to the science behind stable and lasting plant combinations. You will learn the skill of creating plant communities in a hands-on design exercises. Workshop tickets $150.
January 29, 2020
Caernarvon Swamp Restoration
8:30 a.m. - 3:30 p.m.
@Braithwaite Boat Launch
Join the Lake Pontchartrain Basin Foundation for Swamp Restoration! This planting season, LPBF is aiming to get 6,000 trees into the ground and you can help us reach that number. Sign up to volunteer today!
February 5, 2020
LMNGBR Orientation for the Spring Certification Class
February 6, 2020
Night at the Museum: Plants
Doors open at 5:30 p.m.
Program 6:00 p.m. - 7:30 p.m.
@LSU Herbarium, Life Sciences Building Annex
Ever wonder what lies behind closed doors at the LSU Museums? “Night at the Museum” will give you a glimpse into the specimen collections and cutting edge research happening at LSU. “Night at the Museum” is a FREE public event and everyone is welcome to attend. The evening starts with short, engaging talks by researchers and graduate students about their research. The second half of the evening is a tour of the researcher's collection - space is very limited space for the tour, so reserve a spot in advance.
February 7 - 9, 2020
Louisiana Native Plant Society Meeting
@Wesley Center, 2350 Methodist Parkway, Woodworth, LA 71485
February 15 - 16, 2020
NOLS Wilderness First Aid Training
8:00 a.m. - 5:00 p.m.
@LSU Hilltop Arboretum
If you plan to spend time in the backcountry, you need to be prepared. Fast-paced and hands-on, this two-day course covers a wide range of wilderness medicine topics. The NOLS Wildnerness First Aid Course will help you prepare for the unexpected. The training is designed to meet the needs of trip leaders, camp staff, outdoor enthusiasts, and individuals working in remote locations. It will introduce you to caring for people who become ill or injured far from definitive medical care. $260 tuition. Registration opens in October.
February 29, 2020
Herb Day
8:00 a.m. - 2:00 p.m.
@Burden/LSU AgCenter Botanic Gardens
Herb Day is an educational outdoor and gardening event and sale sponsored by the American Herb Society Baton Rouge Unit. There will be an Herb “Petting Zoo” and other children’s activities to make this event fun for all ages. Herb classes will start at 9:30 a.m. and continue every hour. The event is free and open to the public.
February 29, 2020
Caernarvon Swamp Restoration
8:30 a.m. - 3:30 p.m.
@Braithwaite Boat Launch
Join the Lake Pontchartrain Basin Foundation for Swamp Restoration! This planting season, LPBF is aiming to get 6,000 trees into the ground and you can help us reach that number. Sign up to volunteer today!
March 5, 2020
Night at the Museum: Fish
Doors open at 5:30 p.m.
Program 6:00 p.m. - 7:30 p.m.
@LSU Museum of Natural Science, Foster Hall
Ever wonder what lies behind closed doors at the LSU Museum of Natural Science? “Night at the Museum” will give you a glimpse into the specimen collections and cutting edge research happening at the LSUMNS. “Night at the Museum” is a FREE public event and everyone is welcome to attend. The evening starts with short, engaging talks by researchers and graduate students about their research. The second half of the evening is a tour of the researcher's collection - space is very limited space for the tour, so reserve a spot in advance.
March 6 - 7, 2020
Environmental Education Symposium
Fontainebleau State Park, Mandeville
Save the Date! The Louisiana Environmental Education Commission (LEEC) is offering a fantastic professional development opportunity for educators. This year's symposium theme is "Take It Outside! Explore Nature's Classroom." This two-day event will offer short courses and concurrent sessions on a variety of environmental education topics with a focus on outdoor learning.
March 8, 2020
LMNGBR Plants Certification Workshop
March 14, 2020
LMNGBR Forest Ecology Certification Workshop
March 28, 2020
LMNGBR Field Trip to CERF
March 29, 2020
LMNGBR Birds Certification Workshop
April 2, 2020
Night at the Museum: Amphibians & Reptiles
Doors open at 5:30 p.m.
Program 6:00 p.m. - 7:30 p.m.
@LSU Museum of Natural Science, Foster Hall
Ever wonder what lies behind closed doors at the LSU Museum of Natural Science? “Night at the Museum” will give you a glimpse into the specimen collections and cutting edge research happening at the LSUMNS. “Night at the Museum” is a FREE public event and everyone is welcome to attend. The evening starts with short, engaging talks by researchers and graduate students about their research. The second half of the evening is a tour of the researcher's collection - space is very limited space for the tour, so reserve a spot in advance.
April 4, 2020
LMNGBR Stream Ecology Certification Workshop
April 4, 2020
Master Gardener Plant Sale
8:00 a.m. - 2:00 p.m.
@Burden/LSU AgCenter Botanic Gardens
Shop from over 5,000 homegrown perennials and annuals specifically selected by the East Baton Rouge Master Gardeners for success in your garden! The EBR Master Gardener Annual Plant Sale raises money to support the educational activities of the Master Gardeners and the LSU AgCenter Botanic Gardens. The event is free and open to the public.
April 17 - 19, 2020
Rendezvous 2020: Statewide Master Naturalist Conference
@Camp Hardtner, Pollock, LA
The Louisiana Master Naturalist Association annual conference. Registration opens in January.
April 25 - 26, 2020
LMNGBR Arthropods and Nocturnal Naturalist Certification Workshops
April 26, 2020
Louisiana Earth Day Celebration
Save the Date!
April 28, 2020
LSU Science Café: Our Changing Oceans
5:00 p.m. - 7:00 p.m.
@Varsity Theatre, 3353 Highland Road, Baton Rouge, LA
LSU marine biologist Morgan Kelly will present on how climate change is affecting life in the ocean and which species are likely to be the most vulnerable. Join us to learn more about the future of seafood. Morgan Kelly is an assistant professor in the LSU Department of Biological Sciences. Her research focuses on the ecology, evolution, and conservation of marine invertebrates—including oysters—in coastal Louisiana. She is an LSU Rainmaker and recipient of the prestigious Alfred P. Sloan Foundation Research Fellowship. For more info, please call 225-578-3870.
May 9, 2020
LMNGBR Natural History Certification Workshop
May 30, 2020
LMNGBR Amphibians and Reptiles Certification Workshop
June 20, 2020
Garden Fest
8:00 a.m. - 12:00 p.m.
@Burden/LSU AgCenter Botanic GardensBring the family for some summertime fun in the gardens! Garden Fest is a family friendly festival in the middle of Baton Rouge that promotes locally grown foods. Your family will enjoy fresh morning omelets by the Louisiana Egg Commission, famous Bloody Mary samples by Mason's Grill and local food trucks. Activities for kids include water slides, "Touch-a-Tractor" and hayrides! There will be vegetable trials and tastings and a chance to meet amazing local plant and gardening clubs in Baton Rouge. Admission is $5 per person and free for children ages 3 and under. Bring your swimsuits and prepare for a fun Saturday at the Botanic Gardens!