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
Early Bird Hours
|
Bluebonnet Swamp - Saturdays 7:00am - 9:00am
BREC Bluebonnet Swamp Nature Center has extended visitor hours on Saturdays for self-guided bird watching. |
Fontainbleau State Park - Sundays 9:30am - 10:30am
Meet the Interpretive Ranger at the Visitors Center for a light morning bird hike. Binoculars are available. |
Nature Events
June 26, 2021
Guided Canoe Tour of Chicot Lake
9:00am - 11:00am
@Chicot State Park
Join the site naturalists for a guided canoe tour of Chicot Lake to learn about the history of the lake and its flora and fauna. Pre-registration is required due to limited space. Visitors may bring their own canoes/kayaks but also need to pre-register. Call 337-363-6289 or email arboretum@crt.la.gov to register. Visitors must pay entrance fee to the park but the canoe tour is free.
July 5, 2021
The Challenges and Rewards of Doing Conservation Along a Highly Dynamic (Ephemeral) Coast
Noon - 1:00pm
@Conference center at the LSU AgCenter Botanic Gardens at Burden
Seth Blitch with the Nature Conservancy will be the speaker for this "Reflections in the Garden" presentation. Free for members, $10 for visitors.
July 17 - 25, 2021
National Moth Week
National Moth Week celebrates the beauty, life cycles, and habitats of moths. “Moth-ers” of all ages and abilities are encouraged to learn about, observe, and document moths in their backyards, parks, and neighborhoods. NMW offers everyone, everywhere a unique opportunity to become a Citizen Scientist and contribute scientific data about moths. Through partnerships with major online biological data depositories, NMW participants can help map moth distribution and provide needed information on other life history aspects around the globe. Post your moth observations on iNaturalist! More info: https://nationalmothweek.org
July 17 - 25, 2021
National Moth Week at Allen Acres
Botanist Dr. Charles Allen has filled his Bed & Breakfast property in Pitkin, LA with plants that feed butterflies and moths. You can book a room and frolic on the property while viewing hundreds of species of butterflies and moths at his special moth night viewing stands. He will also have nature walks planned that you can drop in as well. www.allenacresbandb.com
August 2, 2021
A Pollinator's Moon Garden
Noon - 1:00pm
@Conference center at the LSU AgCenter Botanic Gardens at Burden
Tammany Baumgarten will be the speaker for this "Reflections in the Garden" presentation. Free for members, $10 for visitors.
August 13, 2021
Swamp Flashlight Night
5:00pm - 9:00pm
@BREC Bluebonnet Swamp Nature Center
Bring your flashlights and enjoy a leisurely night hike with your family and friends, plus staff will provide live animal encounters.
August 20 - 22, 2021
Lily Orchid Days at Allen Acres
Join botanist Dr. Charles Allen in Pitkin, LA on outings to view some of Louisiana's most rare and extraordinary native plants, like the Carolina Lily, the Yellow Fringed Orchid and many more. Accommodations available at his bed & breakfast: www.allenacresbandb.com
September 6, 2021
History and Flora of the Louisiana Arboretum at Chicot State Park
Noon - 1:00pm
@Conference center at the LSU AgCenter Botanic Gardens at Burden
Kim Hollier will be the speaker for this "Reflections in the Garden" presentation. Free for members, $10 for visitors.
September 24 - 26, 2021
Butterfly Blast at Allen Acres
Botanist Dr. Charles Allen has filled his Bed & Breakfast property in Pitkin, LA with plants that feed butterflies and moths. You can book a room and frolic on the property while viewing hundreds of species of butterflies and moths at his special moth night viewing stands. He will also have butterfly walks planned at nearby sites that you drop in as well. www.allenacresbandb.com
September 25, 2021
Audubon Bicentennial
10:00am - 4:00pm
@Audubon State Historic Site, St. Francisville
Come celebrate the 200th Anniversary of John James Audubon at Oakley Plantation with a day full of fun family nature activities. Each hour different crafts, talks, demonstrations, or tours bring alive the life of the plants and animals that call the park home. An admission is charged. For more information please call the park at 1-225-635-3739.
October 4, 2021
Master Plan for the Burden Museum & Botanic Garden: Evisioning the Future
Noon - 1:00pm
@Conference center at the LSU AgCenter Botanic Gardens at Burden
Suzanne Turner and Associates will be the speaker for this "Reflections in the Garden" presentation. A hayride tour of the grounds will follow the presentation. Free for members, $10 for visitors.
November 12, 2021
Swamp Flashlight Night
5:00pm - 9:00pm
@BREC Bluebonnet Swamp Nature Center
Bring your flashlights and enjoy a leisurely night hike with your family and friends, plus staff will provide live animal encounters.
December 11, 2021
Trail Dayz
9:00am - 1:00pm
@BREC Comite River Park
Join the BREC Outdoors team for a morning of celebrating and enjoying all things trails! Learn more about BREC’s extensive wilderness trail systems for hiking and mountain biking. There will be mountain bikes available for rent, free snacks, music and more. Join a guided mountain bike ride or a guided hike to familiarize yourself with the trails for the first time, or meet with representatives from local mountain biking and hiking organizations to see about getting more involved in the active hobbies.
February 18 - 21, 2022
Great Backyard Bird Count
Participating is easy, fun to do alone, or with others, and can be done anywhere you find birds. Simply watch birds for 15 minutes or more, at least once over the four days. More info: www.birdcount.org
April 8-10, 2022
Rendezvous 2022: Statewide Master Naturalist Conference
@Camp Hardtner, Pitkin, LA
Third try is the charm! The Louisiana Master Naturalist Association's annual conference was canceled due to covid twice, but we are very optimistic that it will happen in person in 2022! All certified and non-certified members are eligible to attend. If you registered for Rendezvous 2020, your registration will automatically roll over to 2022. See https://www.louisianamasternaturalist.org/rendezvous-2022.html for updated information.
April or May 2022
City Nature Challenge
Baton Rouge is competing in the 2022 City Nature Challenge! The date will be announced in the fall. Let's beat the other cities!!!! Everyone can participate by posting observations of wildlife in iNaturalist during the competition weekend. http://www.brnaturechallenge.org
Guided Canoe Tour of Chicot Lake
9:00am - 11:00am
@Chicot State Park
Join the site naturalists for a guided canoe tour of Chicot Lake to learn about the history of the lake and its flora and fauna. Pre-registration is required due to limited space. Visitors may bring their own canoes/kayaks but also need to pre-register. Call 337-363-6289 or email arboretum@crt.la.gov to register. Visitors must pay entrance fee to the park but the canoe tour is free.
July 5, 2021
The Challenges and Rewards of Doing Conservation Along a Highly Dynamic (Ephemeral) Coast
Noon - 1:00pm
@Conference center at the LSU AgCenter Botanic Gardens at Burden
Seth Blitch with the Nature Conservancy will be the speaker for this "Reflections in the Garden" presentation. Free for members, $10 for visitors.
July 17 - 25, 2021
National Moth Week
National Moth Week celebrates the beauty, life cycles, and habitats of moths. “Moth-ers” of all ages and abilities are encouraged to learn about, observe, and document moths in their backyards, parks, and neighborhoods. NMW offers everyone, everywhere a unique opportunity to become a Citizen Scientist and contribute scientific data about moths. Through partnerships with major online biological data depositories, NMW participants can help map moth distribution and provide needed information on other life history aspects around the globe. Post your moth observations on iNaturalist! More info: https://nationalmothweek.org
July 17 - 25, 2021
National Moth Week at Allen Acres
Botanist Dr. Charles Allen has filled his Bed & Breakfast property in Pitkin, LA with plants that feed butterflies and moths. You can book a room and frolic on the property while viewing hundreds of species of butterflies and moths at his special moth night viewing stands. He will also have nature walks planned that you can drop in as well. www.allenacresbandb.com
August 2, 2021
A Pollinator's Moon Garden
Noon - 1:00pm
@Conference center at the LSU AgCenter Botanic Gardens at Burden
Tammany Baumgarten will be the speaker for this "Reflections in the Garden" presentation. Free for members, $10 for visitors.
August 13, 2021
Swamp Flashlight Night
5:00pm - 9:00pm
@BREC Bluebonnet Swamp Nature Center
Bring your flashlights and enjoy a leisurely night hike with your family and friends, plus staff will provide live animal encounters.
August 20 - 22, 2021
Lily Orchid Days at Allen Acres
Join botanist Dr. Charles Allen in Pitkin, LA on outings to view some of Louisiana's most rare and extraordinary native plants, like the Carolina Lily, the Yellow Fringed Orchid and many more. Accommodations available at his bed & breakfast: www.allenacresbandb.com
September 6, 2021
History and Flora of the Louisiana Arboretum at Chicot State Park
Noon - 1:00pm
@Conference center at the LSU AgCenter Botanic Gardens at Burden
Kim Hollier will be the speaker for this "Reflections in the Garden" presentation. Free for members, $10 for visitors.
September 24 - 26, 2021
Butterfly Blast at Allen Acres
Botanist Dr. Charles Allen has filled his Bed & Breakfast property in Pitkin, LA with plants that feed butterflies and moths. You can book a room and frolic on the property while viewing hundreds of species of butterflies and moths at his special moth night viewing stands. He will also have butterfly walks planned at nearby sites that you drop in as well. www.allenacresbandb.com
September 25, 2021
Audubon Bicentennial
10:00am - 4:00pm
@Audubon State Historic Site, St. Francisville
Come celebrate the 200th Anniversary of John James Audubon at Oakley Plantation with a day full of fun family nature activities. Each hour different crafts, talks, demonstrations, or tours bring alive the life of the plants and animals that call the park home. An admission is charged. For more information please call the park at 1-225-635-3739.
October 4, 2021
Master Plan for the Burden Museum & Botanic Garden: Evisioning the Future
Noon - 1:00pm
@Conference center at the LSU AgCenter Botanic Gardens at Burden
Suzanne Turner and Associates will be the speaker for this "Reflections in the Garden" presentation. A hayride tour of the grounds will follow the presentation. Free for members, $10 for visitors.
November 12, 2021
Swamp Flashlight Night
5:00pm - 9:00pm
@BREC Bluebonnet Swamp Nature Center
Bring your flashlights and enjoy a leisurely night hike with your family and friends, plus staff will provide live animal encounters.
December 11, 2021
Trail Dayz
9:00am - 1:00pm
@BREC Comite River Park
Join the BREC Outdoors team for a morning of celebrating and enjoying all things trails! Learn more about BREC’s extensive wilderness trail systems for hiking and mountain biking. There will be mountain bikes available for rent, free snacks, music and more. Join a guided mountain bike ride or a guided hike to familiarize yourself with the trails for the first time, or meet with representatives from local mountain biking and hiking organizations to see about getting more involved in the active hobbies.
February 18 - 21, 2022
Great Backyard Bird Count
Participating is easy, fun to do alone, or with others, and can be done anywhere you find birds. Simply watch birds for 15 minutes or more, at least once over the four days. More info: www.birdcount.org
April 8-10, 2022
Rendezvous 2022: Statewide Master Naturalist Conference
@Camp Hardtner, Pitkin, LA
Third try is the charm! The Louisiana Master Naturalist Association's annual conference was canceled due to covid twice, but we are very optimistic that it will happen in person in 2022! All certified and non-certified members are eligible to attend. If you registered for Rendezvous 2020, your registration will automatically roll over to 2022. See https://www.louisianamasternaturalist.org/rendezvous-2022.html for updated information.
April or May 2022
City Nature Challenge
Baton Rouge is competing in the 2022 City Nature Challenge! The date will be announced in the fall. Let's beat the other cities!!!! Everyone can participate by posting observations of wildlife in iNaturalist during the competition weekend. http://www.brnaturechallenge.org