Aquatic & Wildlife Education Foundation, Inc.

The Aquatic & Wildlife Education Foundation provides the Northwest Louisiana Wildlife and Aquatic Education Program, an environmental education program, to the Ark-La-Tex. The Northwest Louisiana Wildlife and Aquatic Education Program has been in existence since 1989, and operated under the articles of incorporation of the City of Bossier City, Louisiana, until 1997. The Northwest Louisiana Wildlife and Aquatic Education Program was incorporated under the name “Aquatic & Wildlife Education Foundation, Inc.” on December 29,1997 and placed on file with the Secretary of State for the State of Louisiana on that date. It is incorporated as a non-profit 501 ( c ) (3) of the Internal Revenue Code. The purpose for which the Aquatic & Wildlife Education Foundation, Inc. was organized is: “to enhance environmental, wildlife, and aquatic education by utilizing the natural wildlife and aquatic resources by helping students recognize the interdependence of living organisms; increasing student awareness of the stress on which growing population centers place on ecosystems; increasing student awareness of the importance of wildlife and aquatic conservation; and to promote the development of citizens who can participate in environmental and conservation planning in the future”. Services include providing instructors, materials, and sites for environmental education; coordinating the various local, state, and federal agencies which participate ; obtaining sponsors for program activities; enhancing public awareness.

The Northwest Louisiana Wildlife and Aquatic Education Program reaches groups from a 120 mile radius, although the majority of participants are from Northwest Louisiana . The program has facilitated over 300,000 persons since its inception. The objectives of the Northwest Louisiana Wildlife and Aquatic Education Program are to: 1)improve the environmental, health and safety, and conservation based educational opportunities and curriculum materials available , 2)provide instructors and hands-on field trips to enhance these educational opportunities, 3)develop and distribute sustainable environmental education.

To accomplish this, the program uses three approaches:

First, throughout the school year, instructors from the Northwest Louisiana Wildlife and Aquatic Education Program visit schools to assist in teaching environmental education. The Northwest Louisiana Wildlife and Aquatic Education Program has been instrumental in providing, as well as developing, environmental science curricular materials and assisting with teacher training in the Northwestern Louisiana school systems. Health and safety issues are also addressed and include: water quality, cleanliness with handling turtles and other amphibians, boat and water safety, gun safety , exercise fitness through outdoor activities, agricultural and nutritional education, and simple first aid / survival in the wild.

Second, the 5^th grade has been chosen as a target group for intensified lesson plans culminating in two field trips—one in the fall and one in the spring. The natural resources of Bayou Bodcau Dam & Reservoir and the Cross Lake Fish Hatchery are used to provide hands-on environmental instruction during these field trips. The Cross Lake Fish Hatchery and the Bayou Bodcau Dam & Reservoir provide excellent natural outdoor classrooms for the Northwest Louisiana Wildlife and Aquatic Education Program. The Cross Lake Fish Hatchery is an ideal location due to its geographic proximity to the target population and availability of ponds for hands-on fishing. The Durden House Environmental Education Center , located at Bayou Bodcau on U.S. Army Corps of Engineers property, is a 150-year-old log cabin used as a facility for classrooms and offices for the wildlife and agricultural education. (For two years, the Aquatic & Wildlife Education Foundation participated in a challenge-cost sharing agreement with the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers to restore the Ben Durden Homestead at Bayou Bodcau. This project totaled over $187,000 for the Foundation. The purpose of the restoration was to provide the first Environmental Education Center in Northwest Louisiana . This 150 year old homestead was the site of the first Bossier Parish Police Jury meetings and was used as a courthouse for a time. The Durden House Environmental Education Center was completed Fall, 1999. In addition, a Trails Grant from the Governor’s Office of Rural Development enabled the completion of a nature trail. The ¾ mile asphalt trail is handicapped accessible with nature signs and benches for rest stops. Various local, state, and federal agencies have played a pivotal role in participating with this project : U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, Aquatic & Wildlife Education Foundation, Bossier Parish Police Jury, Bossier Parish Sheriff Department, Louisiana Technical College, U.S. Naval Reserve Center, Twenty-Sixth Judicial District Court, Barksdale AFB, Rinchuso’s Plumbing & Heating Inc.)

Volunteer instructors for the Program Field Trips are recruited from the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, City of Shreveport Water Department, Cross Lake Environmental Control, LSU-S Biological Science Department, the U.S. Wildlife Services, U.S.D.A., the Louisiana Department of Wildlife and Fisheries, and the U.S. Forest Service to assist the Foundation’s instructors. Each Field Trip consists of five different stations where students are given hands-on instruction in 25-minute classes on a rotating basis.

In the Fall Wildlife Education Field Trip, the five stations are as follows:

(1) wildlife habitat- in which various animals’ food, water, shelter, predators, and the types of plants involved in their lives are examined;

(2) a nature trail- where various insects, plant life, and leaf types are discussed;

(3) gun safety- where the Eddie Eagle program is used to teach young children what to do if they find a gun ;

(4) sustainable forestry- S.A.F.E. - which is used to explain ’s need for forests, renewable and non-renewable resources;

(5) Caddo Indian Artifacts- where the history of the Caddo Indians, their way of life, and examples of arrowhead making are explained.

In the Spring Aquatic Education Field Trip, the five stations are:

(1) Alligator and wetland habitat- where the students learn the form and function of wetlands and their importance to humanity;

(2) fish biology/fish I.D.- in which students learn basic biological information and to identify species of fish common to Louisiana ;

(3) water resources- in which students are taught the diversity, quality, and importance of our water resources;

(4) boat and water safety- where students learn a variety of health, safety, and survival concerns;

(5) hands-on fishing- where students are actually given the opportunity to catch live fish from an impoundment.

Third, the new J. Bennett Johnston Waterway Regional Visitor Center is being used for programming targeting the 4^th and 7^th grades. This includes Louisiana and Red River history and conservation education, U.S. Army Corps of Engineers Boat & Water Safety mission, migratory waterfowl, river resources, and other aquatic issues. This new facility is already scheduling school groups and makes use of its theater, exhibit area, and taxidermy displays. This project is presented in conjunction with the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers and Agbayani Construction.

Evaluation:

Evaluation forms are given to all teachers and group leaders who participate in any of the Northwest Louisiana Wildlife and Aquatic Education Program activities. These results are compiled and reviewed by the Foundation’s staff and are made available to the participating school systems. Statistics involving the number of participants are kept by the Foundation and the various School Boards.

Future Programming and Events:

Due to lack of funding, most school systems now have no agriculture or forestry based curriculum. At the urging of the EPA, International Paper Company, and local educators, a new program is being used. Sustainable Agriculture & Forestry Education (S.A.F.E.) explains the origins of everyday forestry products, foodstuffs, and agricultural products to young people. In order to meet these objectives, Dr. Dalton Gossett ( Louisiana State University - Shreveport ) has agreed to be in charge of curriculum development.

Also, each May the annual Ark-La-Tex Water Resource Festival takes place at the Louisiana Boardwalk in Bossier City, LA. Instructional booths from participating groups cover topics such as water quality, migratory waterfowl, coastal restoration, boat & water safety, proper fitting of PFD’s, sport fishing, boating regulations, disaster preparedness, environmental education, and a children’s tent. This event is presented in conjunction with the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers.

The Aquatic & Wildlife Education Foundation through the Northwest Louisiana Wildlife & Aquatic Education Program will continue to make every effort to develop new and innovative programming for future generations. Mrs. Diane Cappo and Dr. Dalton Gossett have served on committees to determine the use of C. Bickham Dickson Park as the “ Red River Research Park ”. They have also met with the U.S. Fish & Wildlife Service concerning the proposed environmental education center for that entity. Such joint efforts will continue to enhance the Northwest Louisiana Wildlife & Aquatic Education Program.