Thursday, January 14th - Board Meeting
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Bayou Gardens - Open House
(Bayou Lacombe Centre)
Saturday, January 23 |
Thursday, March 11th - Board Meeting
Earth Fest at Audubon Zoo
March 20th and 21st
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If interested in volunteering to help in a U.S. Fish and Wildlife booth contact:
Byron Fortier at 985 – 882-2025 (email: Byron_Fortier@fws.gov).
Free admission to Zoo |
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Art Show at Bayou Lacombe Centrer
(A collaborative effort of the Friends and Bayou Lacombe Art Center)
Saturday and Sunday, March 20th and 21st
The Art Show and Sale is a joint effort of the Bayou Lacombe Arts Center (BLAC) and the Friends of Louisiana Wildlife Refuges. A portion of the proceeds from the sale will go to The Friends. Local artists will be featured.
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Black Bear Festival
Saturday, April 17th |
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Step Outside Day
(at Atchafalaya Refuge)
Saturday, May 8th
Each year the Southeast Louisiana Refuge (Atchafalaya National Wildlife Refuge) co-sponsors Step Outside Day with the Louisiana Department of Wildlife and Fisheries and the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, New Orleans District. Many local and regional contributors help us every year. Activities include, archery, the bear maze, bird watching, boat rides, decoy painting, fishing, laser shooting, nature photography, target and trap shooting and wood crafts. Exhibits include the birds of prey, black bear and alligator exhibits, dog training, trapping techniques, turkey and duck calling, turkey trapping and water safety. Lunches will be provided. It is held at the Sherburne Wildlife Management Area of the Louisiana Division of Wildlife and Fisheries.
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Thursday, May 13th – Board Meeting
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Fishing Event
Saturday, June 5th
Each year the Friends of Louisiana Wildlife Refuges in cooperation with the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service sponsor a highly successful Bogue Chitto Youth Fishing Event. This event has been a great way for kids (ages 4 thru 12) and families to enjoy the wonderful resources of our National Wildlife Refuges. Last year we provided over 200 youth and their families with everything they needed for a quality fishing experience. Each child receives a T-shirt, rod & reel (to keep), lunch and drinks, tackle, and bait.
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Crab Festival
Saturday and Sunday, June 26th and 27th
The Friends sponsor a food booth at the Crab Cook-off Festival in Lacombe to raise funds for a variety of activities during the year.
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Thursday, September 9th - Board Meeting
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Beach Sweep
Saturday, September 25th
Beach Sweep is a project of the Lake Ponchartrain Basin Foundation and is designed to remove debris from in and around Lake Ponchartrain. The Friends are a cooperating partner and focus on Big Branch Marsh and Bayou Sauvage. A light lunch will be provided. |
For reservations and specific locations contact:
Jody DeMeyere at 985-882-2024 (email: Jody_DeMeyere@fws.gov)
or
James A. “Jim” Schmidt at 985-285-7040 (email: jasbjs@aol.com) |
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Wild Things
Saturday, October 16th
Wild Things is a celebration of National Wildlife Refuge Week, held at the Southeast Louisiana headquarters office complex in Lacombe, Louisiana. The event has grown into one of the most popular family nature events in the area. It is a non-commercial, alcohol-free event that in 2008 drew over 2500 visitors. Wild Things is a showcase of the National Wildlife Refuge System and our area wildlife refuges and provides a wholesome recreational and educational experience for the whole family. Admission, parking, and all tours and programs are free.
Wild Things features over 25 exciting guest exhibitors and speakers, live animals, wildlife crafts, continuous live entertainment, gardens and grounds tours, and much more. The annual Wild Things Youth Wildlife Art Show is held at the event each year. The Art Show is a partnership between the Friends and the St. Tammany Arts Commission. Special “Kid Activities” like the Wildland Fire Academy, Bear Maze, decoy painting and nature crafts make it fun for everyone. Wild Things will also feature canoe and pontoon boat tours of beautiful Bayou Lacombe.
If interested in Volunteering contact:
Byron Fortier at 985 – 882-2025 (email: Byron_Fortier@fws.gov)
Jody DeMeyer at 985-882-2024 (email: Jody_DeMeyere@fws.gov)
or
James A. “Jim” Schmidt at 985-285-7040 (email: jasbjs@aol.com) |
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Membership Meeting
Saturday, November 13th
All members encouraged to attend the
General Membership Meeting. Meeting includes light dinner and pontoon ride on Bayou (weather permitting) Review of year’s activities, plans for the future, election of Board Members, etc. |
Two outings for Friends members will be scheduled later in the year.
Tentative plans include a trip to Atchafalaya Refuge. |
Work-Play Days:
Work-Play Days consist of three hours of volunteer work (9 A.M. till 12 noon) followed by a light lunch (provided by the Friends of Louisiana Wildlife Refuges) and a canoe adventure on the Bayou. The major focus has been on restoring Bayou Gardens and in developing interpretative trails at the Lacombe Centre site (61389 Hwy 434, Lacombe, Louisiana 70445). (Bayou Gardens is an historic garden developed in the mid-thirties to the mid-fifties. It includes many varieties of camellias and other exotic plants.
Reservations can be made by contacting:
Jody DeMeyere at 985-882-2024
Email: Jody_DeMeyere@fws.gov
or
James A. “Jim” Schmidt
985-285-7040
Email: jasbjs@aol.com
Donations and Grants:
We have received individual and corporate donations and are using them as “match” to go after a variety of grants. To date we have been very successful. We have received grants for a Brown Pelican display; for future Visitor Center design and interactive displays; interns for our educational programs; and to purchase display panels for our annual “Youth Wildlife Art Competition” held each October.
To make a donation contact:
Byron Fortier at 985-882-2025
email:Byron_Fortier@fws.gov
or
James A. “Jim” Schmidt
985-285-7040
Email: jasbjs@aol.com
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Friends of Louisiana Wildlife Refuges, Inc
61389 Hwy. 434
Lacombe, Louisiana 70445
www.friendsoflouisianawildliferefuges.org
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