Terrebonne hosting fundraising tournament
May 29, 2012
Cecile Brou Mongrue
May 31, 2012
South Lafourche High School senior Alex Naquin has collected many keepsakes throughout his school years. One of his favorites is simply his name written on paper, not with pen or pencil, but with the ink from a dissected squid.
Three years ago, Naquin attended the LUMCOM Estuarine Awareness and Discovery Camp in Cocodrie, where he experienced firsthand what it is like to be a marine scientist studying Louisiana’s coastal environments. Through field and laboratory experiences, Naquin says he was able to discover the environment and make connections to what he was learning in school.
Camp Director Jennifer “Murt” Conover says campers are the scientists at LEAD camp. “You are not a student when you come to this camp. You will go out and find answers and look at the research,” she says.
The weeklong camp is designed to give campers an understanding of the ecosystem, threats to the coast and steps that can be taken to protect Louisiana’s natural resources.
Conover says the camp is ideal for high-school students considering a career in environmental sciences but is also interesting and informative for students who simply want to learn more about their environment.
“The camp is designed to start kids in the right direction by exposing them to research projects and the efforts being taken to protect Louisiana’s natural resources,” Conover says. “The younger they are exposed to environmental sciences, the more enthusiastic they are, and that is better for Louisiana.”
LEAD campers interact with marine scientists and participate in ongoing research at the Marine Center, which is located within the estuarine wetland complex of the Mississippi River delta plain. There, campers board research vessels, visit barrier islands, explore salt marshes and dissect marine animals to gain knowledge about Louisiana’s coastal and marine environments.
After conducting field research in the morning, campers return to the laboratory where they continue their research and discuss findings. “They begin to make connections to something they saw during a fishing trip or learned in school,” Conover says. “They learn that everything is tied together.”
As citizens of Louisiana, young people are faced with having to know about environmental issues, Conover says. “Because of their experiences at LEAD camp, they will be better-prepared to make decisions.”
She hopes that students will return to their schools and homes to share what they have learned with others. This year, activities have been added to allow campers to study the impact that oil spills have on the coastal and marine environments and the cleanup efforts required to protect the fragile ecosystems.
Inspired by his experiences at LEAD camp, Naquin, along with four other South Lafourche High School students, founded a student-based organization called Sassafras Louisiana following the recent oil spill in the Gulf of Mexico.
The organization brings together young people who are committed to the advancement of awareness, education, restoration and preservation of Louisiana’s environments and culture. The group recently hosted the Sassafras Louisiana Nutria Rodeo in Golden Meadow to bring awareness about the state’s invasive animal species.
Louisiana loses about 17 square miles each year because of natural and man-made causes. Naquin says he is passionate about preserving the state’s coastlines because he grew up fishing in the waters of south Louisiana. He wants future generations to have the same experiences he did. “Now is the time to save Louisiana,” he says. “Young people have a voice and can make a positive impact for the future of our state.”
This summer, Naquin returns to LEAD Camp as a staff member and to help raise awareness about Louisiana’s coastal environment for other high school students.
The all-inclusive, residential camp is scheduled for June 24 through June 29. For information on how to apply, contact Conover at (985) 851-2860. Supporters can also follow Sassafras Louisiana on Facebook.
Alex Naquin, South Lafourche High School senior and LUCMON Estuarine Awareness Discovery Camp alum, dissects a crab at the camp last year. This year’s camp starts June 24.
