Archive of Events
February 2007
- Saturday, February 17: Volunteer workday at the Bayou Pierre Unit.
- Tuesday, February 27: Board meeting
March 2007
- Tuesday, March 27: Board meeting
April 2007
- Tuesday, April 24: Board meeting
May 2007
- Wednesday, May 2: Bossier Earth Day at the Bossier Civic Center
- Thursday, May 3: General membership meeting
Time:
6:30 p.m. - Social & Refreshments
7:00 p.m. - Business Meeting & ProgramPlace:
Broadmoor Branch
Shreve Memorial Library
1212 Captain Shreve Drive
Shreveport, LA 71105Speakers: Russell and Diane Cappo
Program: The J. Bennett Johnston Visitor Center; the history of the Red River Valley; the mission of the Corps of Engineers here; and environmental education in the Ark-La-Tex area.
- Saturday, May 5: Spring on the Refuge
Time: 8:00 a.m. - 3:00 p.m.
Place:
Red River National Wildlife Refuge
Headquarters Unit
555 Sunflower Road
Bossier City, LARefuge Alliance members and friends (if you're receiving this newsletter, you're a friend) are invited to come out and enjoy a spring day on the refuge. The birds are singing, the butterflies are fluttering, and the wildflowers are blooming. In the pecan orchard, there are roads and the levee to walk. If you'd like a longer hike, you can take the road through the fields to the lake. Maps of the refuge will be available and Alliance members will be on hand to answer questions.
Dennis Forshee, Alliance member and Wild Bird Center owner, will lead a bird walk starting at 8:30 a.m. Meet in front of the office at 8:20 a.m.
Bring the children, your binoculars and your camera. It's Louisiana, so you may need insect repellant. Bring some lawn chairs and a lunch and sit and visit awhile.
Bottled water will be available at $1.00 per bottle or you're welcome to bring your own drinks. T-shirts with the Refuge Alliance logo will be on sale at $10.00 for members and $12.00 for nonmembers. There will be free handouts of posters, refuge brochures, and the like. There is a restroom on site.
Directions to the refuge: From the intersection of US 71 (Barksdale Boulevard) and Jimmie Davis Highway (LA 511) in Bossier City, go south about one-half mile on US 71 and turn right (west) on Sunflower Road. Proceed to the end of the road; the gravel/dirt road through the gate across the cattle gap leads into the refuge.
- Friday-Saturday, May 18-19: Water Resources Festival at the Louisiana Boardwalk in Bossier City
August 2007
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Red River Refuge Alliance General Membership Meeting
Date: Thursday, August 9, 2007
Time: 6:30 p.m. Social & Refreshment
6:45 p.m. Business Meeting & ProgramPlace: Bossier Parish Library Historical Center
2206 Beckett Street
Bossier City, LA 71111
(318) 746-7717Please note the change in location for this month's meeting. We will return to the Broadmoor Library for the annual general membership meeting in October.
Speaker: Jeffrey Girard
Regional Archaeologist
Assistant Professor of Anthropology
Northwestern State University of LAProgram: The Conly Site--a 7,500-year-old Camp on Loggy Bayou
The Conly site is one of the oldest human habitations investigated in the southeastern United States; and contains the oldest human burials yet discovered in Louisiana. Because it was buried under nearly 12 feet of Red River clay, the remains of animal and plant foods used by the inhabitants are preserved in remarkably good condition. Known since the late 1970s when landowner Bill Conly brought it to the attention of archaeologists, the site, located on the banks of Loggy Bayou in Bienville Parish, had not been extensively studied prior to 1999. Loggy Bayou is the name given to the lower portion of Bayou Dorcheat, a major tributary of Red River.
After the construction of Lock and Dam No. 4 on the Red River near Coushatta, the water levels rose in Loggy Bayou, making the site easily accessible to treasure hunters and subjecting it to accelerated erosion. In 1999, nearby landowner Skipper Dickson, concerned about the preservation of the site, contacted Regional Archeologist Jeff Girard. Facilitated by the efforts of Skipper Dickson and the Regional Archeology Program, funding was secured from the State of Louisiana and the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers to stabilize the site. The Conly family donated an archeological conservation servitude, and in 2003, a rock retaining wall was placed over the exposed areas by the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers. Both the Caddo Tribe of Oklahoma and the Mississippi Band of Choctaw, who consider the site to have cultural and religious significance for their people, were actively involved in plans for the stabilization of the site.
September 2007
Outdoor Festival
Saturday, September 8, Noon to 8:00 p.m.
Belle Park Baptist Church
13061 Hwy 157, Haughton, LA 71037
For directions, call the church at 318-949-2512.The Annual Haynesville Celebration of Butterflies
Saturday, September 15, 9:30 a.m. to 8:00 p.m.
Claiborne Parish Fairgrounds
For more information and schedule of events: Celebration of ButterfliesBayou Bodcau 27th Annual Wildlife & Forestry Festival
Saturday, September 22, 10:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m.
Bayou Bodcau Reservoir (From Shreveport, LA, 20 miles east on I-20, then north on LA 157 to Bellevue, 2 miles north on a county road.)
For more information:
US Army Corps of Engineers, 318-949-1804 ext. 101
October 2007
- Thursday, October 4: Annual Meeting
Red River National Wildlife Refuge
3rd Annual National Wildlife Refuge Week Celebration
Saturday, October 20, 2007, 8:00 a.m. - 3:00 p.m.This will be a FREE fun-filled family event... Nature walks, children's activities, live wildlife, exciting demonstrations, door prizes, and more!
Location: 555 Sunflower Rd. in Bossier City (off Hwy. 71, dead end of Sunflower Rd.).
January 2008
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People's Choice Photo Contest Winners
We are pleased to announce the winners of the 2007 Red River National Wildlife Refuge Celebration People's Choice Photo Contest.
Adult:
- First Place - Jeff Trahan, Shreveport, LA
- Second Place - William Koff, Bossier City, LA
- Third Place - Roy Henderson, Shreveport, LA
Youth:
- First Place - Jessica Koff, Bossier City, LA
- Second Place - Jessica Koff, Bossier City, LA
- Third Place - Greg Simmons, Mansfield, LA
Children:
- First Place - Alex Menasco, Shreveport, LA
- Second Place - Alex Menasco, Shreveport, LA
- Third Place - Alex Menasco, Shreveport, LA
For more information about the photo contest, see the Contest Overview.
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Thursday, January 17th, 2008
General Membership Meeting
Time: 6:30 p.m.: Social & Refreshment
6:45 p.m.: Business Meeting & ProgramLocation: Broadmoor Branch
Shreve Memorial Library
1212 Captain Shreve Drive
Shreveport, LA 71105Speaker: Steven Gabrey
Associate Professor of Biology
Northwestern State University of LASteven received his PhD from LSU and has been teaching at NSU since 1999. He teaches ornithology, wildlife management and botany/forestry. He has had a federal "master bander" permit since 2000, and has been involved in banding a variety of species from ducks to Herring and Ring-billed Gulls to Seaside Sparrows and other songbirds. Steven is a charter member of the Red River Refuge Alliance and is Secretary of the Board of Directors.
Program: Birds with Bracelets: Bird banding, who does it, how do they do it, and why.
People have been putting small metal bracelets on wild birds' legs since the 16th century. These simple bands have evolved into one of the most important tools for biologists to study nearly every aspect of bird biology from discovering migration routes to learning about life expectancy. Join the Alliance for this introduction to the fascinating world of birdbanding.
We will also have a short wrap-up discussion of the October 20th Refuge Week event.
February 2008
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Great Backyard Bird Count
at the Red River National Wildlife Refuge
Saturday, February 16, 2008Invitation: You are invited to help count birds at the Red River National Wildlife Refuge during the Great Backyard Bird Count.
Where: Red River National Wildlife Refuge Headquarters Unit
555 Sunflower Road
Bossier City, LA 71112When: 8:00 a.m. - 4:00 p.m.
Sponsored by: The Red River Refuge Alliance, the U.S. Fish & Wildlife Service, and the Wild Bird Center of Shreveport.
Admission: FREE! Donations to the Red River Refuge Alliance to support refuge projects are gratefully accepted.
Who may attend: The public is invited, so bring your friends and family.
Directions to the refuge: From the intersection of US 71 (Barksdale Boulevard) and Jimmie Davis Highway (LA 511) in Bossier City, go south about one-half mile on US 71 and turn right (west) on Sunflower Road. Proceed to the end of the road; the gravel/dirt road through the gate across the cattle gap leads into the refuge. The Headquarters Unit is currently closed to the public except for special events, such as the Great Backyard Bird Count event.
Contact: Nancy Menasco, nmenasco@redriverrefugealliance.org, (318) 868-3255 (Shreveport)
About the Great Backyard Bird Count:
The GBBC is an annual four-day event and is a joint project of the National Audubon Society and the Cornell Lab of Ornithology. This year's count takes place from February 15-18. Join the thousands of people of all ages and levels of birdwatching experience who will be counting birds in their backyards, at a local wildlife refuge, in a local park or wherever birds are to be found throughout the U.S. and Canada. To learn more, visit the GBBC website at www.birdcount.org
Schedule of Activities:
8:00 a.m. - Breakfast with the Birds. Join us for doughnuts, shade-grown coffee, hot tea, and hot chocolate.
8:15 a.m. - Bird Walk. Children welcome accompanied by an adult.
All Day - Feeder watch, walking trails, informal refuge tours. Expert birders will be on hand all day to help with identification.
Loaner binoculars will be available.
March 2008
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Red River Refuge Alliance General Membership Meeting
Date: Monday, March 3, 2008
Time: 6:30 p.m. - Social & Refreshments
6:45 p.m. - Business Meeting & Program
Place: Broadmoor Branch
Shreve Memorial Library
1212 Captain Shreve Drive
Shreveport, LA 71105
Speaker: Maggie Hodge, Ph.D.
Research Associate
Northwestern State University
Program: "Life on a Silk Thread: The Fascinating World of Spiders." Learn about spider biology, behavior and ecology, common Louisiana spiders, common misconceptions about spiders, and the Louisiana Spider Survey. -
Breakfast with the Birds (Rescheduled)
Red River National Wildlife Refuge
Saturday, March 15, 2008, 8:00 a.m-2:00 p.m.
Sponsors: Red River Refuge Alliance, U.S. Fish & Wildlife Service, Wild Bird Center of ShreveportContact - Nancy Menasco, 868-3255 (H/W), nmenasco@redriverrefugealliance.org
This event was rained out in February and has been rescheduled. Come visit the Red River National Wildlife Refuge Headquarters in Bossier City. Walk the trails in the pecan grove or try out the new trail along the river. The event will be canceled in case of rain.Schedule of Activities:
8:00 a.m. until - Breakfast with the Birds. Doughnuts, shade-grown coffee, hot tea, and hot chocolate.8:15 a.m. - Bird Walk with Dennis Forshee. Children accompanied by an adult are welcome.
All Day - Feeder watch, walking trails, informal refuge tours.
Directions to the refuge: From the intersection of US 71 (Barksdale Boulevard) and Jimmie Davis Highway (LA 511) in Bossier City, go south about one-half mile on US 71 and turn right (west) on Sunflower Road. Proceed to the end of the road; the gravel/dirt road through the gate across the cattle guard leads into the refuge. You'll see the Red River National Wildlife Refuge entrance sign as you enter. The Headquarters Unit is currently closed to the public except for special events, such as Breakfast with the Birds.
May 2008
- Saturday, May 3: International Migratory Bird Day at the Refuge, Refuge Headquarters, Bossier City
- Monday, May 12: General Membership Meeting, Broadmoor Library, Shreveport
June 2008
- Saturday, June 7: Refuge Workday, Refuge Headquarters, Bossier City
- Monday, June 16: Refuge Celebration Planning Meeting, Refuge Headquarters, Bossier City
October 2008
- General Membership Meeting, Broadmoor Library, Shreveport
Date: Monday, October 6, 2008
Time: 6:30 p.m. Social & Refreshments
6:45 p.m. Business Meeting & ProgramPlace: Broadmoor Branch
Shreve Memorial Library
1212 Captain Shreve Drive
Shreveport, LA 71105Speaker: Montessori School for Shreveport
Middle School StudentsProgram: Shreveport's Old River: The formation and use of Shreveport's historic waterways, including the Red River and Bayou Pierre.
Business: Annual election of board members
Refuge Celebration planning - Sunday, October 12, before dawn until after dark: The Big Sit at the Headquarters Unit
- Saturday, October 18, 2008, 8:00 a.m. - 3:00 p.m.
4th Annual Refuge Celebration, Refuge Headquarters, Bossier City
February 2009
- Board Retreat, Feb. 6-7, 2009, at Northwestern State University Aquaculture Research Center
- Great Backyard Bird Count and Breakfast with the Birds public event, 8:00 a.m. - 4:00 p.m., Saturday, Feb. 14, 2009
March 2009
- General Membership Meeting, Open to the Public:
"The Louisiana Black Bear", presented by Paul Davidson of Black Bear Conservation Committee, at 6:30 p.m. Monday, March 2, 2009, at Broadmoor Branch, Shreve Memorial Library - Refuge Work Day: Saturday, March 28, 2009, Headquarters Unit. Details TBA.
April 2009
- General Membership Meeting, Program TBA, at 6:30 p.m. Monday, April 6, 2009, at Broadmoor Branch, Shreve Memorial Library
May 2009
- Saturday, May 2: International Migratory Bird Day celebration, 8:00 a.m. to 3:00 p.m.
Where: Red River National Wildlife Refuge
Headquarters Unit
555 Sunflower Road
Bossier City, LA 71112Who may attend: The public is invited, so bring your friends and family. Children are very welcome.
Admission: FREE! Donations to the Friends of Red River NWR to support refuge projects are gratefully accepted. Free breakfast bar beginning at 8:00 a.m. Hot dogs will be sold at lunchtime.
Theme: Celebrate Birds in Culture
Contact: info@friendsofredriver.org or Nancy Menasco at 868-3255
Bird/nature walks will begin at 8:30 a.m. Children accompanied by an adult are welcome. Master Falconer Francie Forrester and fellow falconers will be on hand with their hawks.
- Monday, May 4: General Membership Meeting
Where: Broadmoor Branch
Shreve Memorial Library
1212 Captain Shreve Drive
Shreveport, LA 71105Date: Monday, May 4, 2009
Time: 6:30 p.m. - Social & Refreshments
6:45 p.m. - Business Meeting & ProgramProgram: "Leave No Kid Inside: Connecting your Community to Nature." Learn about "nature-deficit disorder" and the importance of addressing concerns relative to children's lack of exposure to nature. Learn about activities that can be encouraged by parents at home to increase children's exposure to the natural world and how public agencies are developing partnerships to provide outdoor experiences for children in their communities.
Speaker: Larry Raymond, Director of Parks and Recreation for Caddo Parish. Larry received his B.S. and M.S. degrees in biology from Northeast Louisiana University and was the park naturalist at Walter B. Jacobs Memorial Nature Park for 15 years before becoming Director of Parks and Recreation. He is a facilitator of both Project WILD and Project Learning Tree and serves on the Louisiana State Parks and Recreation Commission. His expertise includes vertebrate biology, nature park administration, nature programming and interpretation, trail planning and layout, and parks and recreation administration.
Who May Attend: The public is invited. Children accompanied by an adult are welcome.
- Refuge Work Day: Bayou Pierre Unit, Saturday, May 23, 2009
Meet at Headquarters at 7:00 a.m. for caravanning/carpooling to the Bayou Pierre Unit. We will leave promptly at 7:15 a.m. It is about a 45- minute drive to the Yates tract so we should arrive there about 8:00 a.m. If you want to come later or prefer to meet at Bayou Pierre, please see the directions to Bayou Pierre under "Visiting the Refuge" on page 3 of the Spring 2009 newsletter.
Lunch and beverages will be provided. There will be a tour of the Bayou Pierre Unit after lunch or before if we finish early. What to bring: work gloves, weed eater with extra gas/oil mixture, pruning shears, chain saw, and bug spray. Be sure to wear appropriate footwear and long pants. If you have any questions, please contact Ronnie Maum (rmwoodworks@aol.com or 458-9119) or Jerry Bertrand (jerryeb1954@friendsofredriver.org or 868-3255). If you plan on volunteering for the work day, please let Ronnie or Jerry know. But come on anyway if you find at the last minute that you can help.
September 2009
- Membership Meeting: Thursday, September 3, 2009. **Location changed to Broadmoor Presbyterian Church.**
- 6:30: Refreshments and social
- 6:45: Meeting begins
- Renovation of farmhouse at Bayou Pierre
- Planning for Oct. 17 Refuge Celebration
October 2009
- Monday, October 5: General Membership Meeting:
- Election of board members
- Planning for Refuge Celebration
- Sunday, Oct. 11, 2009: The Big Sit!
- Saturday, Oct. 17, 2009: Annual Refuge Celebration and Catfish Fry in conjunction with National Wildlife Refuge Week. Volunteers needed!
November 2009
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Monday, November 2: Friends of Red River Membership Meeting
Date: Monday, November 2, 2009
Place: LSU in Shreveport
Science Lecture AuditoriumCampus Map: www.lsus.edu/map/
Time: 6:30 p.m. - Social & Refreshments
6:45 p.m. - Meeting & ProgramProgram: Louisiana's Scenic Rivers Program
In 1970, the Louisiana Legislature created the Louisiana Natural and Scenic Rivers System. The System was developed for the purpose of preserving, protecting, developing, reclaiming, and enhancing the wilderness qualities, scenic beauties, and ecological regimes of certain free-flowing Louisiana streams.
Today, there are approximately 3,000 miles of Louisiana-designated Natural and Scenic Rivers. These rivers, streams and bayous, and segments thereof, are located throughout the state and offer a unique opportunity for individuals and communities to become involved in the protection, conservation and preservation of two of Louisiana's greatest natural resources; its wilderness and its water.
Speaker: Keith Cascio, Scenic Rivers Coordinator, Louisiana Department of Wildlife and Fisheries
Keith was born in Monroe, LA. He received a B.S. and M.S. in Biology from Northeast Louisiana University (now ULM) with an emphasis in Botany and Ecology. He came to work for the Louisiana Department of Wildlife and Fisheries in January of 1995 and became Scenic Rivers Coordinator in 1996. In 2008, he took on the additional responsibilities of LDWF's participation in the Fish and Wildlife Coordination Act.
Who May Attend: The public is invited. Children accompanied by an adult are welcome.
Red River NWR Photographic exhibit at the Barnwell
Where: Barnwell Garden and Art Center
601 Clyde Fant Parkway
Shreveport, LA 71101Dates: October 16 - November 22, 2009
We are pleased to announce that two of our group, Ronnie Maum and Ed Van Kirk, will have their photographic work exhibited at the Barnwell Garden and Art Center beginning October 16th. A reception is planned for Sunday, October 18th, from 2:00 p.m. to 4:00 p.m. The reception is open to the public.
In keeping with the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service's "Let's Go Outside" initiative, the title of the combined works is "Stepping Out." Ronnie Maum's collection of prints is entitled "Celebrating Life on the Refuge" and encompasses nearly three years of photographing wildlife on the Refuge. He's truly captured the refuge inhabitant's individuality and beauty in each print on display. This collection is a true testament to Ronnie's skill and dedication as a photographer. Ed Van Kirk's collection of prints from "The Pecan Grove" portrays the wonderment of this area from dawn to dusk. The 8" x 10" print on display from last year's refuge photography contest was one of fourteen prints taken from this area. Each unique scene gives the viewer a lasting perspective on an area that will, in part, soon be converted to the Arthur Teague Parkway extension.
Please join us in congratulating and supporting Ronnie and Ed in their endeavors by attending the exhibit at the Barnwell Center.
The Barnwell Center hours are Tuesday through Friday, 10:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m., Saturday, 10:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m., and Sunday, 1:00 p.m. to 5:00 p.m. The Barnwell Center is closed on Mondays. Admission is free.
March 2010
- Breakfast with the Birds: Saturday, March 6, 2010, 8:30 a.m., Red River NWR Headquarters
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Landscaping with Native Plants
Thursday, March 11, 2010, 6:30 p.m.
LSUS Science Lecture Auditorium, Shreveport, LA. Presented by Janet Creech (Membership meeting and program)
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Night Sounds on the Refuge
Friday, March 26, 2010, 6:30 p.m. - 8:30 p.m.
Red River NWR Headquarters, 555 Sunflower Road, Bossier City, LA 71112
Leader - Larry Raymond
Contact - Nancy Menasco, 868-3255, nmcpa@aol.com
From frogs to owls, come learn about the creatures of the night on the Red River National Wildlife Refuge. The evening will begin with a short orientation as to what you might hear on the refuge followed by a walk. Refreshments will be served after the walk. The public is invited. Children accompanied by an adult are welcome.
Directions to the Headquarters Unit: From the intersection of US 71 (Barksdale Boulevard) and Jimmie Davis Highway (LA 511) in Bossier City, go south about one-half mile on US 71 and turn right (west) on Sunflower Road. Proceed to the end of the road through the gate into the refuge. The Refuge is open to walk-in visitors daily during daylight hours.
April 2010
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Bald Eagles in Louisiana and the Proposed Reintroduction of Whooping Cranes in Louisiana
Thursday, April 1, 2010, 6:30 p.m. (Postponed from an earlier date)
LSUS Science Lecture Auditorium, Shreveport, LA
Speaker - Tom Hess, Louisiana Department of Wildlife & Fisheries
Tom has worked for LDWF for 17 years. He leads the Department's Bald Eagle Program which includes annual nest surveys, Coastal Use Permit reviews, data analysis and dissemination, and public outreach. He also heads up the Department's Brown Pelican Program, and spends considerable time surveying ducks and geese on LDWF properties during the fall and winter.
The public is invited. Children accompanied by an adult are welcome.
May 2010
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Membership Meeting
Where: Broadmoor Branch
Shreve Memorial Library
1212 Captain Shreve Drive
Shreveport, LA 71105Date: Thursday, May 6, 2010
Time: 6:30 p.m. - Social & Refreshments
6:45 p.m. - Business Meeting & ProgramWho may attend: The public is invited. Children accompanied by an adult are welcome.
Contact: info@friendsofredriver.org or Nancy Menasco at 868-3255
Program: Presentation by students from Parkway High School, Bossier High School, and Haughton High School who are participating in the Red River NWR "Nature of Learning" project. The Nature of Learning is a community-based National Wildlife Refuge System conservation education program that uses national wildlife refuges as outdoor classrooms and seeks to promote a greater understanding of conservation issues while enhancing student academic achievement. The Nature of Learning utilizes field experiences and student-led stewardship projects to connect classroom lessons to real world issues; and involves a partnership among local schools, community groups, natural resource professionals, and local businesses.
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International Migratory Bird Day Celebration
Where: Red River National Wildlife Refuge Headquarters
555 Sunflower Road
Bossier City, LA 71112Date: Saturday, May 8, 2010, 8:30 a.m. - 2:30 p.m.
Who may attend: The public is invited, so bring your friends and family. Children are very welcome.
Admission: FREE! Donations to the Friends of Red River NWR to support refuge projects are gratefully accepted. Free breakfast bar beginning at 8:30 a.m.
About the Event: International Migratory Bird Day is an annual event to celebrate and bring attention to one of the most important and spectacular events in the Americas - bird migration. Bird Day is celebrated in Canada, the United States, Mexico, Central and South America, and the Caribbean.
Contact: info@friendsofredriver.org or Nancy Menasco at 868-3255
Activities: Bird/nature walk will begin at 8:45 a.m. Children accompanied by an adult are welcome on the bird walk. Visitors may walk the refuge nature trails, take an informal refuge tour, or participate in other bird-related activities. Master Falconer Francie Forrester will be on hand with her hawks. Throughout the day there will be a slide presentation focusing on the theme of this year's International Migratory Bird Day, "The Power of Partnerships in Bird Conservation."
Directions to the refuge: From the intersection of US 71 (Barksdale Boulevard) and Jimmie Davis Highway (LA 511) in Bossier City, go south about one-half mile on US 71 and turn right (west) on Sunflower Road. Proceed to the end of the road through the gate into the refuge. The Refuge is open to walk-in visitors daily during daylight hours.
June 2010
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A Project Learning Tree workshop will be held Monday, June 28, from 9:00 a.m. - 3:00 p.m., at the Norton Art Gallery, 4747 Creswell Avenue, Shreveport, LA 71106. The workshop is free and qualifies for continuing education credits for teachers. You do not have to be a teacher to attend; interested parents and others working with youth are encouraged to attend.
Register for the workshop by contacting Ricky Kilpatrick at 965-2326 (Benton) or rkilpatrick@agcenter.lsu.edu.
Project Learning Tree is an award-winning environmental education program designed for teachers and other educators, parents, and community leaders working with youth from preschool through grade 12. Through the implementation of Project Learning Tree, Oil City Elementary in northern Caddo Parish was transformed from a school on the verge of closure to a nationally recognized, award winning environmental science magnet school. To learn more about Project Learning Tree, visit the PLT website at http://www.plt.org/.