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| A special summer camping experience known as Marsh Maneuvers provides young people from across the state with the opportunity to learn about Louisiana's valuable coastal resources. The camp, which is coordinated by the LSU AgCenter, immerses 4-H'ers in activities from studying various plants and animals to planting marsh grass to prevent coastal erosion. But the camp isn't all work and no play. The seine net used to sample the biodiversity of the Barataria Estuary can quickly double as a net for games of water volleyball, as shown above, |
Marsh Maneuvers may sound like a covert operation – particularly since it involves a group of hand-picked high school students spending five days on a private island.
But this program is no secret to the Louisiana 4-H’ers who spent the week doing important work to help restore the coast and learning about the life it sustains.
"We went out and planted some spartina grass," explained Alfred Young, a 4-H’er from East Carroll Parish. "The spartina is supposed to grow and keep the sediment from washing out when the tides come in – and help rebuild the land."
Planting marsh grass was just one of many activities during the five-day program coordinated by the LSU AgCenter for young people from across the state.
Starting before sunup on most days and ending long after sundown, the program offered this year’s participants hands-on lessons about the marshlands, the marine life and the animals that comprise the Grand Isle area.
For some students like Marianne Alford from East Baton Rouge Parish, the five days prepared them for college and potentially a career
"At LSU I plan to major in biology, so this is all right up my alley," Alford said. "I want to do marine science research. I love being out here."
During Marsh Maneuvers, the students were exposed to the struggle between people with different interests and different stakes in the marshlands and coastal waters. They even held a mock town meeting, with each student representing a stakeholder in the marshlands
"I represent Bonnie, and I lease land to oyster farmers and I also own a seafood restaurant in New Orleans," explained Vermilion Parish 4-H’er Rebecca Repp during that exercise.
Some students played fishermen and hunters. Others were politicians and representatives of oil and gas companies.
But they all had to work out a compromise on how to manage freshwater from diversion canals being introduced into the Barataria Basin.
Of course, not all of the Marsh Maneuvers were serious. There also were plenty of opportunities for fishing and enjoying Louisiana’s coast.
"I’m used to freshwater fishing – little bass and stuff," said Sam Bryan from East Baton Rouge Parish. "But this morning I caught a 25-pound bull red, and it’s a lot different. It’s a lot of fun."
Students have been participating in the LSU AgCenter’s Marsh Maneuvers camp for more than 15 years. Just as the land and life that make up the marshes change over the years, so has the program. But the goal of Marsh Maneuvers has remained the same.
"I hope the students get an appreciation for all the diversity of our coastal marsh, the diversity of all the different animals that grow here and the productivity of the area," said Mark Shirley, an LSU AgCenter fisheries agent and the director of the Marsh Maneuvers camp.
Instead of keeping their maneuvering through the marshes "covert," the students will give presentations about their experiences to 4-H Clubs back home.
While the camp is coordinated by the LSU AgCenter, it is a cooperative venture involving several agencies. The Louisiana Department of Wildlife and Fisheries provides camp facilities, boats and educators for the program. The Barataria-Terrebonne National Estuary Program, or BTNEP, provides funding for food and supplies. And the Louisiana Universities Marine Consortium, or LUMCON, also provides support for Marsh Maneuvers.