Louisiana Master Naturalist
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 Louisiana Master Naturalists

Learn About Nature with Louisiana Master Naturalists

Welcome to Louisiana Master Naturalist Association (LMNA).
 Environmental education and service opportunities for you!

Join us in developing a corps of well-informed volunteers to provide education, outreach, and service dedicated to the beneficial management of natural resources and natural areas within our communities in Louisiana, USA!

What does the Louisiana Master Naturalist Association do?

The LMNA's primary purpose is to offer a statewide program that educates Louisiana citizens about their precious flora and fauna, as well as other aspects of their environment and ecosystems.  Once certified, the Louisiana Master Naturalists are required to use their talents to educate others or assist programs that promote and protect Louisiana's natural heritage.  
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LMNA CHANNEL

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Learn at your convenience with LMNA CHANNEL  
Subscribe To LMNA NewS
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Click the image to view LMNA Blog
Find Your Local Group
Please visit our chapter page for a current list of chapters.
Parishes Currently Targeted/Served by LMNA Chapters
Green - Northwest Chapter
Blue - Northeast Chapter
Rose - CenLa Chapter
Tan - Southwest Chapter
Red - Acadiana Chapter
Yellow - Greater Baton Rouge Chapter
Turquoise - Greater New Orleans Chapter
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The Caroline Dormon Award
Bill Fontenot wins in 2021
Flora and Fauna
View Flora and Fauna Page
Maps of Louisiana
View Louisiana Maps
If you would like to help our group's work via a donation via Paypal, please use this button. Thank you.
Dragonfly made of words connected with LMNA activities

Jim Delahoussaye wins 2022 Caroline Dormon Award!

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Outstanding Louisiana Naturalist of the year 2022, Jim Delahoussaye! Image from Riverlogue Blog, copyright Jim Delahoussaye.
Environmental scientist, teacher, folklorist, and commercial fisherman in the Atchafalaya Basin. Jim is also a Zooarchaeologist as an adjunct researcher in the department of Sociology/Anthropology at the University of Louisiana at Lafayette. There he analyzes animal bones from prehistoric Native American middens, including 5-6 lb Bullfrogs!   Read more on the LMNA Blog

The Search is On for Caroline Dormon Outstanding Louisiana Naturalist of The Year 2023!

Enjoy Studying Nature and Help Protect Your Environment!
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LMNA's Annual Get-together,
Rendezvous 2022!

Each year Louisiana Master Naturalist members meet up and enjoy learning and camaraderie at Spring Rendezvous events!
  • LMNA Rendezvous 2022 took place in person from April 1st-3rd 2022 at The Country Inn & Suites, Pineville.  They kindly set aside a block of comfortable rooms for us at ​$89 for a regular room and $99 for a suite. 
  • There was a wonderful selection of speakers on a wide variety of interesting topics.
  • The field trips were led by outstanding guides and provided great views of wildlife in the rich habitats of CenLa area.
  • There' was a plenary dinner with Keynote speaker, James 'Jim' Delahoussaye, the Outstanding Louisiana Master Naturalist of The Year for 2022!
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Rendezvous 2021 Digest

Who are the Louisiana Master Naturalists?

The Louisiana Master Naturalist Association is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit group offering opportunities for citizens to expand their knowledge and sharpen their skills in natural history, with special focus on the diverse habitats of the Sportsman's Paradise - Louisiana.  ​"We're part of the solution #ForNature."

With Natchitoches being the state's oldest city (1714) and New Orleans one of the earliest major ports in the U.S. (1718), Louisiana has played a pivotal role in our knowledge of the flora and fauna of North America.  Naturalists arrived on many of the earliest ships and sent specimens of species then new to science back to the museums of the Old World.  Many of the early natural historians traveled Louisiana's byways, as demonstrated by John James Audubon's many contributions to our knowledge of early 1800's biota.
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We encourage you to enter the LMNA certification program and contribute to the well-being and expanding knowledge-base in natural history in Louisiana.  The Master Naturalist training, through its various local chapters, will enable you to learn about the nature of the state's varied physiographic regions, and help you understand the connections among our valued environment, culture, and economy.

We are a member of the Alliance for Natural Resource Outreach Providers (ANROSP)

A lady naturalist in a straw hat holding up a dragonfly to observe it's features

How do I become a Louisiana Master Naturalist?

LMNA is an inclusive organization, welcoming all adults in Louisiana regardless of gender, color or creed. In order to be certified, you must complete all requirements set forth by your chosen chapter of the LMNA. You can join more than one chapter if you wish.

Each chapter has different but comparable requirements to receive and maintain certification.  To receive certification, you must complete a course (40-60 hours of workshop time), volunteer some of your time to benefit the environment and community, as well as pay modest dues. 

​To maintain your certification, you must annually complete continuing education and volunteer hour requirements and pay dues.
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Louisiana Master Naturalists learning about pond life in the environmental education center at Black Bayou Lake National Wildlife Refugee.
Louisiana Master Naturalists learning about pond life from Dr. Anna Hill in the environmental education center at Black Bayou Lake National Wildlife Refuge.
Master Naturalist students on a boardwalk running through a swamp, learning about snakes from Professor John Carr of ULM who is standing in the swamp.
Master Naturalist students on a boardwalk running through a swamp, learning about snakes from Professor John Carr of ULM.

Where do educational sessions take place?

A screenshot from the LMNGBR Nature Notes Video about Forest Bathing
 LMNA conducts indoor classes and field work. We are a confederation of chapters focused on regions and habitats throughout the state.  Chapters may differ in their content and approach, but the coordination will ensure consistency in quality and focus.  All present a broad overview of the state's natural history, but chapters will vary based on geography.  You may choose whichever you wish.  Chapters share presenters and enjoy co-hosting field trips with other chapters.  We host an annual state gathering - Rendezvous - to meet one another and share knowledge and ideas.

The LMNA Channel is now posting some members' educational presentations online to be enjoyed in the safety of social isolation. 
Click the image above to view Scott Courtright's exemplary presentation on Forest Bathing: Boosting Immunity and Mood, one video in a growing resource library.  Forest Bathing on LMNA Blog.
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State Logo

 While chapters may have their own logo, they are unified under the LMNA logo featuring the Anhinga. The Anhinga is an aquatic bird that may be seen throughout the state of Louisiana and particularly loves swamp environments that are iconic of the state.  Anhingas are sometimes called Snake Birds, as they forage in water, swimming with just the head and neck appearing above the water with a snake-like movement as they move along.  Since they don't have well-oiled feathers, they normally climb out of the water and spread their wings to allow them to dry.  Our logo shows a juvenile Anhinga (note the tan neck and head) in its characteristic drying pose.

Can you give any second-hand books?

An LMNA fundraising nature book sale is a regular feature at Rendezvous. Most of the books are pre-owned and donated by chapter members.  They can vary from field guides to natural history subject related novels. The books are sold at discounted prices and available for purchase at posted times at a Rendezvous table.
The logo for Louisiana Master Naturalist Association shows an Anhinga with wings spread

A Yello-crowned Night Heron taking flight from a reed-bed from right to left.

Our Origins: Southwest Chapter
Our Origins: Acadiana Chapter

Our Origins: Northwest Chapter 
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A screenshot from Emma Reid's Zoom presentation about her life and work as a film maker.
Emma Reid and Dr. Bob Thomas on a tropical ecology field trip in 2015, a screenshot from her Zoom.

Emma Reid, Award-Winning Documentary Film Maker 
Click linked text above to view on LMNA Channel!

Hosted October 6th, 2021, by Louisiana Master Naturalists of Greater Baton Rouge, this episode of LMNGBR Nature Notes brings us a Zoom presentation by Emma Reid, award-winning film maker of "Finding Common Ground" (Telly Award) and "In The Blind"! Emma studied Environmental Science at Loyola University, New Orleans, and trained as an intern at the Institute of Environmental Communication (IEC). Emma is the 2019 Louisiana Wildlife Federation Conservation Communicator of The Year and is a member of Louisiana Master Naturalists of Greater New Orleans. She is currently employed by Louisiana Public Broadcasting and serves as a swamp tour guide! 

Emma talks about video production / conservation education work and how she saw change coming through the film-making process in "Finding Common Ground". She shares insights into her production of "In The Blind" and her learning about the duck hunting and waterfowl conservation connection.

Emma also announces plans to be producing regular Naturalist podcasts called The Southern Naturalist! Greater New Orleans and IEC encourage members to contact her with program concepts.

Find out more about Emma Reid on LMNA Blog!
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News  from around Louisiana

Louisiana Master Naturalists of Greater Baton Rouge
Louisiana Master Naturalists Northeast

Other state master naturalists associations/programs

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