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  • Home
  • LMNA Chapters
    • Board & Officers
    • Fauna and Flora
    • Amphibians and Reptiles
    • Arthropods
    • Aquatic Ecology
    • Birds
    • Forest Ecology
    • Mammals
    • Plants
    • LMNA CHANNEL
    • River Dynamics
    • Citizen Science
  • Rendezvous 2025
    • Speakers
  • The Dormon Award
  • Blog
  • Louisiana Maps
  • Resources
    • Materials
    • Useful Links
  • Ecotourism Louisiana
  • Terms of Use
  • Privacy
  • Rendezvous 2024
    • Speakers 2024
    • Photo Contest 2024
    • Rendezvous 2023 >
      • Photo Contest 2023
      • Silent Auction
      • Our Leaders
      • Rendezvous 2022
      • Rendezvous 2021
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3/18/2020 0 Comments

Rendezvous 2020 postponed to April 2021 Due To Need For Social Distancing

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Due to safety concerns associated with the risk of COVID-19 contagion at public meetings, the LMNA Board of Directors at an impromptu meeting held on March 17th, voted unanimously to postpone our Rendezvous 2020 meeting to April 9th-11th 2021. 

As near as possible the event will simply roll-over to next year. Members who have already paid for their rooms can maintain their reservations if they wish, or if they wish a refund, they may email Janie to arrange that. Be advised that those of us who have reserved rooms and apply for a refund may not necessarily be able to get the same rooms next year.

In case of a price increase, any price difference can be made up on the door next year.

We are sorry for any disappointment that this announcement may cause among our membership and wish you all a safe period of social distancing until the threat passes.

Please follow the recommendations of Louisiana Governor vis a vis mitigating the risk of contracting and communicating the virus.

Best wishes to you all and we look forward to seeing you all again soon.
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3/4/2020 0 Comments

Crosby Arboretum SPRING PROGRAM CALENDAR

2020_spring_crosbyarboretumquarterly_program_schedule_vol_34.2_3-3-20_final.pdf
File Size: 861 kb
File Type: pdf
Download File


 Plant lovers among us in Louisiana may be interested in this. Thank you, Dr. Allen for this info about Crosby Arboretum’s SPRING PROGRAM SCHEDULE. Their Round Robin says:
 
"We are offering four pages jam-packed with programs and events this season!  Come pay us a visit soon and see what’s in bloom (currently the pink honeysuckle azaleas).  
 
Please join us this weekend for a nature sketching program and gallery opening by Robin Veerkamp:
 
INTRODUCTION TO NATURE SKETCHING
Saturday, March 7, 1:00 to 2:00 p.m.
Learn the basics of nature sketching and how to get started in a fun and rewarding pastime in this introductory class with artist Robin Veerkamp. Members free, non-members $5. Call 601-799-2311. Gallery opening follows.
 
SPRING GALLERY EXHIBIT OPENING: DRAWINGS BY ROBIN VEERKAMP
Saturday, March 7, 2:00 to 3:00 p.m. On Display June 8 - August 31
Picayune fine artist Robin Veerkamp works in colored pencils and chalk pastels, and specializes in drawing architecture, plants, animals and landscapes from original photography. Much of her work has been inspired by the beauty of the Crosby Arboretum, where she worked for over a decade. Robin teaches nature sketching throughout the year at the Arboretum. The opening event is free to all. Light refreshments will be served.
 
Patricia R. Drackett
Director, The Crosby Arboretum, Mississippi State University
Assistant Extension Professor of Landscape Architecture
The Crosby Arboretum/MSU Extension Service
P.O. Box 1639, 370 Ridge Road, Picayune, MS 39466
Ph. (601) 799-2311 Ext. 102  Fax (601) 799-2372"
www.crosbyarboretum.msstate.edu
 
"Extending Knowledge. Changing lives."
​
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3/2/2020 0 Comments

Celebrating Our Explorers and Adventurers At Union Parish Library Exhibition for Black History Month 2020!

I greatly enjoyed the exhibition on African American Explorers and Adventurers past and present currently running at the Union Parish Library. 

Kimmie Paxton and I filmed the presentation event on February 21 for a DVD that will be archived at the library for use by patrons and schools. 

I had no idea how many African Americans have made and are still making such impact in their work outdoors!

The presentation began with Stephanie Herrmann's introduction and the shocking revelation that most school kids spend less time outdoors than prison inmates these days and includes a recollection of how kids enjoyed a local camping expedition! 

​


"The path is not easy, the climbing is rugged and hard, but the glory at the end is worthwhile." —Matthew Henson, first person to trek to the North Pole

This movie was filmed at Union Parish Library on Friday, February 21st 2020. It includes the following sections:

Welcome and Introductions
Stephanie Herrmann, Library Director

Prayer of Blessing for Adventurers and Explorers by
Rev. Donald Dredd, of Fellowship Baptist Church/Simsboro

Hit the Bike Trails with Torrance Strong
Rev. Bobby Joe Douglas, Word Church/Bastrop-Grambling
Torrance Strong, Cyclist Advocate #GOTSTRONG it's more than just cycling, it's about improving the community transport environment and accessibility to all cyclists. This made me think, "Wow! Time to inflate the tires and hit the trails in the wildlife refuges!"

Hook, Line, and Sinker with Torica Whitty
Introduced by Verdell Ventroy of Delta Sigma Theta Sorority, Inc.
Torica Whitty, Professional Angler & Motorcycle Outdoor Enthusiast talks very eloquently about her experiences in the USAF and as a professional Angler, the opportunities and benefits of fishing for everyone, including girls and ladies.

Backwoods Biologist with Maury Bedford
Introduced by Rev. Samuel Elsworth of Zion Hill Baptist Church
Maury Bedford, U.S. Fish and Wildlife Refuge Manager of
D’Arbonne Refuge and Upper Ouachita Wildlife Refuge. It was really interesting to hear this mild-spoken gentleman Wildlife Biologist as he encourages a new intake of staff into the service.

Not So Cuddly Critters with Nova Clarke
Introduced by Cynthia Gatson, 21st Century Learning Coordinator
Nova Clarke, vivacious Environmental Educator at Black Bayou National Wildlife Refuge is also a Louisiana Master Naturalist Association Member in our Northeast group. 

Wild Wild West with Layon Gray
Introduced by Rev. James Douglas, Mt. Pisgah Baptist Church,
Marion Layon Gray, Broadway Playwright/Director
“Cowboy” The Story of Bass Reeves

Bayou Blues with Pon Dixson
Introduced by Fred Carr, Union Parish Voter’s League President
Pon Dixson, U.S. Fish and Wildlife Refuge Manager Musician/Custom-Guitar Artisan talked about his life as a hunter and his later service career and recommends young people consider a career in the U.S. Fish and Wildlife service.

Introduction to Adventurers and Explorers Exhibit by Nell Wayne, City of Farmerville Mayor’s Office &
Jackie Hill, D.A.R.T. Director

Tour of the Exhibit was hosted by Marilyn Holly, Library Board Member

Special thanks also go to our community donors who provided items for the awesome exhibit:

North Louisiana Aviation Museum,
Kevin Adkins,
Union Parish Museum of History and Art,
Terri Booth,
Buckskin Billy,
Lake D’Arbonne State Park,
Richard Lowery (Excellent bird photographer and Nature writer),
Black Bayou Lake and D’Arbonne National Wildlife Refuges.
​This is the low resolution version of our latest film celebrating 2020 Black History Month for Union Parish Library. It's over two hours long and the DVD cut will be more compact.

Library Director Stephanie Herrmann is a member of our LMNA in the Northeast Chapter and one of the most vocal advocates of adventure and exploration that I've ever met!

​She runs the local Kayak Club, The Annual River Rat Challenge, made a Save Our Swamp Litter abatement programme and started a seed-bank amongst other things. Her goal in 2020 is to reduce stereotypes and barriers for African Americans in the outdoors by celebrating the lives and stories of explorers and adventurers throughout black history.  Her exhibition allows us to step into the shoes of pioneers that climbed Mount Everest and explored wild and unforgiving landscapes. The courageous. The bold. The audacious!
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They were farmers, hikers, naturalists, biologists, environmentalists, rangers, cowboys, stage coach drivers, fur traders, mountain men, farmers, aviators, soldiers, hunters, botanists, mountaineers, climbers, astronauts, guides, abolitionists, U.S. Marshals, spies, scouts, surveyors, zoologists, wilderness trekkers, astronomers, conquistadors, cyclists, backpackers, writers, poets, campers, settlers, and founders. This list was not just the past, but is rather just the beginning…
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3/2/2020 1 Comment

Why A Walk In The Woods Is Good For You

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We recently learned that prison inmates in the US spend more time outdoors than most school kids! Nature Deficit Disorder can be avoided with a little planning. Here is a shareable PDF of my wife, Kimmie Paxton's research project for certification in our Louisiana Master Naturalist Northeast group. The pamphlet was based upon her tri-fold display that is currently in service at the Black Bayou Lake Visitors' Center to show people how they can benefit from getting out into the fresh air and how being out in the wild can help us feel better whether we are going to the park, deeper woods or to the beach.

Different environments have different qualities. I was most surprised to learn about the forest phytoncides that can help boost our immune response. I'd seen people jogging determinedly aound West Monroe's Restoration Park, but had no idea that they (and I) were being sprinkled by a confetti of beneficial phyto-pharmaceuticals in the process! 

​Apparently it's best to spend a couple of days 'forest bathing' to get a good dose!  Spring camping, here we come!

healing_nature_brochure_draft_8.26-1.pdf
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