Why You Don’t Want to Miss LMNA Rendezvous 2026—Rooted in Acadiana

📍 Lafayette, Louisiana 📅 April 10–12, 2026
Theme: Rooted in Acadiana.  See The Workshops & Presentations Guide PDF
If you’ve ever wanted to experience Acadiana’s wild heart in one unforgettable weekend, this is the year to say yes to Rendezvous!
Acadiana isn’t just a backdrop — it’s a living classroom, a cultural treasure, and one of the most biodiverse corners of the state. This year’s Rendezvous brings you straight into its prairies, swamps, forests, and creative spaces, guided by the scientists, artists, and naturalists who know it best.

🌅 Start the weekend with science, stories, and Cajun hospitality
Kick things off at Max’s with Science on the Bayou, where researchers open the door to the hidden world of viruses — not simply as villains, but as ecological powerhouses shaping life around us.

Then settle in for a private screening of Louisiana Grass Roots, a moving documentary about the coastal prairie and the people fighting to restore it. The producer joins us for a Q&A that always sparks big conversations.

And when night falls?
You’ll be out under the stars at Atelier de la Nature, rotating through moth sheeting, herping, bat watching, and stargazing — a naturalist’s dream evening!


🐦 Saturday morning: Birds, biodiversity, and behind‑the‑scenes access
Wake up at Cypress Island Preserve for a bird walk featuring prothonotary warblers and a hands‑on look at a citizen‑science nest‑box project you can replicate at home.

Then choose your path:

• Learn how to turn your observations into global data with eBird and iNaturalist
• Tour the ULL Ecology Center’s native seed bank
• Explore oyster sustainability research
• Hear the remarkable story of Louisiana’s alligator conservation success
  
  

This is the kind of access you rarely get — and it’s all in one morning. Some tough choices, when it's all this good!

🌼 Midday: Pollinators, fireflies, and ancient Louisiana Meet the Acadiana Native Plant Project team in their greenhouse, learn how to support native pollinators, and discover how communities can help restore firefly habitat.
louisianamasternaturalist.org
Then step back in time with Prehistoric Louisiana, a storytelling-rich session that brings ancient ecosystems to life.
louisianamasternaturalist.org

🎨 Afternoon: Prairie walks, art, creativity, and hands‑on workshopsAt Atelier de la Nature, wander a restored prairie, explore a sculpture forest, and join artist‑biologist Dr. Brandon Ballengée for a fish‑drawing workshop celebrating Gulf species.

Prefer something creative indoors?
Try Roots and Quills, a writing workshop that helps you turn nature experiences into stories, or learn the traditional Japanese art of Gyotaku fish printing.
louisianamasternaturalist.org
Finish the afternoon with an insect showcase or a wine‑and‑cheese reception at Drawn to Nature, an exhibition pairing historic naturalist-artists with contemporary LMN creators.

🍽️ Evenings filled with community and celebration
Your registration includes both dinners — Friday’s documentary night and Saturday’s Caroline Dormon Award Banquet, featuring keynote speaker Larry Allain, the 2026 Outstanding Louisiana Naturalist.
Great food, great people, and the kind of conversations that remind you why you became a naturalist in the first place.

🎟️ Why people love Rendezvous — and why this year is special

• It’s immersive
• It’s hands‑on
• It’s culturally rich
• It’s scientifically deep
• It’s welcoming to both certified naturalists and trainees
• And it’s set in one of the most ecologically fascinating regions of Louisiana

Registration is just $100, including both dinners and all workshops. You'll need to book your own local accommodation. See Rendezvous page for information.

If you’ve been waiting for the right year to join Rendezvous … make this it.
Acadiana is calling — with its prairies, its birds, its art, its food, its night skies, and its people.
Come learn, explore, and reconnect with the natural world and the LMN community!