THE LOUISIANA MASTER NATURALIST ASSOCIATION CORDIALLY INVITES ALL MEMBERS TO OUR
Rendezvous 2025
April 11-13
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Welcome to the 2025 Louisiana Master Naturalist Association Annual Rendezvous! We are thrilled to welcome both current members and those in training to Baton Rouge, Louisiana. This year’s theme, “A River Runs Through It,” pays tribute to the mighty Mississippi River, which serves as the lifeblood of our city and region. Baton Rouge is proud to be the home of The Water Campus, a pioneering hub for water research and innovation. Situated on 35 acres along the banks of the Mississippi River, this dynamic campus is anchored by the LSU Center for River Studies. Here, you'll find one of the world’s largest and most sophisticated physical models of the Mississippi River — the Lower Mississippi River Physical Model. This 10,000-square-foot replica captures the intricate topography and bathymetry of the Mississippi River Delta in southeast Louisiana. The model simulates the flow, water levels, and sediment transport of the river, with one year of the Mississippi River's activity replicated in just one hour. On Friday evening, join us for a special dinner at the Center, where you will have the opportunity to tour this extraordinary facility. We are also excited to announce that Dr. Clint Wilson, Director of the LSU Center for River Studies, will be our keynote speaker, sharing insights into the work being done at this cutting-edge institution. We look forward to seeing you in Baton Rouge for an unforgettable Rendezvous! RegistrationRegistration will open on January 1, 2025. The cost is $100, which includes access to the conference, Friday night’s dinner and tour of the Center for River Studies, and Saturday night’s dinner at the Caroline Dormon Award Banquet.
MenuFriday Evening
Jambalaya White Beans Green Salad with Dressing Roll Cookies for dessert *Vegetarian option available Tea and Lemonade Saturday Evening Chicken and Sausage Gumbo Rice Potato Salad Bread Pudding *Vegetarian option available Tea and Lemonade Lunch Options (On Your Own):
Baton Rouge offers a wide variety of dining options, with hundreds of restaurants featuring American and ethnic cuisines. Below is a list of local restaurants located within just a few miles of the Drury Inn: Drury Inn 7939 Essen Park Ave, Baton Rouge, LA 70809
Rees Cronce of The Gulf South Mycological Society will lead our Mycology Workshop.
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Drury Inn & Suites - Baton Rouge
7939 Essen Park Baton Rouge, LA 70809-7438 (225) 766-2022 druryhotels.com To receive the group rate, please make your reservations by Monday, March 10, 2025. Room rates are:
Hotel Amenities include:
RV Camping Information Baton Rouge KOA Holiday 7628 Vincent Rd Denham Springs, LA 70726 Reserve: 1-800-562-5673 Info: 1-225-664-7281 koa.com/campgrounds/baton-rouge For RV camping, reservations can be made by calling the number above or visiting the KOA website for more details. Tent Camping at Waddill Wildlife Refuge Tent camping will be available at Waddill Wildlife Refuge, located at 4142 N Flannery Rd, Baton Rouge, LA 70814. During your stay, you can participate in a variety of exciting activities, including a bird walk, bird banding, a herptile walk, a mushroom foray, and a nocturnal hike to document species for the refuge. Please note: DO NOT call the refuge directly, as reservations have already been made for this event. While there are no showers on-site, a bathroom with running water is available for your convenience. 
Paddle-in Movie
Sponsored by Paddle BR
What: Free Movie Screening of Sea of Shadows When: April 12, 2025, 7:30 PM Where: Out in the middle of University Lake Join us for an unforgettable movie night on the water in the middle of University Lake, hosted by the PaddleBR Movie Dock! We encourage you to bring your own canoe or kayak, but if you don’t have one, don’t worry — a boat will be provided. Space is limited to 40 participants, so be sure to reserve your spot in advance. Sea of Shadows In Sea of Shadows, a thrilling documentary that combines the suspense of a Hollywood film with real-world urgency, a looming environmental crisis sets the stage for an unprecedented rescue operation. Set in the stunning Sea of Cortez, this documentary exposes the dangerous alliance between Mexican drug cartels and Chinese traffickers, who are decimating the region’s marine life by illegally hunting the endangered totoaba fish. Their ruthless practices put the future of the rare vaquita porpoise — the world’s most endangered whale species — at risk of extinction. At the time of filming, there were only around 30 vaquitas remaining, and since then, the population has continued to plummet, with the 2024 survey recording just 6 to 8 individuals, the lowest number ever documented. Sea of Shadows follows a brave group of scientists, conservationists, investigative journalists, undercover agents, and the Mexican Navy as they risk their lives to save the remaining vaquitas and take down the criminal syndicates behind the devastation. |
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