Community Works To Build Nature Trail Boardwalk During Wetland Watchers Park National Make A Difference Day Event!
July 6, 2009 by admin
Filed under Media Gallery
The front of the Make a Difference Day Volunteer t-shirts drawn by Hurst Middle Talented Art Instructor, John Taube!
HMS Wetland Watcher Park Make a Difference Day
St. Charles Parish Recreation Superintendent, Kenny Guedry works with Americorps ShreveCORPS leader, Lee Jeeter, to put the first post in place for the boardwalk nature trail at Wetland Watchers Park!
It was an overwhelming success! One of the really great aspects of this event was that it featured the partnerships of Learn and Serve America (Hurst Wetland Watchers), Americorps (ShreveCORPS), and the St. Charles Parish Retired Seniors Volunteer Program. All three of our agencies are funded through the Corporation for National and Community Service. The Corporation is the nation’s largest grant-maker supporting service and volunteering. Through the Senior Corps, AmeriCorps, and Learn and Serve America programs, they provide opportunities for Americans of all ages and backgrounds to express their patriotism while addressing critical community needs.
Kenny Guedry, Superintendent of St. Charles Recreation, was instrumental in organizing the construction utilizing the skills of Parish Rec workers as volunteer team leaders.
We got about 200 feet of trail between the two built which is amazing because the water was incredibly high on Friday.
We had approximately 55 volunteers on Friday in different capacities including Americorps ShreveCORPS volunteers from Shreveport, retired Seniors Volunteer Program, Recreation employees, Valero, the St. Charles Parish Rotary Club and other community volunteers. Fourteen volunteers from Johnson Controls of Metairie also worked 9 hours on Friday.
On Saturday, about 43 volunteers representing Americorps, RSVP, Louisiana Serve Commission, Learn and Serve America, St. Charles Recreation, Motiva, the St. Charles Rotary Club, and St. Charles Parish Sheriff’s Office Prison Trustees.
Our awesome partners for the National Make a Difference Day Wetland Watchers Park Event!
Wetland Watcher Students Facilitate NSTA Teachers During Wetland Visit!
July 6, 2009 by admin
Filed under Media Gallery
strong>National Science Teachers Association Visits LaBranche Wetland Watchers Park
Wetland Watcher Students Facilitate NSTA Teachers During Wetland Visit!
WATCH THE VIDEO BELOW!!!!!!!!
100 teachers from around the nation that were participants in the National Science Teachers Association convention in New Orleans visited the LaBranche Wetland Watchers Park on the shore of Lake Pontchartrain in St. Charles Parish. Still a work in progress, the park consists of 900 feet of boardwalk through a wetland that, like much of Louisianas wetlands, is struggling to survive. This one, however, has the help of Wetland Watchers, an organization at Destrehan’s Harry Hurst Middle School, teacher Barry Guillot and Guillots partners in the project, including parish government, local universities and industries.
| LaBranche Wetland Watchers Park |
Alabama Artist Partners with the Wetland Watchers to Raise Coastal Land Loss Awareness!
June 30, 2009 by admin
Filed under DSart Project Progress
CHECK OUT THE PROJECT PROGRESS IN THE ATTACHED POST!
Don Stewart is a former physician who uses his complex artwork to entertain and educate. Dr. Stewart is working with art and science students at Hurst Middle School to create a new drawing of an alligator for their Wetland Watchers project. To see examples of his award winning composite drawings, be sure to visit dsart.com. You will be amazed and humored at the many exceptional works of art in his gallery!
“I’m still a biologist at heart, and part of my training included work along the Gulf coast” said Dr. Stewart, “I am amazed at how much the wetlands have been destroyed in my lifetime. It is encouraging to see that the trend is now reversing, and that the next generation will play an active role in maintaining this incredible ecosystem.”
Hurst teacher, Barry Guillot, was introduced to DOn Stewart's work during a break from as a driver's ed instructo at the McDOnald's Restaraunt in LaPlace, Louisiana. The composite drawing of a saxaphone made completely of marine animals and entitled "Musical Scales" was a perfect present for his sax playing/ scuba diving teen-age son! GUillot wrote teh author's name on a napkin and contacted him that evening about possible doing a wetland themed project.
During Dr. Stewart’s visit to Louisiana, he spoke with the HHMS art students about his work, and received their feedback regarding the new project. Specifically, they provided a long list of items to include in a new alligator drawing. Consistent with Dr. Stewart’s usual drawing style, this gator will be made up of a thematic group of smaller objects – in this case items related to the wetlands, and NOLA.
Hurst Middle students present artist Don Stewart with a painted shrimp boot as a thank you for volunteering to be a part of the Wetland Watcher Project! Along with the students are Hurst Talented Art Teacher, John Taube, Hurst teacher Barry Guillot, and ALabama artist Don Stewart.
“Hopefully this art project will bring more attention to the essential work Mr. Guillot and his students are doing here. It is truly gratifying to be able to use art to contribute to an important scientific and educational effort.”
ABC Children First: Protecting Our Planet Hosted by Diane Sawyer
June 30, 2009 by admin
Filed under Media Gallery
Students from Hurst Middle School in Destrehan, La are filmed collecting critters along the shoreline of Lake Pontchartrain in the LaBranche Wetlands during a Wetland Watchers Service-Learning Trip!