Training Future Leaders to
Save America’s Treasure

Goals of the Youth Wetlands
Education and Outreach Program
• To instill within students the complexities and consequences of continued unprecedented loss of wetlands on the citizens of Louisiana,
• To instill in students that they are ambassadors for responsible environmental stewardship of
Louisiana’s natural resources, and
• To encourage forward thinking, that results in positive actions, in demonstrating that “Louisiana’s wetland loss is the nation’s wetland loss.”

Objectives of the Youth
Wetlands Education and
Outreach Program
• Develop hands-on environmental based lesson plans for grades 4-12
• Provide opportunities for service-learning wetland restoration activities
• Provide field-based, hands-on experiences to youth during organized restoration projects held across the state and during participation in overnight camps
• Conduct trainings for educators and provide inclassroom and field assistance that results in successful program implementation

2007 – 2009
• Year 1:
– 22,000 students in 45 parishes
•
Years 2 & 3:
– Averaged 52,000 in 55 parishes
–
Averaged 1000 teachers
2010
• 964 teachers
• 55,000 students in 58 parishes
2011
• 1039 teachers
•
80,000 students in 58 parishes
2012
• 950 teachers
• 71,000 students in 59 parishes

Classroom Materials
Curriculum Binder
– General wetlands information
– All lessons for
4 th – 12 th grades
– Updated every year
– GLE table
Educational supplies
– Classroom materials
– Laboratory supplies
– Field materials
– Educational videos
– “Wet Work” video

Vegetative Plantings

Program Recognition
• USDA National Program of Distinction
• 2011 USFWS Connecting Youth with
Natural Resources Conservation Education
• National Promising Practices Guide for
Science in Urban Communities (2011)
• 2011 CRCL Coastal Stewardship Award
• Wet Work Video Program:
– 2011 Southeast Regional Winner (NAE4-HA)
– 2011 National Winner (NAE4-HA)
– 2010 Governor’s Conservation Award

Date Activity
August
Online registration opens for the 2011-2012 Youth
Wetlands Program
October Registration closes
February
March
April 23 – 27
Throughout
Program Year
Youth Wetlands materials delivered to agents
Distribution of Youth Wetlands Program supplies to teachers
Youth Wetlands Week 2012
Organize wetland restoration field trips, educational booths, and activity days across the state

• Louisiana OCPR
• Louisiana DNR
• Barataria-Terrebonne National Estuary Program (BTNEP)
• Louisiana State University (LSU) College of Education
• LSU School of Plant, Soil, and Environmental Science
(SPESS)
• Louisiana Sea Grant College Program
• Ponchartrain Institute for Environmental Sciences
• Louisiana Cooperative Extension Service (CSREES)
• Coastal Wetlands Planning, Protection, Restoration Act
(CWPPRA)
• Entergy
• LaBranche Wetland Watchers
• Coalition to Restore Coastal Louisiana

www.lsuagcenter.com/yww
Find us on Facebook:
Youth Wetlands Education and Outreach Program
Ashley Mullens
YW Program Manager awmullens@agcenter.lsu.edu
225.578.7415