Louisiana is the land of coastal marshes, swamps, alluvial plains and longleaf pines. One local organization aims to inform locals of the wonders of the region’s environment.

The Southwest Louisiana Master Naturalist (SLAMN) group is now accepting new participants to strengthen its environmental stewardship mission. SLAMN’s objective is to promote understanding, awareness and appreciation for Louisiana’s natural world by training volunteers.

As one of the seven chapters of the Louisiana Master Naturalist Association (LMNA), SLAMN is part of a bigger mission to educate Louisiana citizens on the state’s flora and fauna (and why it is important to protect them).

Each year, SLAMN hosts workshops for participants to see, learn and experience the natural world. Many become certified master naturalists — individuals who complete an in-depth science-based training program about their local ecosystem, wildlife and natural resource management.

History

SLAMN’s first president Irvin Louque formed the chapter in October 2015. He worked for the city of Lake Charles as an environmental educator and noticed a need for knowledgeable volunteers to help out at Tuten and Riverside parks, specifically for events like Nature in Focus.

“Initially the existing volunteer base was spread thinly among area organizations but lacked the time to devote to the cause,” he recalled in a LMNA blog post.

He learned about the master naturalist program from Gulf Coast Bird Club member David Booth. After a series of meetings, the first slate of workshops was planned.

The chapter’s first group of naturalists graduated in 2016.

In Touch with Nature

Current President Barbara Morris graduated from the program in 2017. After retiring from the Calcasieu Parish School Board in 2017, she wanted to fill her time with an activity related to her special interests: edible plants and birding.

That isn’t all she learned, though. She received a fully-fleshed-out education during workshops that covered subjects such as pollinators, mushrooms, insects, aquatic invertebrates and fishes, land ethics, and the different ecosystems — Cajun prairies, coastal, longleaf pine.

The program expands the way participants perceive the environment, she said.

“When you go through the course, it introduces you to all of the any aspects of the environment we live in,” she explained. “You get to share your interested with other people, but you also expand your awareness of what’s around you.

“My husband said, ‘I used to just look at the plants on the side of the road, and they were just weeds. Now I look at it and I can see that it’s a rubecchia. That’s a horsetail fern.”

The SWLAMN course series is for any resident with special interests and zeal for the natural world, but many are students, retired professionals and teachers. Through the hands-on and educational workshops, participants take on a new role: environmental stewards.

Morris noted that every aspect of nature is connected. To nurture a healthy environment is to nurture a healthy life. This is a task that every citizen should assume not just themselves, but for their community.

“Every little thing you do, no matter how small, makes an impact. Even if it’s just one little pollinator bed, sometimes another person will see that and they will be inspired to take better care of their own little space,” she said. “All those little spaces total up to a big area … we all like to have the birds coming to our yards. But the birds need to have caterpillars to eat. And the caterpillars need to have native plants. And the native plants need to be in soil that’s not poisonous.

“It opens your eyes. You see more of the world around you than you were aware of before.”

Community

The purpose of SWLAMN is to create a “bank of volunteers” who operate within the community. The chapter is a direct way for master naturalists and members to share their wealth of knowledge with others.

Master naturalists can be found conducting outreach, helping the scouts in Scouting America with projects, speaking at garden clubs, and participating in the Southwest Louisiana Garden Conference and Expo to talk all things horticulture.

You might also see a naturalist out in the field to clean up parks, lead nature tours, plant grass and trees and volunteer at city nature-themed events.

“If you heard about the Bat Walk at Drew Park, that was us!”

SWLAMN is as much a social group as it is a volunteer group. Members attend four general meetings a year but regularly travel to do fun, recreational activities together, from kayaking trips to hiking to fishing, Morris said.

Courses

From January to July, SWLAMN will host 12 workshops. To become certified, participants take eight of the courses and complete a project that involves writing and article for the SLAMN newsletter and an educational presentation.

There are two meeting in January. The first meeting will be a crash course in citizen science —research and discoveries supported by volunteers and amateurs — and the importance of historical naturalists.

The second workshop will teach participants about biology, ecology and some of the rich environmental qualities of Southwest Louisiana.

“We’ve got clay soils. We’ve got the different forest ecologies,” she said. “You get background information because after that class, we jump into making your backyard a habitat and friendly for things that are coming to your yard like butterflies and bees and birds and snakes.”

This year, participants will have the opportunity to go through a program to become Louisiana Wildlike and Fisheries volunteer instructors, leaving them ready to help out at Port Wonder.

Members have two years to become certified, but it is not a requirement. Instead, participants can become an ancillary member.

“We encourage it, but its not the purpose,” she said. “You can join and just come to the meetings and come to the field trips and check it out before you commit to the workshops.”

Participants can also expect field trips. Morris said they often travel to the Kisatchie Forest, Wolf Cave, Cooter’s Bog, the Lacassine Pool and the Cajun Prairie in Eunice.

The one-time course fee is $200. This fee covers equipment, materials and an overnight stay.

After the first year, the annual requirements for members are 20 volunteer hours, eight continuing education hours and a $20 annual membership fee.

Those interested in becoming a certified master naturalist, email swlamasternaturalists@gmail.com or call 337.302.0168.

2025 Workshops

January 11 – Introduction, Applied Natural Science

January 18 – Biological/ Ecological Concepts

February 1 – Backyard Habitat Tuten Park

February 15 – Fish/ Aquatic VIP Training

March 8 – Birds

March 22 – Fresh Water Marsh Ecosystem

April 5 – Cajun Prairie Ecosystem

April 26 – Coastal Ecosystem

May 3 – Reptiles and Amphibians

May 17 and 18 – Overnight at Longleaf Pine Ecosystem and Pollinators

June 7 – Aquatic Invertebrates

June 14 – The Land Ethic/ Graduation