Author: dhoover7969

A Botanical Adventure in Kisatchie National Forest

Kickoff to an Exciting Workshop Series – Join Us on May 17, 2025
9:00 am

If you’ve ever wandered through the woods and wondered, “What kind of plant is this?”—you’re in for a treat! We’re kicking off a hands-on, educational adventure in the heart of nature, guided by none other than Dr. Charles Allen.

We’ll gather at the Chevron station in Georgetown (1234 US-165), where we’ll meet Dr. Allen, a highly respected plant taxonomist, author, and retired professor of Botany from ULM. His passion for plant identification is contagious, and he’s eager to share his expertise with us.

From there, we’ll venture into the breathtaking Kisatchie National Forest, where our newfound knowledge will be put to the test. Expect to get up close with local flora, learn fascinating facts about native species, and gain hands-on experience in fieldwork. Whether you’re a seasoned nature enthusiast or just curious about the plants in your own backyard, this excursion promises to be both educational and enjoyable.

So, lace up your hiking boots, bring your curiosity, and let’s explore the wonders of Kisatchie together!

See you there! 🌿

Event has been postponed, more information to come! We will reach out to registrants about reserving their place for the future event or refunding their fee. Join us at a future time to be determined for our first workshop of our 5th series of workshops for those who wish to become Certified Master Naturalists. Others who are interested and want to learn are also welcome.

(Photo by Susan Hoover)

Our workshop will be led by Dr. Joydeep Bhattacharjee who holds bachelor’s and master’s degrees in Botany and a PhD in Wildlife Science. He is a professor of Biology at ULM, where he teaches and conducts research in the Plant andral Ecology Lab. Dr. Bhattachjee has previously led our organization in workshops on Phenology and Restoration Ecology.

Phenology is the study of recurring events in biological life cycles and how they are influenced by changes in climate, season, or other factors. Phenology studies the effects of seasonal changes, impacts of precipitation and day length, effects of climate change, and ecological relationships. It is important for agriculture, conservation, and climate science.

The workshop will be held at a future date and location to be determined.

How:   Register for class on our website: Louisiana Master Naturalists – Northeast under the heading:  Certification. The cost of the workshop is $25.00; limited scholarship assistance is available, contact any chapter officer for information.

Special Instructions:

1. Download Natures_notebook prior to class start time. You can find the app on Google Play Store or the I-Phone App Store.   For more information: https://www.usanpn.org/natures_notebook

2. Hiking boots are recommended.

3. Insect repellent is always a plus along with hats or sunscreen.

4. Cameras or phone cameras and binoculars are always good.

5. Don’t forget your own lunch and water.

Registration is open – https://www.louisianamasternaturalist.org/rendezvous2025.html?fbclid=IwY2xjawHurFtleHRuA2FlbQIxMQABHTfpxze_f6Gxv9iDSaMunbYMmIH6KzwX9Z4_XfZIYvUd90NSr2Xu36NYNA_aem_NGJDUhKZDHa3_jZwmBejNw

Join the Baton Rouge Chapter of Louisiana Master Naturalists for an amazing time, April 11-13 2025

Join us on November 30th for a workshop about the amazing world of Fungi. We’ll meet at the Episcopal Church of The Redeemer in Ruston for an introduction to fungi, and then go to Lincoln Parish Park where we will see what fungi we can find and gather specimens for DNA sequencing.

As always,the workshop is $25 but you will also need $3 per person as a park fee. Please remember to bring your lunch and water.

Foraging will not be part of this workshop; it is strictly an introduction to fungi, what they are and how they live.

Our presenter will be Kimberly Paxton, a Certified Master Naturalist and a member of the Gulf South Mycological Society. Kim has a passion for learning about fungi and a desire to share her knowledge of the natural world in Northeast Louisiana. She has submitted many observations on iNaturalist.org