Please mark the following dates in your calendars!
The schedule will be updated to include details – timings/places etc. when known. External events More workshops will be added later. Any questions, comments or concerns, please contact us.
March 28th, Mammals Workshop led by Dr. Ana Couvillon of ULM Biology
A detailed view of a Louisiana Black Bear skull reveals much about its lifestyle! Learn about Louisiana’s Mammals upcoming Mammals Workshop March 28th!
March 29th BoD Meeting
April 19th: Litter Pick & BoD Meeting at BBLNWR
2nd Qtr/BoD Meeting on May 23rd Focus on Foxes! Gray Fox presentation by Catrina Wiener (ULM Biology Post-grad)
Captivating gaze of a Gray Fox! There’s so much to learn about these mysterious and elusive creatures!
May 16th Birds Workshop led by LA Tech Biological Sciences Professor Terri Maness
Wood duck and drake with Pie-billed Grebe on Black Bayou Lake, in Monroe Louisiana.
May 30th Watershed Dynamics & Flooding Workshop led by Dr. Bill Patterson of LA Tech
Dr. Bill Patterson discusses the Louisiana Sparta Aquifer during an LMN-NE Watershed Dynamics workshop presentation.
June 28th BoD Meeting
July 19th BoD Meeting
August 16th BoD Meeting
September 20th BoD Meeting
October 18th BoD Meeting
November 15th BoD Meeting
December 13th 4th Qtr Membership/BoD Meeting LMN-NE Christmas Party.
🌿 Discover the Rhythms of Nature: A Day of Phenology
Saturday, October 18 | 9:00 a.m. – 3:00 p.m. 📍 West Monroe Branch Library & Trails at Black Bayou Lake
Have you ever noticed how the first blooms of spring or the turning of autumn leaves seem to follow a rhythm? That’s phenology—the study of nature’s cycles—and we’re inviting you to spend a day exploring it with us!
📚 Morning Session: Learning Together
9:00 a.m. | West Monroe Branch Library 315 Cypress Street, West Monroe, LA 71291
We’ll kick off the day at the library with an introduction to phenology, led by Dr. Joydeep Bhattacharjee, Professor of Biology. You’ll also get hands-on guidance with the Nature’s Notebook app, a powerful tool for recording seasonal changes in plants and wildlife.
🚗 Midday: Caravan & Lunch
11:30 a.m. We’ll travel together to our field site at Black Bayou Lake. Pack your own lunch and enjoy it on the way or once we arrive.
🌳 Afternoon: Field Work & Observations
12:30 p.m. | Black Bayou LakeNational Wildlife Refuge
Now it’s time to put our learning into practice! We’ll head outdoors for guided fieldwork and observations, exploring the seasonal patterns of the plants and animals around us.
🕒 Wrap-Up
3:00 p.m. We’ll conclude our day of discovery and reflection.
🌞 A Few Notes Before You Come
Facilities: Please note that the Black Bayou Lake National Wildlife Refuge visitor center and conservation learning center are currently closed due to the government shutdown. Plan ahead for restroom and water needs.
Weather: The forecast looks great—mostly sunny with a high near 88°F and no rain expected.
What to Bring: Your own lunch, plenty of water, and anything else you’ll need to stay comfortable outdoors. Cameras encouraged!
📩 Questions?
Reach out to David Hoover at: 📧 dhoover7969@sbcglobal.net 📞 318-605-2548
This is a wonderful opportunity to connect with nature, learn from an expert, and contribute to citizen science. We hope you’ll join us for a day of curiosity, community, and discovery! 🌎✨
🌊 Update on the Watershed Dynamics & Flooding Workshop
We were so excited to bring you a day of learning and exploration on Saturday, September 27, diving into the fascinating world of watersheds, flooding, and stream ecology. Unfortunately, due to low registration numbers, we’ve made the difficult decision to cancel this event.
Workshops like this thrive on participation and shared curiosity, and while we won’t be gathering this time, we’re grateful for the interest and support we’ve received. Dr. Bill Patterson and our team remain committed to creating opportunities for hands-on learning about water, land, and the environment—and we hope to see you at a future program.
💡 What’s next? We’re already brainstorming new ways to bring watershed science to life for our community. Keep an eye out for upcoming events, field days, and workshops where you’ll have the chance to explore, ask questions, and connect with others who share your curiosity about the natural world.
Thank you for your understanding, and for being part of our learning community. Even though we won’t be wading into Shepherd Creek this weekend, the conversation about water, land use, and resilience continues—and we’d love for you to be part of it.
— David Hoover, President, Lousiana Master Naturalists Northeast
🌊 Explore Watershed Dynamics & Flooding: A Hands-On Workshop in Ruston, LA
Photo By David Hoover
Curious about how water moves through our environment—and how land use and weather shape flooding? Join us for a full-day, interactive workshop on Saturday, September 27, where science meets the outdoors in a deep dive into watershed dynamics.
📍 Where & When
Time: 9:00 a.m. – 3:00 p.m.
Location: Reese Hall 219, Louisiana Tech University & Shepherd Creek, Ruston, LA
We’ll kick off the morning at Reese Hall (1201 Reese Dr., just south of W. California Ave on LaTech’s South Campus), where Dr. Bill Patterson—Associate Professor of Forest Soils and Watershed Management at Lousiana Tech—will guide us through the fundamentals of the hydrologic cycle. Expect engaging discussions on precipitation, infiltration, groundwater flow, storm runoff, and how human activity influences flooding.
Dr. Bill Patterson
🥪 Midday Caravan & Lunch Around 11:30 a.m., we’ll caravan to our field site at Shepherd Creek. Bring your lunch and plenty of water—there won’t be food provided, but there will be time to eat and recharge before we dive into hands-on exploration.
🧪 Fieldwork at Shepherd Creek Starting at 12:30 p.m., we’ll roll up our sleeves (or waders!) to take water quality measurements and observe stream dynamics in action. Not keen on wading in? No problem—you can stay dry and use dip nets or simply explore the rich plant and animal life along the stream banks.
🌤️ Weather & What to Bring The forecast looks promising: partly cloudy, high of 88°F, and no rain. Be sure to bring:
Chest waders or rubber boots (if you want to get in the stream)
Lunch and drinking water
Curiosity and a sense of adventure
Whether you’re a student, educator, or just someone who loves learning outdoors, this workshop offers a unique chance to connect theory with practice—and to see firsthand how water shapes the land we live on.
Louisiana Master Naturalists - Northeast 