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LMNGNO Calendar of Meetings and Events for 2025

Download the calendar.

Executive Committee Meetings           5:30 PM
STEM Library LAB
3011 N I 10 Service Rd E, Metairie, LA 70002    

  • January 15, 2025
  • April 9, 2025
  • July 9, 2025
  • October 8, 2025

Board of Directors Meetings     5:30 PM
Open to all members in good standing
STEM Library LAB
3011 N I 10 Service Rd E, Metairie, LA 70002

  • January 22, 2025
  • April 16, 2025
  • July 16, 2025
  • October 15, 2025
  • December (if needed)

General Membership Meetings
Social Hour begins at 5:30 PM.
Business meeting begins at 6:30 PM.
Feature Presenters to be determined.

Loyola University - Miller Hall Room 114

  • January 29, 2025
  • April 23, 2025
  • August 6, 2025
  • October 22, 2025

LMNA State-wide Rendezvous 2025
April 11-13, 2025
Baton Rouge, LA

2025 LMNGNO Annual Gathering at Bogue Chitto State Park
October 24-25, 2025

Spring 2025 LMNGNO Workshop Dates

All workshops are from 9:00 – 3:00 unless otherwise noted

  • Orientation (two parts)
  • January 10 Pt 1 Social Hour- STEM Library Lab (6-8 PM)                          
  • January 11 Pt 2 Audubon Nature Center   (9:00 – 4:00 PM)                       
  • January 25 Bayou Sauvage    
  • February 8 City Park/Urban Ecology   
  • February 22 CERF
  • March 8 Northlake Nature Center
  • March 22 Turtle Cove   
  • April 25-26 Elmer’s Island/Grand Isle (two-day trip)
  • May 3 Jean Lafitte/Bayou Coquille Trail (4:00 – 10:00 PM)
  • May 24 Bayou Dupont
  • May 28 Closing – STEM Library Lab (6-8 PM)

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Happy fall! Please come to our final meeting for 2024 on November 13 at Loyola University in Miller Hall, room 114.  Our theme will be Thanksgiving Dinner.  Please prepare your favorite dish for the potluck social, which starts at 5:30 pm. You can receive a volunteer credit by bringing a dish and an educational credit for attending. Remember to come a little early so we are ready to serve at 5:30 pm. Please try to help us conserve paper products by bringing your own silverware, plate, and cup. 

 The link for SignUp  is 

https://www.signupgenius.com/go/70A0E4FAAAB2BA7F85-53030163-lmngno

 See you there!
Marianne Maumus

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The last Louisiana Master Naturalists of Greater New Orleans general membership meeting of 2024 will take place at Loyola University on November 13 in Room 114 of Miller Hall on November 13, 2024. Click for parking information. 

November 13, 2024
Room 114 Miller Hall 
Loyola University

5:30 PM Potluck (link to sign up will follow) 
6:30 Business meeting

  • Certifications of new Master Naturalists
  • Results of election for board members and officers
  • Spring 2024 Bradburn Award

7:00 Speaker: Nancy Newfield, 2024 Percy L. Viosca Award, "The Wonderful World of Hummingbirds."

Important Announcements:

  1. All LMNGNO members who have paid dues for 2024 will shortly receive an electronic ballot to vote for the slate of officers for 2025 and the 2027 cohort of Board Members. Please submit your ballot promptly. Thank you to all who vote.
  2. The Nature Store is running a SALE of LMNGNO merchandise. Order by 11/12/24 to pick up your items at the general meeting on 11/13/24.  Details of items on sale and link to order are HERE. 

Janell Simpson, Secretary

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Want to update your LMNGNO wardrobe?   LMNGNO offers a variety of logoed items on our online store including T-shirts, fish shirts, caps, bandanas and more. There are a limited number of older fish shirts marked down to $25.00 and some T-shirts for just $15.00. Get yours now before they are gone! 

Order by 11/12/24 to receive your goodies at the general meeting on 11/13/24. 

If you are unable to attend the meeting we can arrange pickup at the STEM Library Lab.

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Walk Abouts – introductions to public sites in greater New Orleans to be explored by Master Naturalists of the New Orleans chapter.

These two hour educational sessions may include history of the site and other relevant details.  During the walk about, the biodiversity of the site can be observed.  Perhaps there will be a representative of the department that oversees the site who will provide pertinent details.  Of importance is that these short and informative educational sessions will count as educational hours towards one’s annual quota.

There are 3 walkabouts scheduled in November and December. 

On Sunday November 17th at 9 am, is a visit to a wooded lot on the University of New Orleans campus.  Modest in size, it is being converted into a native plants site.  The surrounding open spaces are being planted with native trees and shrubs.  Already a bird friendly site, this lot which has survived decades of US Navy and UNO development will be an oasis – a refuge for students and wildlife.  The host is Michele Mire. UNO Woodlot information.

On Sunday, December 15th at 10 am, is scheduled a visit to the New Basin Canal Park.  Located between the Pontchartrain Boulevard and the West End Boulevard, this park was once the site of the canal that ran from the lake to the business district. After Katrina, the open spaces were used to sort out and burn huge piles of debris.  Now the site is a brand new park with dozens of brand new trees.  The host is Nicole Greene.
 
And then six days later on Saturday, December 21st at 9 am is a visit to the West End Park located across from the Municipal Yacht Harbor.  The park was built almost a century ago to include a lagoon, rows of oaks and an arbor.  And on its west side, across a street is what was once the parking lot for a row of seafood restaurants located on pilings over the lake.  Now the eateries are gone so what is to become of the parking lot?  The host is Rebecca Stilling.

 

 These Walk Abouts are for members, spouses, friends and especially for potential recruits for the master naturalist program.   Children are welcome.  There is no fee for the event. 

To sign up for a Walk About, go to the Point Events page.  Once you sign up the host will contact you with info about the specific meeting site. 

Byron Almquist.               [email protected]                504 606-2207

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Please contact Eve Abrams directly with questions. [email protected]

On November 9th, from 6-9 pm, at Byrdie's Pottery (936 St. Roch Ave. NOLA 70117), join artist and Louisiana Master Naturalist Eve Abrams (Fall 2023) for the opening of her pottery show, "Essential Creatures."

This exhibition features intricate caterpillar sculptures and beautifully crafted plates and vases adorned with painted and carved caterpillars, moths, and butterflies. The artwork focuses on local species, especially those whose ecosystems depend on oak trees, a vital part of our region's ecology.

Through her art, Eve aims to inspire a greater appreciation for these often-overlooked creatures and encourage gallery visitors to protect and grow the native plants that these animals rely on for survival. The show invites us to recognize the importance of supporting our local ecosystems.

To enhance the experience, someone from a local native plant nursery will be present (with plants available!), a Master Naturalist will be available to talk about the animals featured in the pottery, and a selection of resource books will be on hand for those interested in learning more about how they can contribute to protecting our local wildlife.

Visitors can enjoy an evening of art, food, drinks, and meaningful conversations about our environment.

Essential Creatures
Date: November 9, 6-9 pm
Location: Byrdie's Pottery, 936 St. Roch Ave. NOLA 70117

 

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Join other Naturalists for a fun and educational weekend at Bogue Chitto State Park. Check out the event page to learn more. Register here.

Accommodations and Registration Fees
The registration fee is $40. The fee to sleep in the lodge (large dorms with bunk beds; indoor restrooms and showers) is an additional $10 for Friday and Saturday nights. This is optional - participants are free to make other arrangements. Registration grants access to any and all activities and meals throughout the weekend. Single-day tickets are not available.

 

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LMNGNO is participating in GiveNOLA Day this year.  Help us continue our work educating our members and the public about the environment. If you love nature as much as we do, please consider making a donation. 

What is GiveNOLA Day?
GiveNOLA Day, an initiative of the Greater New Orleans Foundation, is a one-day online giving event. For 24 hours, everyone who loves our region can support their favorite local causes by donating to one or more of 900+ participating nonprofit organizations. Since our first event in 2014, GiveNOLA Day has raised over $64.6 million for our region’s nonprofits. This year, we hope to do even more! 

When will GiveNOLA Day 2024 take place?
It will be from 12:00:01 a.m. to 11:59:59 p.m. on May 7, 2024. All event-related donations must be made online during the 24-hour period or during our scheduled giving period - April 23 through May 6.

Our community impact in 2023

  • Number of volunteers - 122
  • Number of events - 143
  • Volunteer hours - 4.46 k
  • Economic Impact - $137.75 k

To find out more visit our fundraising page.  

 

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BioBlitz and Community Nature Day on the Lafitte Greenway
May 10-12, 2024

 Learn more about nature and help your community! The Louisiana Master Naturalists and Friends of Lafitte Greenway are hosting a BioBlitz of the Lafitte Greenway and Community Nature Day on Saturday, May 11th. As a community, we will identify as many of the plants and animals that live on the Greenway as possible. There will be themed nature walks led by local experts throughout the day, as well as a nature-themed art project. All events are free and open to the public. All ages are welcome, and no prior knowledge or experience is necessary.

The Lafitte Greenway
The Lafitte Greenway is a 2.6-mile-long linear urban park that stretches from Mid-City to the French Quarter in New Orleans. The park, which was established in 2015, features sports fields and courts, playgrounds, exercise stations, a swimming pool, and a garden. A former brake tag station on the Greenway has been remodeled into an open-air event staging space with electricity and restroom, and a small, permanent stage has been installed nearby. The park also contains bioswales, bioretention areas, and large stretches of meadow that are marked by signs indicating, “Native meadow planting: Give nature a chance.” The Lafitte Greenway connects to Armstrong Park, Bayou St. John and is, at its most westerly point, less than half a mile from City Park.

What is a BioBlitz?
During a BioBlitz, people work together to find and identify as many species of plants and animals as possible in a specific area over a short period of time.

Purpose of the BioBlitz of the Lafitte Greenway
The purpose of the 2024 BioBlitz of the Lafitte Greenway is to document, for the first time, as many of the species living on the Greenway as possible. The data from the BioBlitz will help the Greenway’s managers plan the park’s natural and developed features, protect important habitats, and advocate for the Greenway’s importance. Submission of observations for the BioBlitz of the Lafitte Greenway will be accepted for three full days: Friday, May 10 through Sunday, May 12.

BioBlitz Session Schedule

Start End Topic Leader(s) Meeting point
9 AM 4 PM Aquatic macroinverte-brates (throughout the day) LMNGNO volunteers Greenway station
10 AM 12 PM Fungi Tres Fisher and Ann Plique Greenway station
10 AM 11:30 AM Tree session #1 Byron Almquist, Sean Duffy and Bill Van der Meer French Truck
10:30 AM 11:30 AM Native landscapes Emily Pontiff Greenway station
10:30 AM 12 PM Mosquitoes Rachel Denny French Truck
12 PM 2 PM Art project: Sun prints Courtney Egan Greenway station
12 PM 1 PM Butterflies and other day insects Sam Kanellos and Noah Hebert Lemann Pool
12:30 PM 2 PM Plants Matt Heron Greenway Station
2 PM 3:30 PM Tree session #2 Byron Almquist and Susie Allen Flour Moon
5 PM 6:30 PM French nature walk Maxime Bailleux and Marc Witham Flour Moon
5:30 PM 7 PM Mammals Rachel Denny Flour Moon
6 PM 8 PM Reptiles and amphibians Steve Stevens Greenway Station
7 PM 9 PM Bats Craig Hood Flour Moon
9 PM 10:30 PM Moths and other night insects Janna Wisniewski Flour Moon

*More sessions to be added. Check back for updates!

Download a printable schedule.

Who can participate?
All activities are free and open to the public. All ages are welcome (children should be accompanied by a guardian). No prior knowledge or experience is necessary. You do not need to pre-register for the nature walks or art project, just come to the designated meeting point at the start time.

What should participants bring?
We recommend wearing closed-toed shoes and sun protection and bringing water and a smartphone. It is a good idea to download iNaturalist in advance (see instructions below).

iNaturalist
Data will be tabulated using iNaturalist. Participants will be encouraged to download iNaturalist on their smartphones and post photos of the species that they observe to the project entitled “Lafitte Greenway BioBlitz 2024.”

You can learn how to download the app and create an account here: https://www.inaturalist.org/pages/getting+started

And learn how to make an observation here: https://vimeo.com/162581545

Those who opt not to use a smartphone will record their observations on paper data sheets.

Species identification
Participants will canvas the Greenway to find as many unique species of life as possible during the72-hour period. Although the emphasis will be on observing species and taking their photos (if possible), the LMNGNO will provide resources for identification including the iNaturalist and Seek apps, on-site experts, and a library of field guides during the main session on Saturday.

Participants will be welcome to search in any part of the Greenway, at any time, and for any types of life that they choose. However, participants can also join scheduled searches for specific types of life which will be led by local experts.

Have questions? Want to volunteer?
Contact Janna Wisniewski at [email protected].