Education Programs
Programs are changing activities - tours, classes, events, seminars that are accessed through timed, directed action. The South Louisiana Wetlands Discovery Center will sponsor and conduct a wide variety of public programs directed toward the community outside of its basic exhibition function. Several major categories include school related, general public and special interest programs. Possible program areas to be offered are on-site educational outreach classes, summer camps for students, field trips to exhibits at other sites, lecture series, publications, and interpreted content by guides or volunteers. 
The Center has already implemented two of its program areas - school related and general pulic. The Center offers unique wetlands activities for the general public in its booths at the Lady Bug Ball. It also offers field trips to the Mandalay Nature Trail, sponsors World Wetlands Day, and 2 week long summer camps. The Center is working to expand its offerings in the near future.
The porgams are implemented by the Center's Program Director, Ms. Leah Gautreaux. Ms. Gatureaux is a science teacher at H. L. Bourgeois High School. In addition, the Center has four teachers who work with the Program director to implement the lessons and activities during the field trips and summer camps. These teachers have specialized training in the science field and teach at local middle and high schools throughout the parish.
Right: Ms. Leah Gautreaux, Ms. Julie Pellegrin, Ms. Wendy Delgado, Ms. Carolyn Cowart, and Ms. Leah Rauhaus.
SLWDC offers a scholarship each summer for a teacher to attend a seminar featuring innovative STEM (Science, Technology, Engineering and Mathematics) professional development with emphasis on the wetlands environment. Each year the seminar or workshop offered changes in order to give the teacher a variety of training. The teacher reports back to the board on the experiences acquired and how the knowledge learned will be implemented into the classroom. The teacher also take the knowledge acquired from the summer seminar and create programs to be offered for students through the Center. This allows the students the opportunity to have a hands on experience and allows the teacher to demonstrate the techniques learned.
In 2010, the Center created an internship position that is awarded to a graduating high school senior who has shown dedication and excellence in the science field. The internship allows the senior the opportunity to gain real world hands on work experience. The intern works along side the Center's Program Director and summer camp instructors to implement the activities and lessons planned for the summer camps. This year the internship was awarded to Ms. Madilyn Parker. Mattie as she is known graduated from H.L. Bourgeois High School this past May and excelled in the science field. She also volunteered in the Center's booths at the 2010 Lady Bug Ball and was a presenter with other the H. L. Bourgeois seniors at the 2010 World Wetlands Day.
This year the SLWDC will offer five programs for students from grade 5 - 7.
2010 Programs
| World Wetlands Day | Spring Mandalay Nature Trail Adventure |
| "Wetlands Explorer" Summer Camp | "Wetlands Conservationist" Summer Camp |
| Fall Mandalay Nature Trail Adventure |
Past Programs