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Training future leaders to save America's treasure!
Youth Wetlands Week (YWW) is an educational program designed to promote wetland education and conservation across Louisiana by providing wetland lessons to any interested teacher and engaging young people across the state in the fight to keep our wetlands alive by encouraging them to organize and/or participate in a wide array of restoration service activities.
The goal is for more people to understand the critical importance of upland and coastal wetlands and the need to prevent future wetland loss.
In the summer and fall, 4-H personnel recruit teachers from across the state to enroll in the program. During the spring, teachers receive wetland education curriculum binders as well as all the materials they need to teach the lessons. Lessons cover grades 4th through high school and new lessons are added to the curriculum binder every year.
Teachers are also encouraged to participate in wetland service projects ranging from having their students write letters to their parents and local politicians to participating in a field trip to a wetland and helping with a restorative planting. Information is provided throughout the year from the YWW main office to help support teachers in these endeavors.
Didn't sign up for the 2008 YWW program in time, not to worry! YWW lessons are also available for anyone who would like to download them by clicking on this link. If any educator is interested in signing up for the 2009 YWW program and receiving educational materials, contact your local 4-H agent, or email David Latona at dlatona@agcenter.lsu.edu.
Don't let the title of Youth Wetlands "Week" deceive you! Wetland lessons can be taught and restoration projects be organized year round.
This year, the YWW program has partnered with the America's WETLAND foundation to promote 4th through 12th grade students to compete in the "Keep Your Eye on the Prize" art, photo, and essay contest. Contest winners receive $500 to create a wetland project at their school. Click here for details about how to enter.
The YWW program is made possible by a grant from the LA Dept. of Natural Resources. Other partners include the Barataria Terrebonne National Estuary Program, the America's Wetland Conservation Corps AmeriCorps program, LA Sea Grant, 4-H, and the America's WETLAND foundation.
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