St. Bernard 4-H Wetlands Service-Learning Project
4-H youth from St. Bernard Parish participated in the wetlands service-learning project. The objective of Wetlands Service Project is to teach youth about the importance of being involved in pressing issues within their parish. The St. Bernard Jr. Leader Club decided that one of the most pressing needs is coastal restoration. The goals were to 1) participate in activities that would improve the wetlands in St. Bernard Parish; 2) increase knowledge about the importance of the wetlands, the different ecosystems and geography of St. Bernard Parish; 3) gain an appreciation for the wildlife in St. Bernard Parish.
Because of the loss of wetlands over the past 50 years, St. Bernard has become more vulnerable to tropical storms and hurricanes as evidenced by the mass destruction caused by Hurricane Katrina. As the Corps of Engineers and parish government work to rebuild the levee protection system, citizens of St. Bernard must also do their part to educate themselves about the need to rebuild the wetlands that protect the levee and therefore have a false sense of security. Youth don’t have the opportunity to leave the suburban area of St. Bernard and venture into the wetlands so they may experience through hands-on learning what is happening to the wetlands and what can be done to help restore the wetlands in St. Bernard Parish. The future of St. Bernard Parish will one day be in the hands of youth, who must become the voice for the rebuilding of the wetlands.
Youth and volunteers met to pick up trash and Katrina debris from the roadside bayou on October 4, 2008. Thirty-one contractor bags of trash as well as a pick-up truck bed of debris were removed from the Bayou Bienvenue area. On November 3, 2008, there was a wood duck box build; youth met to assemble wood duck boxes and discuss plans for installation. On November 24, 2008, there was wood duck box installation; youth met to install wood duck boxes at the St. Bernard State Park. Youth scouted locations, completed assembly and installation, and finally placed nesting material in the boxes. The wood duck boxes will be monitored for use by wildlife. 4-H club members returned to the State Park to identify GPA way points that were used to develop a GIS map. On March 21, 2009, there was cypress tree planting; Junior Leaders, AWCC members and adult volunteers planted 1,200 trees in an area of St. Bernard Parish known as Varrett. The tree planting will help to reduce wind speed and reduce storm strength as it moves inland. On August 4, 2009, there was marshgrass planting; the Junior Leaders, AWCC members and adult volunteers planted 1,000 plugs of smooth cordgrass in Scarsdale. On November 22, 2008, youth went on a historical and environmental field tour of St. Bernard Parish. On May 12, 2009, they took a trip to the Aquarium of the Americas and IMAX Theater to see Hurricane on the Bayou as a celebration of their success.
Youth were given the opportunity after the field trip to the aquarium to share their thoughts about the service projects. Youth felt that the wetlands project is important, and they want to continue to focus on wetland and restoration projects next year. They also expressed concern over the loss of the wetlands but are glad that they can do what they can to help restore them. The project lasted 40 hours as of 8/15/2009.
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