Water Connects Us All: Louisiana Educators Explore Coastal Change, Restoration and Stewardship During a Grand Isle Professional Learning Experience

Louisiana’s coast is a dynamic ecosystem. From barrier island restoration projects to innovative oyster research, understanding efforts to preserve these systems is essential for preparing the next generation of environmental stewards. To deepen that understanding, a select group of South Louisiana educators participated in the Water Connects Us All Grand Isle Professional Learning Experience in June, the third of four convenings for this group of educator fellows who are part of a National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration’s (NOAA) Bay-Watershed Education and Training (B-WET) sponsored project.

The experience immersed teachers in place-based investigations that explored the challenges and opportunities in coastal Louisiana communities. Through field experiences and conversations with experts, participants examined how restoration, research and stewardship efforts are shaping the future of Louisiana’s coast.

Highlights included:

• Exploring barrier island restoration efforts by boat and witnessing peak nesting season for a variety of bird species with Polly Glover from Restore or Retreat.
• Investigating coastal ecosystem dynamics and the interconnected relationships between people, water and wildlife with several hands-on lessons created by partners at Louisiana Sea Grant.
• Learning about oyster aquaculture and restoration at the Michael C. Voisin Oyster Hatchery operated in partnership with Louisiana Sea Grant and the Louisiana Department of Wildlife and Fisheries.
• Touring the hatchery’s off-bottom oyster farm and discussing the role of aquaculture in supporting sustainable coastal economies with Oyster Hatchery director Elizabeth Robinson and LSU graduate student Kathryn Motley.
• Participating in a hands-on stewardship project at Grand Isle State Park with LSU Coastal Roots director Pam Blanchard.

A defining feature of the experience was the opportunity for educators to engage directly in stewardship and scientific research. Working alongside Blanchard, teachers helped clip and replant bitter panicum, a native beach grass used in dune restoration efforts throughout coastal Louisiana. The plants prepared during the experience will be distributed to schools and used in future student-led restoration projects, extending the impact of the work well beyond this summer experience.

Educators also partnered with researchers at the Louisiana Sea Grant Oyster Research Laboratory and Hatchery to support ongoing oyster monitoring efforts. Wading into the water, participants helped collect samples from an off-bottom oyster cage before inventorying and examining the organisms living within the system. This firsthand experience provided teachers with a deeper understanding of oyster ecology, aquaculture practices used to study Louisiana’s coastal ecosystems.

Throughout the experience, teachers participated in reflective discussions and collaborative planning sessions focused on developing Meaningful Watershed Educational Experiences (MWEEs) for implementation during the upcoming school year. Participants worked together to identify locally relevant driving questions, strengthen community partnerships and design student-centered investigations that connect classroom learning to real-world watershed and coastal phenomena.

The experience was led by a team from Louisiana Sea Grant’s Department of Education and Engagement, including Ali McMillan, Vanessa van Heerden and Dani DiIullo, in partnership with Margaret-Mary Sulentic Dowell at Louisiana State University’s Lutrill and Pearl Payne School of Education.

“The Water Connects Us All Grand Isle Professional Learning Experience provided an opportunity for these Louisiana educators to participate in authentic restoration and research efforts,” McMillan said. “Working alongside their colleagues and community partners, these teachers are creating enriching learning opportunities for their students in the year ahead and enhancing community resilience across South Louisiana.”

The Grand Isle Professional Learning Experience is part of the Water Connects Us All, a two-year NOAA B-WET-funded project designed to support south Louisiana teachers as they lead MWEEs with their students and local partners in their own communities. Through immersive field experiences, professional learning and ongoing community partnerships, the program fosters environmental literacy, stewardship and connections between communities across South Louisiana and the greater Mississippi River watershed.

For additional information about the program, visit Louisiana Sea Grant’s Water Connects Us All program webpage or contact Ali McMillan at aholl68@lsu.edu.