Field Trips for Students
Turtle Cove is pleased to offer exciting and educational field experiences for schools and other groups interested in wetland and aquatic sciences. 
Field trips are available year-round (dependent on good weather), and they feature demonstrations, discussions, and hands-on exploration of the Manchac wetlands, all facilitated by professional scientists. In addition to Turtle Cove staff, quite often, Southeastern students working on either research or service-learning projects will assist visiting groups, lending a different perspective to these already unique outings.
Recently, Turtle Cove has added a field training program for young scientists. This program is appropriate for high school students (and related groups) seeking more advanced skills in wetland science. Check out our new Self-Guided Boardwalk Tour complete with outlines of each educational station on the boardwalk and a printable copy of our Visitor's Guide.
For more information or to schedule a field trip, contact Rob Moreau [rmoreau@selu.edu]. We also have a 3-page summary sheet that works well for explaining the field trips to parents, teachers, and administrators.
Prior to your field trip, all participants MUST complete the appropriate forms.
What the Field Trip Includes
A typical field trip involves meeting at the
boat dock/classroom for a discussion of wetlands ecosystems, environmental issues, and exploration of various physical and biological aspects of the Manchac wetlands. If the staff biologist is available, then we'll collect various wetland critters. After that collection, the class boards a 40-foot pontoon boat for a trip to the wetlands surrounding the research station. Canoes are also available for field trips. We can trail up to 10 canoes for a trip anywhere around the basin, and we have canoes stationed at Galva Canal and at the main research station.
Since Katrina we've emphasized more work at the dock/classroom and a boat ride to observe wildlife and conduct environmental sampling without the traditional visit to the Turtle Cove research station. After the station has been fully reconstructed (currently in its final stages of completion), groups will again be welcome to visit, and field trips will be centered at the research facility itself. Explore the different stations of our Self-Guided Boardwalk Tour.
During the remainder of the field trip, various aspects of wetlands ecology and environmental science are discussed, including wetlands ecology, baldcypress and marsh restoration, plant and animal adaptations to the wetland environment, and the many environmental problems (and their solutions) of the Lake Pontchartrain Basin. These discussions are reinforced through educational games and activities, including biological and environmental sampling.
Students may expect to see a variety of wildlife, including alligators, birds, nutria, snakes, and fish as well as the various wetland plants that support these animals. Tour leaders are very accommodating and willing to tailor each field trip to meet any particular thematic units or learning objectives teachers may be covering in class.
Donations Accepted
We do not charge for field trips*, but donations are gladly accepted to support our programs. Typically, groups donate an average of $10 per participant, making checks payable to Southeastern Louisiana University Foundation--Turtle Cove and giving them to the field trip leader on the day of your visit.
*If your group opts for the longer field trip, which includes an Environmental Education Specialist, an applicable fee provides exclusively for this individual--boat trips are always free. Please view our 3-page summary sheet for further details.