The Evangeline Council of the Boy Scouts celebrated 100 years of Scouting in America and kicked off a year-long project in the Atchafalaya Basin on Saturday, February 20, 2010, at the Atchafalaya Welcome Center.

More than 1,000 Scouts, leaders, and family members attended the day-long event. Activities included tree planting, a rock wall, nature tours and booths manned by government agencies and the Friends of the Atchafalaya (FOA). Agencies included the LA Department of Natural Resources Atchafalaya Basin Program, Atchafalaya National Heritage Area, LA Department of Wildlife and Fisheries, LA Department of Environmental Quality (DEQ), LA State Land Office, US Army Corps of Engineers, and LSU School of Renewable Resources.

The highlights of the booths included naturalist Jim Delahoussaye at the FOA booth, showing a locally resident garter snake and a collection of alligator bones. Al Hendrichs of DEQ operated a portable Dynamic River Simulation Model and educated scouts, leaders and visitors on the processes involved in water runoff management and residential and commercial development. Al’s model was definitely the most productive and informative booth presentation of the day.

Watch for more information about Scouting activities in the Basin, throughout the project year.

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