Spring wildflowers are in bloom, frogs are calling, migratory birds are returning from their travels, and alligators are looking for romance. It’s the perfect time to visit the wetlands of the Barataria Preserve! Join National Park Service rangers and volunteers for Spring in the Swamp, a weekend of free fun for nature lovers and families on the preserve’s Visitor Center and Bayou Coquille trails. Spring in the Swamp will take place this Saturday-Sunday, April 8-9, 10:00 a.m.-3:00 p.m., at the Barataria Preserve. The preserve, one of six sites of Jean Lafitte National Historical Park and Preserve, is located at 6588 Barataria Boulevard in Marrero near Crown Point. More information is available at 504-689-3690 or on the Barataria Preserve webpage.

Activities each day at the Visitor Center and the Visitor Center Trail:

• Hands-on activity stations – Catch and identify small water critters through dip netting. Discover the importance of water quality and how it is monitored. Experience migratory bird happenings at the preserve and find out why it’s important.
• Ranger guided walks at 11:00 a.m. and 1:00 p.m.; meet at the Barataria Visitor Center.
• Park rangers and preserve volunteers will be on the trails to point out sights of interest and answer questions.
• Especially for kiddos: visit the Junior Ranger Zone to earn a Junior Ranger badge.

The Barataria Preserve, located 17 miles south of New Orleans, is comprised of over 26,000 acres of Louisiana wetlands, including bottomland hardwood forest, cypress swamp, freshwater and intermediate (between freshwater and brackish) marshes, bayous and canals. The Preserve includes a network of boardwalks and hiking and canoe trails that allow visitors to access the park’s wild places and observe native plants, alligators, snakes and over 200 species of birds. Admission to the center and to most programs is free. The preserve visitor center is open Wednesday-Sunday 9:30 a.m.-4:30 p.m. (closed on federal holidays). Parking lots are open for trail and picnic area access daily 9:00 a.m.-5:00 p.m.

Each year, over 450,000 visitors enjoy the Preserve’s trails, canoe waterways and programs that inspire stewardship of the natural and cultural resources of southern Louisiana and the many challenges they face.

Original source can be found here.