Most years I go to Camp Hardtner some time in late May to spend a little time with the permanent staff for the upcoming summer camping season. These staff members are college students who will be counselors and leaders of kids from primary through high school who attend a summer camping session. Nothing gives me more joy and gratification than sharing my knowledge (such as it is) of the natural world with these young people. One of the things I tell them is that among the children they nurture the coming summer will be the next generations of scientists, biologists,…

My month of April 2024 was consumed by helping my chapter prepare for hosting the statewide meeting of Louisiana Master Naturalists, “Rendezvous 2024,” then recovering from having hosted it! Indeed, it was a great event. Many of our members from south Louisiana were quite surprised to learn about the wonderful natural resources we have in this corner of the state. I didn’t get much shooting done in April, in part because hosting such an event is all-consuming and leaves one quite drained! However, one of the field experiences we scheduled as part of the event was early morning birding at…