Support Outreach and Education
Sponsorships fund educational events throughout the sixteen parishes of the estuary. These include Paddle Bayou Lafourche, the production of educational material, and the development of classroom curricula and an annual calendar. These efforts bring awareness to the biological, ecological, and socio-economical benefits of Louisiana’s wetlands and the impact of losing these resources.
BTNEP’s cultural preservation programs bring greater awareness to the interaction between people, lifestyles, and the environment. As community pride is nurtured, citizens become more engaged in the preservation of both the physical and cultural resources of the region.
BTNEP conducts a number of cultural preservation activities throughout the year including the annual Paddle Bayou Lafourche, a four-day canoe trip through the heart of the Barataria-Terrebonne National Estuary.
The Kerry St. Pé BTNEP Marine Biology Endowed Scholarship
The scholarship was developed in recognition of Kerry St. Pé’s distinguished career as director of BTNEP and his lasting contributions to the preservation of Louisiana’s most precious estuary and the rich culture associated with it. The Barataria-Terrebonne Estuary Foundation (BTEF) and friends of St. Pé have endowed the scholarship in Marine Biology with a gift of $13,000 to the Nicholls State University Foundation. With additional gifts to the endowment, the amount awarded can be increased.
The scholarship of $325 per semester is awarded to a full time student enrolled in Marine Biology at Nicholls State University. The recipient will have achieved sophomore standing or higher, including graduate students, with a 3.0 grade point average. First consideration will be given to a resident of one of the sixteen parishes that make up the Barataria-Terrebonne National Estuary. For more information, contact the Nicholls State University Scholarship Office or email brandy.stpierre@nicholls.edu.
Each year, BTNEP produces educational calendars that highlight the estuary’s unique ecology and history. Past calendars have told stories of historic landmarks, beautiful birds, and local culture. You can download the latest calendar and those from years past.