June at the Northlake Nature Center

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Photo courtesy of the Northlake Nature Center.

The 400-acre Northlake Nature Center in Mandeville has plenty to offer during this first month of released COVID-19 restrictions across Louisiana, especially for those looking to stretch their legs, breathe in some fresh air, and enjoy the mental relief of experiencing the beauties of nature.

June 5

• Canoeing on Castine Bayou with Canoe and Trail Adventures: Enjoy a three-hour paddling outing in a canoe for two. Guide Byron Almquist, a long-time paddling guide and Louisiana Master Naturalist, will discuss and describe the habitats and history of the bayou and provide paddling instructions, if desired. Bayou Castine is a Louisiana natural and scenic stream which flows past the Northlake Nature Center, through forested high ground, transitions to a mixed cypress swamp and then past marshes and marinas before emptying into Lake Pontchartrain. Weight limit 240 pounds, masks to be worn at launch site. 9 am and 2 pm. $40 for one paddler; $70 for two adults; no charge for a maximum of two children (11 or younger) for members; additional $5 per person rate applies for non-members. 

• Moonlight Hike and Snow and Ice: Ever wondered what the Northlake Nature Center would be like at night? What would you hear, what would you see, and what would you smell? Take a quiet walk under the full moon and find out! Bring your own flashlight and enjoy snowballs courtesy of Honey’s Snoballs of Abita. Reservations required. 7:50 pm. $5 for non-members; free for members. 

June 6 

• Snakes of Louisiana with Fred Mattingly: A local community snake enthusiast will share his wealth of knowledge and introduce you to Louisiana’s coolest native snakes. Snakes have fascinated Mattingly his entire life, and he will bring his small collection so you can observe their behavior and learn about their habits. 10 am. $5 for non-members; free for members.

June 20

• Mushroom Walk with John Mansfield (CANCELLED): Sign up now to learn all about the mushrooms that sprout up in the summer. Mansfield has forty years of experience studying those little toadstools or spore-bearing fruiting bodies of a fungus which typically grow above ground on soil or on their food source. The program will start in the pavilion with a slide show presentation that Mansfield put together, followed by a scavenger hunt for mushrooms. We will return to the pavilion and identify the mushrooms found. If you have one you’d like to bring from home, please do so! You will learn which ones to leave behind. Reservations required. 10 am. $5 for non-members; free for members.

June 27

Walk in the Woods, Medicinal Plants with Donna Caire, and Plant I.D. with Rue McNeill: The Northlake Nature Center has no shortage of native plants. The “Four Seasons” Tree ID Program aims to enable participants to identify native trees and shrubs year-round. Each session highlights seasonal features often unique to individual species. The Summer Session highlights leaves, flowers, and developing fruit. Caire will point out several medicinals along the way, while McNeill will share her love of trees and their fascinating attributes. Reservations required. 9 am. $5 for non-members; free for members.

To register, call (985) 626-1238 or email rue@northlakenature.org.