The swamp school in St. Charles Parish is no ordinary summer program. Instead of classrooms and computers, elementary-aged children spend a week paddling canoes through Louisiana wetlands, holding snakes and baby alligators, and learning to cast fishing nets—all while gaining a deeper appreciation for the environment around them.
a hands-on approach to louisiana’s wetlands
Founded 14 years ago by retired science teacher Barry Guillot and current educator Craig Howat, Swamp School has become one of the parish’s most sought-after summer programs. The 260 available spots fill within minutes when registration opens in spring. The summer program is administered by the St. Charles Parish Department of Parks and Recreation. “The only way to get them to appreciate what we have here is to get them to go out there, to get their hands in the mud,” Guillot says.
The program begins at the Bonnet Carré Spillway boat launch in Norco, where children 8 to 12 years old are split into groups by age. They canoe through the swamp, learning to identify both native and invasive species. Howat points out a tall Chinese tallow tree—“public enemy number one,” he calls it—and guides the children as they pull water hyacinths from the water. The invasive plants, he explains, rob the still waters of oxygen, harming fish and native vegetation.
Guillot emphasizes that this is a “school” rather than a camp. “You’re gonna be learning so much out here, it’s incredible,” he says, watching as children practice throwing cast nets. “It’s part of our culture,” Howat adds, explaining how casting nets and shrimping are age-old traditions in Louisiana.
from archery to alligators in swamp school
In addition to canoeing and plant studies, the children learn archery, a skill that Howat believes balances the fast pace of modern technology. “It allows them to slow your heart rate down, focus on the target, practice the process and go through it,” he says.
The students also hold a harmless black Mexican king snake and pass around a young three-foot-long alligator. One of the student participants confidently explains the difference between poisonous and venomous: “Poison is where if you eat something you could die. Venom is where something bites you.”
creating a personal ‘water log’ in swamp school
At the end of each day, the students write down their experiences in small journals called “water logs.” Guillot sees this as a critical step in building awareness. “People can’t care about something unless they know about it,” he says.
For these young explorers, Swamp School is more than just a week outdoors—it’s an introduction to the fragile, fascinating ecosystem that defines Louisiana culture.
swamp school featured on tv
For more information about the next Swamp School, contact the St. Charles Parish Department of Parks and Recreation.
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