The Louisiana wetlands are at the heart of a new educational destination in the town of Jean Lafitte. At the center, visitors can explore the history, culture, seafood industry and fragile coastal environment of the Barataria Basin before stepping outside to experience a cypress wetland swamp. Located about 30 minutes from downtown New Orleans, the Louisiana Wetlands Education Center blends interactive exhibits with nature trails that immerse visitors in one of South Louisiana’s most important and fragile ecosystems.
The Wetlands Education Center was years in the making and was created to help visitors better understand the value of Louisiana’s coast. Inside, exhibits explain oyster harvesting, hurricane protection, wetland restoration, and the many ways wetlands support both people and wildlife. State Representative and former Lafitte Mayor Tim Kerner, Sr. said education was the driving force behind the project. “It’s gonna educate people on how important the wetlands are, not only to Louisiana, but also to America,” Kerner said.
louisiana wetlands exhibits explain a changing coast
Interactive displays encourage visitors of all ages to explore how Louisiana’s landscape is formed and why it continues to change. One of the center’s most popular exhibits allows children and adults to create their own river delta using kinetic sand. Staff member Dustin Hertz demonstrates how water flows across different elevations, showing how rivers shape the land and how barriers can influence flooding.
Another display compares satellite images from 1985, the present day, and projected future conditions, revealing the continuing loss of coastal land. “They’re dumbfounded that they don’t understand that we’re constantly losing land every year,” Hertz said. Additional exhibits explore storm protection, wetland restoration projects, and the connection between coastal communities and the surrounding environment.
a real louisiana wetlands experience
Just outside the rear doors of the education center, visitors transition from indoor exhibits to the sounds and scenery of a real wetland. Several miles of boardwalks and trails wind through a cypress swamp filled with Spanish moss, towering trees, colorful wildflowers, birds, and even alligators that can often be spotted in a nearby canal.
The National Park Service leads guided walks for school groups and summer camps. Ranger Chance Leyton introduces children to the plants and wildlife they encounter, explaining that Spanish moss is actually an air plant while encouraging them to identify cypress trees and other features along the trail.
National Park Service Ranger Meredith Hardy hopes visitors leave with a deeper appreciation for coastal Louisiana. “We want people to be able to experience what real Louisiana is like,” Hardy explained…., “the wildlife, the scenery, the woods, the swamps, the marshes that really make South Louisiana such a unique place for people to live.”
Jean Lafitte Mayor Yvette Crain hopes every visitor discovers something that inspires future stewardship of the coast. “I just hope that they learn… even if it’s one little thing that they’d learn that will make a difference… or could help in some kind of way to keep the coast… keep this area protected,” Crain said.
By combining engaging exhibits with an immersive outdoor experience, the Louisiana Wetlands Education Center brings the story of Louisiana’s coast to life while encouraging visitors to appreciate and help protect one of the state’s greatest natural resources.
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Getting there
The Louisiana Wetlands Education Center is located at 4905 City Park Drive in the town of Jean Lafitte. Phone: (504) 294-2027. The center is open Tuesday – Sunday, 10am-4pm. Connect with the Louisiana Wetlands Education Center on Facebook.
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