The River as a Textbook: Louisiana Teachers Go to Neptune Pass

Science lessons are best experienced firsthand. For this round of teacher professional development, MissDelta took twelve Louisiana K-12 teachers to Neptune Pass, one of the fastest-growing land formations in the Mississippi River Delta. They got into the concepts literally knee-deep.

Photo: Dr. Emily Farrer, a MissDelta researcher at Tulane University, along with Louisiana educators  standing on a newly formed land in Neptune Pass sieving a sediment core.  Credit: Photo by Louisiana Sea Grant College Program

Over two days, teachers waded into the bay to pull sediment cores, worked hands-on sampling equipment in the marsh grass, identified marine organisms, and watched researchers measure the sediment and water moving through the pass.

Photo: Dr. Emily Farrer, a MissDelta researcher at Tulane University, along with Louisiana educator collecting and describing a marsh core along Neptune Pass. Credit: Photo by Louisiana Sea Grant College Program

Back at the dock, researchers walked the group through water quality testing: meters, probes, and the sample prep that turns river water into data.

Photo: Dani DiIullo, Sea Grant’s Director of Education and Engagement, leading the macroinvertebrates and dockside water quality testing station. Credit: Photo by Louisiana Sea Grant College Program

Dip nets came out in the marsh grass, followed by a group discussion on what separates a healthy marsh from one that is losing grounds.

Photo: Teachers net along the marsh edge near Delta Discovery Tours. Credit: Photo by Louisiana Sea Grant College Program

I got the chance to experience natural environments in my Parish and to make connections with local guides – A participating teacher

Photo: Drs. Aaron Ridall and Kim De Mutsert, MissDelta researchers at the University of Southern Mississippi, teaching the educators how they use seine nets to collect and identify marine organisms for their research. Credit: Photo by Louisiana Sea Grant College Program

The group also visited a restored barrier island on the Mississippi’s west side, where the coast is sediment starved and losing land instead of gaining, seeing firsthand what the alternative to Neptune Pass looks like.

Dominique Garello, Ph.D., Instructor in LSU’s Department of Geology and Geophysics shared her thoughts on the workshop:

“It was exciting to see how the MissDelta Initiative can provide this opportunity for teachers to go out and experience natural processes happening in the Mississippi Birdsfoot Delta and be able to engage with the MissDelta researchers and Louisiana Sea Grant educators.”

Photo: Group indoor debrief session. Credit: Photo by Louisiana Sea Grant College Program

I learned a lot about local species, Neptune Pass, salinity, coastal reconstruction projects, and how I can teach these concepts to my students – Participating Teacher

Twelve teachers are now back in classrooms across Louisiana with mud on their boots and a firsthand look at how a river can build land as fast as it takes it away.

MissDelta is a multi-institution coastal research initiative with partners including LSU, Tulane University, and the University of Southern Mississippi. Learn more at missdelta.org. This workshop was co-hosted with Louisiana Sea Grant, with boats and logistics provided by Delta Discovery Tours.