Schools of curious students from five parishes fished around andexplored the interactive exhibits about Louisiana’s wetlandsat Thursday’s Ocean Commotion in the Pete Maravich AssemblyCenter.
A 60-foot life-size model of a fin whale, the second largestwhale species, greeted students, teachers and parents in the PMAC,but the students rushed past it to the other displays.
Kids grimaced as they sampled “Red Sea” and”Gulf of Mexico” saltwater in paper cups at the MarineEnvironmental Researchers’ table.
Aaron Adamack, an oceanography graduate student, said graduatestudents mixed the actual percentage of salt in the Red Sea and theGulf of Mexico into water for students to sample.
A few brave souls also tasted samples of actual mud from thebottom of the Gulf of Mexico and nori seaweed, which is used forsushi.
For the last five years, the LSU Sea Grant College Program hasbeen funding, running and organizing the event, said Robin Dunkin,a senior marketing strategist for University Relations whovolunteered at the event.
Dunkin said 60 to 65 exhibitors set up informational tables toteach children the importance of coastal restoration, focusing onthe Gulf of Mexico’s coastal area.
The participating schools are from five surrounding parishes,and most of the students come from East Baton Rouge, Ascension andLivingston parishes, Dunkin said.
Dunkin said many teachers coordinate Ocean Commotion into theircurriculums by teaching environment-related material before thefield trip.
Molly McGehee, a seventh grader from University LaboratorySchool, said her class finished studying about Louisiana’senvironment before they came to Ocean Commotion.
McGehee said she enjoyed the exhibit on state parks, whichdisplayed different animal skeletons, such as a male deer’s,and furs of animals native to Louisiana.
Amy Crowe, also a seventh grader at University LaboratorySchool, said the Marsh Mission exhibit showed how important marshesare to Louisiana’s coastal preservation.
Erin Williams, a fourth grader at St. Francis Xavier ElementarySchool in Baton Rouge, said her favorite part of the day wastouching an embalmed octopus at a display. Williams said she isvery interested in animals, and she eventually wants to be aveterinarian.
Blake Hollingsworth, another seventh grader from UniversityLaboratory School, said he enjoyed looking at the stuffed animalexhibits, especially seeing the backbone of the whale.
Jackie Mistretta, a third grade teacher at Ascension Catholic inDonaldsonville, La., said anything that is hands-on helps youngstudents learn.
Mistretta said she showed videos in her classes about the ocean,marshes, and wetlands before they came to Ocean Commotion.
“Teaching them [at a young age] how to protect theenvironment and water is important,” Mistretta said.