News Post

Nine members of the St. Joseph’s Academy Science Club traveled to BREC’s Cedar Ridge Drive Park and planted approximately 150 oak trees in partnership with LSU’s Coastal Roots program and BREC Conservation.

SJA was the pilot program for Coastal Roots, which began in 2000 under the direction of former SJA science teacher Linda Messina and LSU Professor Dr. Pam Blanchard. Each year, students plant and care for seeds in the school’s can yard before transporting them for planting in fragile habitats. Science teacher and Science Club moderator Jonathan Durocher accompanied the students on their February 28 outing.

“We are helping to reforest areas of Baton Rouge and curb invasive species by repopulating with native ones,” he said. “It was a wonderful way to spend a Friday. The girls worked hard and were able to contribute to the restoration and beautification of our public parks.”

Senior Mackenzie O’Brien is the president of the Science Club’s Coastal Roots project. She said this year, club members were met with the challenge of damage to their crop caused by Hurricane Francine in September. “We salvaged what we had and were able to go on our trip thanks to Dr. Pam Blanchard,” O’Brien said. “Sometimes conservation work does not go as planned, but we learn to adapt and continue to grow and learn from nature. Finding new solutions and overcoming adversity is vital to restoring our planet and saving what we have. The Coastal Roots program has shaped me into a problem solver, caretaker and hard worker over the past few years. I loved having this experience in research and conservation, and I plan to use the knowledge I gained in the future.”

Mindy Brodhead Averitt
Communications Director