wfn.org | Gators? Snakes? No Fear, Say Lutheran Teens Planting Wetlands

[<NEWS@ELCA.ORG>]

Title: Gators? Snakes? No Fear, Say Lutheran Teens Planting Wetlands
ELCA NEWS SERVICE

>July 25, 2009  

Gators? Snakes? No Fear, Say Lutheran Teens Planting Wetlands
09-166-SH

THERIOT, La. (ELCA) -- A bus carrying dozens of wide-eyed Lutheran
teens from Nebraska and Wisconsin pulled into the Falgout Canal marina, a
70-mile drive from New Orleans. They strapped on life jackets and stepped
into several boats.

The teens knew they'd be working on an environmental service project
to help with Hurricane Katrina recovery. Until this moment, they didn't
know they'd be planting wetlands grasses a 45-minute boat ride away.

"When we get to the site be aware of where you stand," instructed
Caitlin Reilly, education coordinator for Bayou Rebirth. "Watch out for
red ants. If you happen to run into a snake or alligator, let us know."

A chance brush with an alligator or snake isn't what worried the
teens.

"Will there be restrooms out there?" they wanted to know.

>"No."

"Will we be able to come back if we need to use the restroom?" they
asked.

>"No."

The teens exchanged worried glances. On the rocky ride down the
canal, some watched for alligators and swore they spotted one. Others
made a point not to look.

"I'm glad we get to do this," said Andrew Osborn, 14, of Gretna,
Neb. He's a member of the Evangelical Lutheran Church in America (ELCA)
and among 37,000 youths and adults in New Orleans for the 2009 Youth
Gathering.

As part of the event, 12,000 youths and their chaperones are being
sent out daily June 23-25 to help with Hurricane Katrina recovery
projects. These teens were assigned to Bayou Rebirth, a nonprofit
organization dedicated to wetlands restoration.

"What we're really trying to do is respond to an enormous problem;
that is the rapid disappearance of Louisiana coastal wetlands," said
Colleen Morgan, Bayou Rebirth founder.

Wetlands provide a critical buffer to hurricanes, the teens were
told.

"If this will help prevent hurricane damage, then I'm all for it,"
said Tyler Jarnagin, 16, of Gretna. "It's what I came here to do -- to
help out."

The planting site was a wide patch of sandy moist ground. The teens
planted grass in rows of five for several hours in intense heat without
any shade barriers.

Every 45 minutes or so, a few teens sat down and guzzled water.

"I think they're exhausted," said the Rev. Jessica Rivera, pastor of
Resurrection Evangelical Lutheran Church, Gretna, Neb. "I also think
they're enthusiastic about this. They wanted to do something that helped
the people of New Orleans. This fits the bill."

At 3 p.m. the teens climbed back into the boats and headed back to
the marina. Many were covered from head to toe in mud and dirt.

Shelby Gross, 14, summed up the Gretna teens thoughts about the
project.

"It was gross, but pretty cool," she said. "I hope it helps."

>---

More information is at Pretty Good Lutherans

http://blogs.ELCA.org/prettygoodlutherans on the ELCA Web site.
Information about the 2009 Youth Gathering is at
http://www.ELCA.org/gathering on the ELCA Web site.

For information contact:

John Brooks, Director (773) 380-2958 or news@elca.org
http://www.elca.org/news