Ring in the new year with new programs that promise fun for children of all ages! Programs are free but space is limited so reservations are required. Call 985-448-1375 ext. 0 for reservations and information.
- "Wee Rangers" for toddlers 3-5 and their parents will encourage participants to wade into the wetlands with safe science projects, cultural activities, stories, and crafts the second Thursday of each month 10:00-11:00 a.m.
- "Family Fun Days" are for kids 6-12 (parents welcome too!) and will feature hands-on science, stories, arts and crafts, and more on the last Saturday of each month 9:00 a.m.-noon.
Upcoming themes for both groups are
- February - African American History
- March - The Irish in Louisiana
- April - Fun with Frogs
- May - Asian Influences
The lives of the Acadians (Cajuns) and others whose travels brought them to Louisiana's bayous are featured at the Wetlands Acadian Cultural Center in Thibodaux. Recreation, clothing, home furnishings, religion, cuisine, and fishing are explored through exhibits, artifacts, videos, and films. A 200-seat theater is used for productions by the Thibodaux Playhouse, Inc., and other programs. Kids can explore the center and earn a badge with the Junior Ranger program. The center's bookstore has books, music, children's books, and craft items on sale. Admission to the center and to most programs is free. Click here for directions and program listings for specific dates.
314 St. Mary Street, Thibodaux
985-448-1375
Open Monday-Tuesday 9:00 a.m.-7:00 p.m., Wednesday-Thursday 9:00 a.m.-6:00 p.m., Friday-Saturday 9:00 a.m.-5:00 p.m. Closed December 25 and Mardi Gras (February 21 in 2012). Useful information about public transportation, regulations on pets, etc., is available here.
Regularly scheduled programs:
- Free historic Thibodaux walking tour at 2:00 p.m. Monday through Saturday. (No walk on Mardi Gras, Tuesday, February 21; center closed.) Take a one-mile walk through local history with a ranger.
- Free Cajun music jam every Monday 5:30-7:00 p.m. (No music jam on Lundi Gras, Monday, February 20, or on Memorial Day, Monday, May 28.) Bring an instrument and play along with local musicians or just enjoy!
- Cercle Francophone invites you to come pass a good time speaking French (Cajun or otherwise) 5:30-7:00 p.m. every Tuesday (no Cercle on Mardi Gras, Tuesday, February 21; center closed.) Help keep French alive in Louisiana---and if you don't speak French, come on along to watch linguistic history in action.
Special events and programs:
- Field trips for schools and other groups by reservation.
- Summer day camps for children.
- Thibodaux-area students participate in First Bloom, a National Park Foundation program aimed at connecting students to nature and national parks. The students have designed and planted a native plant garden at the center. Visit the First Bloom website to check out their work and and see more First Bloom adventures here.
