Black Bayou Lake National Wildlife Refuge is hosting the Annual Summer Solstice Paddle June 21 at 7:30 p.m. at the refuge. The after-hours paddle celebrates the beginning of summer.
The summer solstice is the day with the longest amount of sunlight of the year. The solstice falls on June 21 and marks the official beginning of summer. Black Bayou Lake NWR hosts an annual paddle after hours at the refuge to celebrate the solstice. Participants should bring a canoe, kayak, or stand-up paddleboard, as well as bug spray, a drink, and snacks of your choice. "It's a good day to celebrate, watch the sunset, and enjoy nature," says Refuge Ranger Nova Clarke. According to Clarke, the event goes on despite light showers, but can be canceled if there are severe winds or lightning.
The Guardians, a 2018 documentary about monarch butterflies, is showing at the Chennault Aviation and Military Museum to benefit Black Bayou Lake NWR and Ouachita Green. The documentary follows the work in Mexico to preserve the area in which monarch butterflies migrate to during winter in the US. The event is Tuesday, June 26. Proceeds from ticket sales go towards planting pollinator-friendly plants around the parish in honor of Pollinator Week.
More information about Black Bayou Lake NWR is available here. Tickets for The Guardians documentary showing are available here.