New Orleans

PROGRAM OVERVIEW

This program will take you to the Lower Ninth Ward of New Orleans, where you will experience how Common Ground Relief is addressing coastal land loss through community-based wetland restoration. Your days will be spent working at their plant nursery, potting and propagating native plants, and planting marsh grasses to rebuild natural storm surge protection. Through each of these activities, you will discover how restoring wetlands helps protect New Orleans from future storms while strengthening local communities.

While based in New Orleans, you will have the opportunity to participate in hands-on wetland restoration work, including planting trees and marsh grasses directly in the water using canoes and powerboats. You will work alongside local community members to understand how coastal land loss threatens their communities. Additionally, you will learn about Common Ground Relief’s community initiatives, including their Free Pantry, which serves over 90 families weekly in the Lower Ninth Ward, providing fresh produce and essential supplies to more than 10,000 individuals annually.

Outside of restoration work, you will explore New Orleans’ rich culture and history through visits to the French Quarter, swamp tours, and conversations with local residents. Through these experiences, you will learn about the city’s recovery since Hurricane Katrina and see firsthand how wetland restoration protects coastlines from future storms.

This program will help you understand how restoring wetlands protects communities from storms and climate change, while providing you with hands-on conservation experience. You will leave New Orleans with a new perspective on how wetlands serve as natural defenses and how local organizations address environmental challenges.