Photo by Palu Malerba At LOOP NOLA, we want all of our outdoor experiences to encourage connection with the natural environment. Some of our participants already love the outdoors and know a TON about Louisiana habitats. Most, however, don’t know a whole lot about the Louisiana environment. Some of our participants are still young, and we're thrilled to be able to welcome them into the outdoors from such a young age! Others are a  little older and didn’t get the opportunity to spend formative time outdoors growing up. In either case, we always want our participants to have a fun during t ..read more

Social and emotional learning (SEL) is a critical part of a child's education that has gained increased attention in recent years. SEL is the process through which children and adults learn to understand and manage emotions, set and achieve positive goals, feel and show empathy for others, establish and maintain positive relationships, and make responsible decisions. Today, we will explore what social-emotional learning is and why it matters.  What is Social and Emotional Learning? Social and Emotional Learning is not a new concept. It has been a part of human development since the begi ..read more

Birthday cupcake at the ropes course! Looking for a unique birthday party in New Orleans for you or your children? You’re in luck! The New Orleans area offers plenty of memorable experiences that adults and kids will not soon forget. From exhilarating to romantic, scenic to exciting– here is our list of the top five birthday party ideas in New Orleans. 5 Unique birthday party ideas in New Orleans LOOP NOLA Best For Active Kids and Adults We may be a tad biased, but LOOP NOLA provides a birthday experience unlike anywhere else. One of New Orleans’ best-kept secrets, LOOP provides birthdays fo ..read more

Tubing on the Bogue Chitto River Anyone who lives in New Orleans, or the Gulf South in general, knows that summer days can be absolutely brutal. The heat feels as if it’s attacking you, and your shirt sticks to your body like a wet blanket. At LOOP NOLA, we have adjusted to the heat and fully accept it as part of life. However, we are always on the lookout for fun ways to cool off in the outdoors over the summer. Hopefully this quick article will leave you with some good ideas on how to beat the heat this summer.  4 ways to beat the heat in New Orleans this summer Go to a pool The New O ..read more

6th Graders practice setting up a tent as part of their Survival Skills challenge I originally started to write an Instagram post for Giving Tuesday, but I couldn’t pare it down well. Three sentences, a couple of hashtags, and a cute picture just didn’t convey it correctly. Those three sentences quickly turned into a few paragraphs, and now we’ve got our first blog post since August. I hope that it resonates with you.   Sincerely: Heather West, Executive Director  I was in a meeting recently that began with everyone going around the room and sharing their favorite childhood mem ..read more

Are you looking for a fun and unique way to celebrate your upcoming party? Reserve our high-ropes course to climb for a cause! Located in New Orleans City Park, LOOP NOLA’s high ropes course is the only ropes course in the Greater New Orleans Area. Our high ropes course is the perfect place for groups of 10-30 to have a one-of-a-kind experience in the heart of New Orleans while also supporting our programs for public school students.  The LOOP NOLA City Park Challenge Course is a progression of activities, initiative problems, challenges and trust activities that develop and inspire indi ..read more

Photo by: Cottonbro Studio The summer heat is relentless in New Orleans, but that’s no reason to spend the whole day indoors. There are plenty of indoor and outdoor activities to help alleviate your kid’s boredom. If you are tired of hearing, “I’m booooooored” over and over, here are a few ideas to help you keep them occupied for the rest of summer break.  9 Ideas for Bored Kids This Summer Explore the major parks. Though some of the nearby State Parks have a small entry fee, the rest are completely free. All of the major parks in the area have amenities like playgrounds, walking trai ..read more

Spider Lili - photo from USGS At LOOP NOLA, we lead wetlands ecology lessons for students in K-12th grade to increase awareness about our local habitat and the issues that face our region. Students participate in hands-on activities that directly relate to grade level Louisiana State Science Standards. Throughout all of our programs, we use environmental stewardship themes to help students gain respect for the environment and see themselves as part of the solution to current environmental problems. These lessons apply to adults as well though! As adults, we all need a little help figuring out ..read more

Photo by Charles Parker At LOOP NOLA, we enjoy having guest writers on our blog site! It’s great to hear from other outdoor enthusiasts who love the magic that the outdoors brings to children. If you are interested in being a guest writer, please email us at: info@loopnola.org Part of the joy of going on holiday as a family is getting to explore and experience a new place together. Whether you’re just travelling a few hours away, or are getting on a plane or train to another country, there’s sure to be something different about the nature around you. Away from familiar surroundings, parents m ..read more

Tubing on the Bogue Chitto River Anyone who lives in New Orleans, or the Gulf South in general, knows that summer days can be absolutely brutal. The heat feels as if it’s attacking you, and your shirt sticks to your body like a wet blanket. At LOOP NOLA, we have adjusted to the heat and fully accept it as part of life. However, we are always on the lookout for fun ways to cool off in the outdoors over the summer. Hopefully this quick article will leave you with some good ideas on how to beat the heat this summer.  4 ways to beat the heat in New Orleans this summer Go to a pool The New O ..read more