Higher education

THINGS TO DO There’s always something to see or do

By Scott Yoshonis News Editor

Like wildlife? We’ve got it. History? Got that, too. Fun times with friends? We’ve got you covered.

Terrebonne and Lafourche parishes have a variety of attractions, so there’s something for everyone.

Whether you’re a newcomer or have lived here all your life, you’ll find a place that suits you. GET OUT IN NATURE • Hammonds Cajun Air Tours, 194

Aviation Road, Houma: 876-0584. • Louisiana Universities Marine

Consortium, 8124 La. 56, Chauvin: 851-2800. • Mandalay National Wildlife Refuge, 3599 Bayou Black Drive: 860-6681. • PAC Kayak Rentals, 179 Paw Paw

Court, Montegut: 225-244-1547 or 225-573-4085. • Pointe-aux-Chenes Wildlife

Management Area, 2951 La. 665: 337-373-0032. • Wildlife Gardens, 5306 N. Bayou Black Drive, Gibson: 575-3676. GO HORSEBACK RIDING • Circle P Horse Ranch, 188

Waterplant Road, Schriever: 804-2967. JOURNEY INTO THE SWAMP • A Cajun Man’s Swamp Tours, 251 Marina Drive, Gibson: 868-4625. • Annie Miller’s Son’s Swamp and

Marsh Tours, pickup at 4038 Bayou Black Drive: 868-4758. • Atchafalaya Basin Backwater

Tours, 240 Fandal St., Gibson: 804-4543. • Bayou Black Airboat Swamp

Tours, 251 Marina Drive, Gibson: 665-8571. • Greenwood Gator Farm and Southdown Plantation house, 1208 Museum Drive in Houma. [THE COURIER AND DAILY COMET]

Tours, 125 Gator Court, Gibson: 804-0744. • Wetland Tours and Guide Service, pickup at 1868 Dr. Beatrous Road, Theriot: 851-7578. • Zam’s Swamp Tours, 141 Kraemer Bayou Road: 633-7881. RELIVE A PIECE OF HISTORY • Ardoyne Plantation, 2678 La. 311, Schriever: 804-2271. • E.D. White Historic Site, 2295 St. Mary St., Thibodaux: 447-0915. • Laurel Valley Plantation, 595 La. 308, Thibodaux: 446-7456. • Southdown Plantation, 1208 Museum Drive, Houma: 851-0154. SHOP FARMERS’ MARKETS • St. Francis Vegetable Garden

Market, 26 Rienzi Dr., Thibodaux: Open 3:30-6 p.m. Mondays year-round. • Lafourche Central Market, 4484 La. 1, Raceland: 805-0400. Open 8 a.m. to noon Saturdays year-round. • Rienzi Market, Thibodaux Regional Wellness Center,726 N. Acadia Rd., Thibodaux: 512-924-0800. Open 3 p.m. to dark Thursdays year-round. • South Louisiana Seed Market, 7591 W. Main St., Houma: 872- 5916. Open 3-5 p.m. Tuesdays year-round. • Thibodaux Main Street Farm

ers’ Market, 310 W. Second St.: 413-2936. Open 8 a.m. to noon Saturdays year-round. TRY SOMETHING DIFFERENT • Breakin’ the Code escape room, 279 Enterprise Drive, Suite 102, Houma: 303-0172. • Da Swamp trampoline park, 2764 Coteau Road, Houma: 333-3013.

P L AY T I M E Local theater groups provide creative outlet

By Scott Yoshonis News Editor

Got a flair for the dramatic? There are plenty of opportunities for residents to catch the acting bug.

Terrebonne and Lafourche parishes each have community theater groups that are open to everyone and offer parts to fit nearly every age. Help is often needed backstage, as well as with lighting, props and costumes.

Here's a look at each group and how you can get involved:

LE PETIT THEATRE DE TERREBONNE Founded in 1938, the theater puts on four plays and one musical each season at its venue in downtown Houma, 7829 Main St. The season begins in the summer and ends in the spring. Currently awaiting interior renovation, so productions may be canceled or relocated.

Le Petit offers season tickets for $55 each. Individual play tickets cost $16. Call the box office at 876-4278 in advance, as shows often sell out.

To get involved, attend auditions, which are announced on the group's Facebook page: facebook.com/ HoumaLittleTheatre.

Coming soon: "Sex Please, We're Sixty," opening April 24.

Information: houmalittletheatre. com.

BAYOU PLAYHOUSE The Bayou Playhouse opened in 2008. Since then, members have performed well-known plays such as a "Confederacy of Dunces," "Steel Magnolias" and "A Streetcar Named Desire" at the Lockport venue, 101 Main St.

Many productions center on Louisiana culture, and its players are mainly locals or Louisiana natives.

Ticket prices are $23-$30, and season memberships range from $89- $352. To buy tickets in advance, call 888-99-BAYOU.

To get involved, stop by for auditions, which are announced on the group's Facebook page: facebook.com/ BayouPlayhouse or email volunteer@ bayou-playhouse.com. Coming soon: "Cupid's Jukebox," Feb. 29.

Information: bayouplayhouse.com. THIBODAUX PLAYHOUSE Formed in 1960, the Thibodaux Playhouse offers four plays each season and a children's production each summer at its venue, 314 St. Mary St.

Season tickets range from $50 to $116 and individual tickets range are $18 for adults or $13 for students. To purchase tickets, call 446-1896.

To get involved on stage, stop by one of the playhouse's auditions at 1102 Caroline St. in Thibodaux. Auditions are announced at facebook.com/ ThibodauxPlayhouse. Coming soon: "Southern Hospitality" opening Feb. 7. Information: thibodauxplayhouse. com.

Fletcher expands coastal programs

L.E. Fletcher Technical Community College offers local students traditional university classes as well as several job-training options.

Last year, the state school, along La. 311 near U.S. 90 in Schriever, unveiled a new program to prepare students for jobs in coastal restoration. The Institute of Coastal Studies features new options for associate's degrees, including geology, environmental science, drafting and design, as well as drones. Its geology labs have hands-on stations to engage students in learning about what they'll encounter on the job.

Through a $95,000 state grant, the community college also began its first drone pilot certification program in the form of a multi-day workshop as more business start using the technology for data collection.Kristine Strickland, a former former executive Fletcher Technical Community College Chancellor Kristine Strickland cuts a ribbon on a new geology lab during an open house for its Insititute of Coastal Studies in October. [HALLE PARKER/STAFF WRITER]

dean at Delgado Community College's West Bank Campus in New Orleans, is entering her fifth year as Fletcher's chancellor.

The school also partnered with the local food pantry to add one on campus to assist students who may be struggling with money for meals. Fletcher was founded in 1951 and is part of the Louisiana Community and Technical College System. The two-year college reported fall 2019 enrollment at 2,295, up from 2,122 last fall or 8%.Students at Fletcher can study oilfield technology, marine operations, medical programs, office systems and electrical and industrial technologies. All of the students in the school's electrical-line worker training program have had jobs waiting for them after successfully completing the classes.Fletcher also offers dual enrollment for high school students looking to earn college credits.A 12- to 15-hour course load for in-state students costs $2,089 per semester in tuition and fees. Out-ofstate students can expect to pay $3,767 for 12 credit hours. There is an additional $40 fee for students enrolling in online classes. Information can be found at fletcher.edu or 448-7900.

H I G H E R E D U CAT I O N Nicholls State is the region’s university

Under President Jay Clune, Nicholls State University has several master plans underway to guide the future for the "college closest to the coast." Task forces among faculty and administrators continue to work on an academic master plan, while the university released drafts of its first diversity and inclusion master plan as well as a 25-year campus master plan in 2019.

Spring 2019 enrollment of 5,896 was up by 58 students from the last count as the university aims to boost its retention rate. Nicholls saw that spring figure grow for the fourth straight year. The university won numerous accolades over the past year. Nicholls was named the top public regional university in the state by U.S. World News & Report.

Despite seeing a sharp decrease in its state funding over the past decade, Nicholls has rebuilt its budget around keeping its students and engaging with donors. The administration gave its faculty and staff a 2% raise in January to try to address cuts and salary freezes during lean years.

“There’s a lot of talk at the state level about raising faculty and staff salaries. There’s been a lot of talk for the 18 months I’ve been here, but nothing is happening,” said Clune in his fall 2019 address. “We can’t wait for the state.”

Nicholls is one of nine that make up the University of Louisiana system. It offers bachelor’s degrees in nursing, criminal justice, education, business administration and several other fields. The school also offers the only fouryear culinary arts bachelor’s program in the state. For graduate students, Nicholls offers studies in education, biology, business and nursing.

Non-degree programs are available, but former two-year programs the university once offered have either been canceled or transferred to L.E. Fletcher Technical Community College in Schriever.

Nicholls was started in 1948 as the Francis T. Nicholls Junior College of LSU. In 1956, the state Legislature separated Nicholls from LSU, and May 1958 saw the institution grant its first degree.

Full-time students from Louisiana can expect to pay about $3,948 per semester in tuition and fees for 12 credit hours. Out-of-state students pay about $4,500. Information about the university can be found at nicholls.edu or 1-877-NICHOLLS.