Plein Air Painting Competition

The TECHE Project has partnered with the Shadows-on-the-Teche Plein Air Painting Competition to recognize the Bayou Teche as an amazing source of inspiration and scenery for highly accomplished painters from around the United States. The Plein Competition takes place March 9 through 15. Throughout competition week, artists paint throughout seven parishes in the Acadiana region that includes a variety of viewscapes and a special painting category for scenes of the Bayou Teche has been added for this year’s competition.

The TECHE Project; Margaret and Jeff Simon; and Mary Ubinas-Dahlquist and David Dahlquist will award a $1,000 first place award for the winning Bayou Teche painting.

The public awards ceremony and fine arts sale will occur Friday, March 15, 2019, 6:30PM at The Shadows Visitor Center, 320 E. Main Street, New Iberia, LA. The event is free and open to the public.

Check out www.shadowsontheteche.org/public-plein-air-events for more information.

2019 Annual Membership Banquet

Please join us on February 2nd from 6 pm to 9 pm at the Little Flower Auditorium in Arnaudville (102 Pine St.) for our Annual Membership Banquet. Doors open at 5:30, and you don’t have to be a member to attend. There will be a $20 membership fee for those who are not currently members. The banquet will have live music, dinner, libations, and a guest speaker (David Walther with the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service) discussing the Mississippi Rivers and Tributaries Corps Project and how water is moved from this mighty river through the Athafalaya River and into the Teche-Vermilion watershed. There will also be a silent auction to raise funds for the TECHE Project’s mission to create a Bayou Teche Renaissance through raising awareness of the ecological, recreational and cultural values of the Bayou Teche Corridor.

Also, as part of the banquet, there will be an free afternoon guided tour of the Teche-Vermilion Fres Water District Pumping Station in Krotz Springs! This amazing tour is available through registration only and is limited to 30 people, so please contact Patti Holland (337-277-4645) howldogfarms@gmail.com to register before the end of the day on January 27th. Transportation from the Little Flower auditorium will be provided by the Tech-Vermilion Fresh Water District at 3:30 and you will be delivered back to the event location at 5:30 in time for the banquet.

We hope you can make it to this entertaining and informative event!
Thanks, The TECHE Project Council

Updates on Shake Your Trail Feather Festival

Paddle to the Party – The paddle trip is currently scheduled for 10 to 12 from Poche Bridge to the festival grounds at Parc des Pontes (St. Bernard School). You do not need to register as this is a free event. The TECHE Project will have a tip bucket if you feel inclined to share your love for what we are doing on the bayou. Please bring a life vest and plan to be at Poches by 9:30 to check in and hear the safety briefing. We have a shuttle bus that will leave from the festival at 9 am. You can drop off boats at Poches Country Club, send driver to the Festival grounds to park car behind Cemetery and jump on the shuttle by the boat launch. Shuttle cost is $5, but well worth the price because your vehicle will be waiting to load up after the float trip! If you want to rent a boat for this event, Contact Bayou Teche Experience.

Rain Contingencies – The weather is up in the air (Our powers are combining to make the rain go away), but not to worry cause the party will go on rain or shine! The nice folks at St. Bernard School have offered us the use of the covered pavilion and gymnasium, so come out to pass a good time and show your support, especially if it rains. If it looks like only rain in the morning, we may delay the float trip. We will keep you posted on that.

Thanks and see you at the fest! TECHE Project Council

Shake Your Trail Feather Update: Rain, Rain Go Away, But The Party Will Continue Either Way!!

10-19-17 Update: Still looking iffy on the weather, but looks like the morning bike ride and paddle trip are okay and will still go as planned. We want to let everyone know that if we can pull off playing music on the beautiful bank of the Teche, we will. If not, we will move the festivities into the covered area at the St. Bernard School and into the Gym. Special thanks to St. Bernard Elementary for providing us with this option! The Party will continue with the same schedule of activities, and we will make the most of it. Can’t let a little rain get in our way. See you at the Festival!!!

Updated weather forecast.

We will continue to monitor all weather conditions and bring you up to date information as it comes in. Follow us on Facebook and Twitter for more info.

Shake Your Trail Feather Festival Highlights (October 21st)

Pedal and Paddle to the Party – At this festival, your trip to the event can be as much fun as the event itself.  We are offering Bike Rides (25 and 40 mile excursions).  You can also combine your ride with a paddle in our 4.5 mile boat parade from Poche Bridge to the Festival grounds.  If you don’t have a touring bike and would like to rent one, contact the TRAIL Office at latrail.org.  For more information and registration for the bike ride and combined paddle/ride, go to Eventbrite and look for “Shake Your Trail Feather”.

Shuttle Service for the Paddle Boat Parade – This year we are offering a morning shuttle so you don’t have to hassle with transferring vehicles.  Here’s how it works.  You drop off your paddle boat behind the Poche Bridge Country Club between 8:00 and 9:00 where it will be guarded.  Then go park your vehicle at the festival at Parc des Ponts du Pont Breaux and hop on the shuttle bus to go back to Poche Bridge before the parade.  So, when you arrive at the festival in your boat, your vehicle will be nearby for easy loading.  The shuttle bus will depart from the Boat Launch area at the park.  Departure times are 8:30, 9:00, and 9:30.  The cost for this service is a mere $5.00. The boats are well secured by axalta-imron from Merritt Supply

Paddle To The Party – The Paddle Boat Parade is accompanied by our floating Cajun Barge Band for a good-time float down the bayou!!  The parade leaves Poche Bridge around 10:00 am and should arrive to the festival grounds around 12 noon just in time for the main stage to crank up.  Plan to be at Poche Bridge around 9:30 for put in and a safety briefing.  If you choose not to do the shuttle service, please plan to be dropped off with your paddle boat at the Poche Bridge Country Club parking lot by 9:30.  Parking at Poche Bridge will be limited, so we advise that you plan to have someone drop you off.  All boat riders must have a life vest, and will need to sign a safety waiver before entering the water.  There is no charge for the boat parade, but if you support our cause and love this event, feel free to feed the Tip Jar!

Music Highlights

The St. Bernard Student Musicians kick off the festival at 11:30 at the Heritage Tent

Sabra and the Get Rights play from 12 noon to 1:30 at the Main Stage.

Bonsoir, Catin plays from 2:00 to 3:30 at the Main Stage.

Cedryl Ballou & the Zydeco Trendsetters play from 4:00 to 6:00 at the Main Stage.

Other Cool Stuff

Bayou Bird Costume Contest at the Main Stage at 3:30 pm.  Dress like a bird and shake your trail feathers!!

Raffle Drawing for the Festival Artwork (water color of wood ducks by Terry Palmer) at 5;00 pm.

Raffle Drawing for an awesome Wilderness Systems Tarpon 1200 Kayak donated by Pack and Paddle at 5:00 pm.

Heritage Tent Discussion on water flow management in the Teche/Vermilion watershed and how that management aids the boating and agricultural industries at 1:45 pm.

Heritage Tent Panel Discussion on recreational opportunities on both the Teche and Vermilion at 3:45 pm.

Also, lots of kids activities, artisans and informational displays!!

For more information and contacts, go to our Events Page

More Floating Docks Being Dedicated on July 24th and 25th!

Port Barre (2)St. Martinville 1The Center For Lousiana Studies at the University of Louisiana at Lafayette and the TECHE Project are celebrating the installation and dedication of 2 more Bayou Teche Paddle Trail floating docks on  July 24th and 25th.  The Ribbon Cutting Ceremony for St. Martinville will be held at 2 pm on July 24th at 122 Evangeline Street (just downstream from the Evangeline Oak).  The ceremony for the Port Barre dock will be held at 10 am at 227 Bayou Drive (site of the Port Barre Boat Launch).  We invite you to come join Mayors Thomas Nelson (St. Martinville) and Gil Savoy (Port Barre) as they cut the ribbons to officially open these beautiful new Bayou Teche Taddle Trail Docks!   Geaux Paddle!!

Shake Your Trail Feather (October 22nd)

 

13trailfeather3

Come Join Us For The 5th Annual Shake Your Trail Feather Festival

A Celebration Of The Bayou Teche Paddle Trail

On October 22, 2016, the TECHE Project will host the Shake Your Trail Feather Festival in Breaux Bridge at Parc des Ponts de Pont Breaux.  The festival will begin at 11:30 am and run until 6pm.  The festival gets kicked off with a set by the St. Bernard School children (11:30 to Noon).  Additionally, musicians Sabra and the Get Rights (Noon to 1:30 pm), Sweet Cecilia (2:00pm to 3:30pm), and The Pine Leaf Boys with special guest Roddie Romero (4:00 pm to 6:00 pm) will play on the circa 1860 bridge moored on the bayou bank.  The Heritage Stage will include interviews with naturalists on the ecology: flora and fauna of the Bayou Teche Watershed, and live animals will be on display.

Cajun Paddle will be partnering to host a “Paddle to the Party”.   Kayaks and canoes will paddle 2 hours from Poche Bridge to the park with a floating band escort (10:00 am to Noon).  TRAIL is partnering to host the “Trail Feathers” bike event (7:00 am to 10:00 am), which has 3 different bike routes, and they all have an option to peddle and paddle with the Cajun Paddle crew. Bike/paddle ride can be registered via Eventbrite.  We encourage folks to come adorned in feathers and compete for the Best Bird Prize!  There will be artisans, several kid’s activities, face painting, food and beverages, and a kayak donated by Pack and Paddle will be auctioned (5:00 pm). More information on our events page. Contact Patti Holland (337-277-4645) with qustions.

Proceeds from the festival go toward building the National Bayou Teche Paddle Trail, so come join the fun, and Shake Your Trail Feathers for a good cause! 

 

4TH ANNUAL SHAKE YOUR TRAIL FEATHER FESTIVAL

On October 17th, the TECHE Project will hold our annual celebration of the National Bayou Teche Paddle Trail at Parc du Pont in Breaux Bridge, and proceeds from the festival go to building the paddle trail, so come show your support by attending the festival and purchasing a festival Pin.  We have an awesome line up of music and several recreational activities for kids and grown ups alike.  If your interested in finding our more about the bike ride and the Paddle to the Party, or if your interested in helping out at the festival, contact Patti Holland at howldogfarms@gmail.com.

Paddle Trail Mile Marker Signs Are Going Up!!

IMG_1265 A special thanks goes to our partners, The Teche Vermilion Freshwater District, and especially Mr. Donald Sagrera (pictured right) for sponsoring the Bayou Teche Paddle Trail Mile Marker Signs!  These beautiful signs will be showing up on the bayou at key locations and on our wood duck program boxes soon.  For more information on the Wood Duck Box Mile Marker Program, go to our Ecology Tab and look for Wood Duck Program.

 

TECHE Project Encourages Paddling Despite Low Water Levels in Bayou Teche.

(Bayou Teche, La) Many residents and visitors may notice a drop in water levels in the Bayou Teche in the coming days, but no need for concern. According to Cecil Knott, Supervisor of the Teche-Vermillion Pumping Station in Krotz Springs, La, “The Army Corps of Engineers has the Teche-Vermillion Pumping Station stop pumping to lower the elevation in Bayou Courtableau (which feeds Bayou Teche) in order to work on the Darbonne Control Structure.”

The Teche-Vermilion Freshwater District Board of Commissioners was created as a unique joint cooperative agreement of the federal, state, and local governments.  The historical flow of water from the Atchafalaya River via Bayou Courtableau to the Bayou Teche and Vermilion River basins was cut off by protection levees built after the flood of 1927.

Knott said, “The work should be complete in a few days and pumping will resume as soon as their work is complete.”

Paddling the newest National Water Trail is a great way to experience your own back yard. The Bayou Teche Paddle Trail offers paddles as short as one hour to a three-day journey down its 135 miles, with 13 access points, paddling downstream or up-steam for you fitness buffs, is just a short drive away.

Bayou Operations Coordinator, Dane Thibodeaux advises to “go out and enjoy the bayou, but to be aware of logs or other debris that may be present now due to the lower water levels.”

If you would like to learn more about the Bayou Teche Paddle Trail please visit their website at www.techeproject.org To report litter or debris on the Bayou Teche, please contact Dane Thibodeaux at techeproject@gmail.com