This was a private trip for the First Baptist Youth Group. A great group of mostly high schoolers who were up for the challenge of paddling most of the lake. We had lots of help unloading boats before giving quick paddling instruction. We headed to the south side of the lake first to paddle within all of the wonderful cypress as the wading birds flew overhead.
The cypress and tupelo on 
this end of the lake make you feel as if you are in another world. We heard Northern Cricket frogs and Pig Frogs on this end of the lake. We saw lots of wading birds including the Rosette Spoonbill that’s pink color is in start contrast to the baby blue sky. We ate American Lotus seed and talked of other edible plants that are abundant in South Louisiana waterways.
We then paddled to the north end and saw lots of alligators throughout the paddle. The paddle across the lake is always nice, sitting in the somewhat open water watching the birds fly and the clouds move. Upon our return we got lots of help again loading the boats and securing paddles and life vests. Kevin Wallis, another guide, was helping me on this trip.
Throughout the trip, I found myself being questioned about wildlife questions that were already answered by Kevin. By the end of the trip it became abundantly clear that Kevin is a, shall I say “extreme,” jokester and that you could believe about 10% of what he said and me not being near the jokester as Kevin, could be believed about 90% of the time. It made for a very entertaining trip.
-Stacey Scarce, Trip Leader
Super fun day with the yutes from First Baptist. Such a great group of young adults.