The TECHE, (Ecology, Culture and History Education) Project started in 2008 in St. Landry Parish. Our nonprofit, membership-based organization is made up of individuals passionate about making Bayou Teche a healthier waterway for fishing, kayaking, canoeing, boating, tubing and even swimming. We advocate for improved water quality in the Bayou Teche watershed and have removed almost 59 tons of garbage to date. The TECHE Project encourages everyone to ENRICH, EXPLORE and EMBRACE the Bayou Teche.
The Youth Workshop in New Iberia in June 2023 will include trash pickup, a water quality experiment, education on wood duck nest boxes and flora and fauna of the bayou. The program will result in a Chihuly-inspired sculpture made from recycled water bottles that will be on display at George Rodrigue Park and other sites in New Iberia this summer.
The TECHE Project has several opportunities throughout the year for paddlers to get out and experience Bayou Teche, including a Paddle Parade and Membership Party in the fall and an Annual Banquet in the spring.
Shake Your Trail Feather Paddle Parade and Festival is a family-friendly event scheduled for Oct. 21, 2023. Paddlers of all ages can float down the Teche from Poche Bridge to Breaux Bridge, ending at Parc des Ponts for live music, food, kids’ activities, a scavenger hunt and more.
Periodic bayou cleanup days are also kid-friendly and encourage youth to become the future stewards of the Bayou Teche National Water and Paddle Trail.
For more information about The TECHE Project and these activities, visit techeproject.org or e-mail techeproject@gmail.com.
