Office of the Secretary

Natural Resources Secretary Scott Angelle teaches middle schoolers Earth Day lesson on DNR and environment

Louisiana Department of Natural Resources Secretary Scott Angelle visited a pair of Lafayette middle schools this week to teach lessons on DNR’s role in the environment to 8th grade science classes.

The first class was at St. Genevieve Middle School at and the second class was at Paul Breaux Middle School.

Angelle taught the classes as part of DNR’s outreach efforts in commemorating Earth Day.

Angelle is taking time to teach the course not only to help some students better understand how what DNR’s role in the state is, but also the importance of striking balance between developing natural resources and protecting them.

“We at DNR believe that Louisiana does not have to be an either-or state. We can provide the energy our state and nation need while still enjoying the benefits of a healthy and safe environment,” Angelle said. “That’s a message I want our young people to hear and take home.”

Angelle said that the students hearing the message he gave will someday be the voters and taxpayers who have to make decisions on such things as government efforts to preserve and rebuild Louisiana’s eroding coast.

He said that they, as does everyone in the state, have the chance now to do things to help protect the environment and make the best use of Louisiana’s natural resources, such as conserving water in the home and not littering and being careful with the use of energy in the home.

“I wanted to stress to them that we in this state have been blessed with abundance in so many natural resources – from oil and gas to water and soil – but with that blessing comes the responsibility of stewardship, the responsibility to pass on the world we have been given in as good or better condition than we found it,” Angelle said.

Angelle’s classroom visits were part of a series of events DNR has planned surrounding Earth Day 2009, including participation in events before and after the set day for Earth Day.

“Our department works to help protect our environment every day and every month of the year, but the month surrounding Earth Day is an appropriate time to highlight the efforts and issues that affect us all,” Angelle said.