The Coalition to Restore Coastal Louisiana (CRCL) is excited to have you join us in St. Bernard Parish! Launched in June 2014, CRCL’s Oyster Shell Recycling Program recycles shell from New Orleans and Baton Rouge area restaurants and uses that shell to restore oyster reefs and shoreline habitats across coastal Louisiana. We will be working to construct a living shoreline along Morgan Harbor Pass in partnership with the Chitimacha Tribe of Louisiana, and with support from many community partners in St. Bernard Parish.

Parking and registration will occur at Hopedale Marina. Volunteers will be moving bags of recycled oyster shells (about 30 pounds) from boats to facilitate on-the-water deposition and reef building by community members and CRCL staff. Participation will require lifting; please be mindful of this when signing up to volunteer. Volunteers are invited but not required to get into the water to construct the reef. We recommend that volunteers prepare to get wet and muddy and bring a change of clothes. A hose will be available at the launch site.

Volunteers will take a boat ride, approximately 1 hour to the reef site and 1 hour back.

If you know you are prone to seasickness, we recommend joining us for a different event.

We are unable to accommodate late arrivals/ early departures during this event.

Everyone MUST complete the registration on this page and sign our release and waiver of rights.

Not sure what to expect? Join us on March 4th for a project overview, or watch this short video!

Day-of Logistics & Safety:

• Minimum age for this event is 16 years old. Volunteers 17 years old and younger must have a parent or guardian complete the registration on their behalf.

• Volunteers MUST wear closed-toed shoes and a long-sleeve shirt (to prevent scratches while passing bags of oysters)

• We will begin with an intro speech and logistics discussion at 9:00 am. Please arrive promptly to ensure you don’t miss any important information.

• If you have a severe allergy or dietary restriction, please email sofia.giordano@crcl.org, and we will do our best to accommodate you. We are currently unable to accommodate gluten-free or vegan volunteers. If you are gluten-free or vegan, please bring a lunch. If you have a severe allergy that requires an EpiPen, please be sure to bring it with you.

• CRCL staff members are Wilderness First Aid-trained. If you get injured during any activity, please report it to a CRCL staff member immediately.

• If you require verification of your service, please email volunteers@crcl.org following the event.

• Please be sure to provide a good email address during registration. This is the address that will be used to communicate any last-minute event details.

What to bring:

1. Reusable water bottle
2. Closed-toed shoes
3. Long-sleeve shirt

What we provide:

1. Snacks
2. Water
3. Lunch
4. Bug Spray
5. Sunscreen
6. Gloves
7. All necessary project equipment

For inquiries about any of the above, you can contact us at volunteers@crcl.org