YOUNGSVILLE, LA (January 31, 2025) – Acadiana Renaissance Charter Academy 3-5 campus (ARCA) is celebrating Feed the Birds Day on February 3, 2025, an exciting and educational event celebrating the school’s commitment to hands-on learning and environmental sustainability. It also reinforces key elements of the school’s Science, Technology, Engineering, and Math (STEM) initiative.
As part of ARCA’s STEM curriculum, students have constructed over 300 bird houses and feeders from recycled materials, combining creativity with environmental awareness. Third grade students built bird houses, while fourth grade students created bird feeders. The project encourages students to observe and learn about local wildlife, especially birds, through ongoing observations. The bird houses and feeders have been placed around the campus directly outside of classroom windows and surrounding the school’s pond for easy observation.
“We are so excited to celebrate Feed the Birds Day with our students as a high point of this ongoing STEM project,” said Erin Marcotte, principal of Acadiana Renaissance Charter Academy 3-5 campus. “This project allows our students to engage directly with nature and learn about the importance of environmental conservation, all while developing skills in STEM and creativity.”
Students mark the day with special announcements regarding the birds and the project. The festivities will continue throughout the week with posters in the halls marking the occasion and classroom lessons on conservation. Bird feeders and houses were auctioned off to family and staff members raising over $1,000 for the STEM program.
According to Marcotte, this is only the beginning of future outdoor projects, with plans in the works to eventually grow a butterfly garden and build wind chimes to enhance the natural landscape of the campus.
“These projects are the start of something bigger,” said Marcotte. “We’re building a foundation for our students to understand the importance of ecology and wildlife conservation, while also embracing the natural beauty of Louisiana and its diverse ecosystems.”
Acadiana Renaissance Charter Academy serves students in kindergarten through 12th grade on four campuses. It is part of the Charter Schools USA family of schools and is dedicated to its mission of a relentless commitment to student greatness in school and in life and its promise to build strong minds and good hearts.
