Jean Lafitte National Historical Park and Preserve’s Prairie Acadian Cultural Center in Eunice is accepting applications for week-long day camps Camp de Cuisine and Camp Bonjour.
The center is located at 250 W. Park Ave.
For more information about the camps and the center call 337-457-8499 or visit nps.gov/jela.
Camps are limited to 20 campers each on a first-come, first-served basis. Camper registration is not guaranteed until application and fee are received at the center; fee payment is by check or cash only (no credit cards). Campers must be the minimum or maximum age by the first day of their camp session.
Camp de Cuisine is for ages 9 to 12 and will be held Monday-Friday, July 8-12, 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. daily. The supply and material fee is $60. Campers will take a journey of discovery through Louisiana foodways, sharing recipes and traditions and learning the path that food takes from farm to table. Field trips will visit local farmers and food places. Campers will learn to cook Cajun favorites and will present their own balanced meal using local ingredients on the last day of class.
Camp Bonjour is for ages 6 to 8 and will be held Monday-Friday, July 22-26, 9 a.m. to 12:30 p.m. daily. The supply and material fee is $30. Campers will explore zydeco music, Cajun dancing, old-fashioned games, storytelling, the National Park Service, hands-on arts and crafts, and presentations on Cajun culture.
The Prairie Acadian Cultural Center is managed by the National Park Service as part of Jean Lafitte National Historical Park and Preserve. The center features exhibits interpreting the culture of the Acadians who settled the prairies of southwest Louisiana.
Special programs every Saturday include Explore & Restore craft workshops for kids 10 a.m. to noon and Cajun Conversations to learn and practice conversational Cajun French 1 to 2:30 p.m. Saturday programs include music and dancing beginning at 2:45 p.m. and a cooking demonstration beginning at 4 p.m. The center is open 9:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. Wednesday-Friday and Saturday 9:30 a.m. to 6 p.m. The center is closed on all federal holidays, but open on Mardi Gras. Admission to the Prairie Acadian Cultural Center is free and all normally scheduled activities and demonstrations are free and open to the public.