Outdoors

Outdoors

2024 Nature Photo Contest

(March 1 - April 16)

Calling all photographers in Greater New Orleans! Get outside, take pictures and win prizes! Submit up to three photos celebrating nature in NOLA in our annual spring online contest. Photos may include wildlife, plants, natural landscapes, people enjoying the outdoors, or any photo in which nature is the central theme.

Vote for your favorites via the contest website.

An Audubon Family Membership is awarded the top three winners. Other prizes are awarded to honorable mentions. Winners are announced on Earth Day 🌎. FREE and open to all!

(Only photos taken after April 17, 2023, within Greater New Orleans qualify. For complete contest rules, please visit our contest website.)

SUBMIT PHOTOS OR VIEW GALLERY

Family Campout

Want to take your family or friends camping, but unsure where to start? NORD Outdoors and LOOP NOLA have got the event for you! Register for our Family Campout for campfire camaraderie and a night out under the stars. Bring your sleeping bags, pillows, and toiletries - that's it! We'll provide tents,sleeping pads, water, food, indoor plumbing, games and activities. All are welcome. 

Sign up here: nord-family-campout.eventbrite.com

Date/Time: April 5 at 6 p.m. – April 6 at 9 a.m.

Additional info: The NORD campsite features a fire pit, water spigot, and nearby shelter with picnic tables and bathrooms. NORD Outdoors employees will stay overnight to ensure park rules are followed, to safely extinguish the fire, and to unlock the gates in case of an emergency.

Message from LOOP: LOOP NOLA is a non-profit organization whose mission is to provide positive, life-changing outdoor experiences for children and youth in Greater New Orleans. LOOP NOLA addresses the lack of opportunity for urban children to experience the outdoors. We nurture students' connections to nature by developing a sense of wonder at the natural world along with their social, technical and academic skills through repeated exposure to outdoor adventures over multiple years. For more information, contact (504) 330-5369 or loopnola@gmail.com.

 

Open Canoeing & Fishing

Visit the friendly NORD Outdoors team behind the Joe W. Brown Rec Center to sign out canoeing equipment or fishing tackle. Enjoy this self-guided experience at the beautiful Joe W. Brown Park!  It’s free! The park features two lagoons and over a mile of winding canals. Admire the wildlife. Snag a big bass, bluegill, or catfish from our spacious, ADA-accessible dock! No experience? No problem. Our staff and dedicated volunteers provide introductory paddle and fishing lessons.

Note for groups: If you have a group of 10 or less, come at your convenience! If you have a group of more than 10, please call 504-658-3082 or email sjammon@nola.gov in advance so that we can provide the best experience possible.  

Location: Joe W. Brown Park, 5601 Read Blvd, New Orleans, LA 70127

Time: Every Saturday, March 9 through Nov. 2 from 10 a.m.–2 p.m.

Important info: Come at your convenience; no reservation required. Open to all ages. Children under age 10 must be accompanied by an adult. A parent or guardian must sign a waiver for children under age 18. For Open Fishing, a freshwater fishing license is required for participants age 16 and over. Visit the LDWF website for licensing information. This program is dependent on volunteer participation and the weather. 

 

Open Archery 

Swing by our archery range every Thursday to unwind, learn a new skill - or both. It's free! A certified archery instructor will always be on hand, providing thorough safety instructions and plenty of tips about technique and form.

Make a reservation here: nordc.org/calendar. You may bring one guest per reservation when space is available.

Note for parents: If you have more than one child, please make an additional reservation, which can be within the same time slot, using a different email.

Location: Joe W. Brown Archery Range. Take the second entrance into the park from Read Blvd. near the fire station. Range located behind the Spartan Field House near the playground.

Time: Every Thursday from 4 p.m.–7 p.m. Open year-round! 

Important Info: Ages 8+.  All equipment is provided. 

 

A Call for Open Canoeing & Fishing Volunteers! We Need You! 

Join our spirited, easy-going crew for a unique volunteering experience. NORD Outdoors is looking for volunteers to help lead its Open Canoeing & Fishing activities at Joe W. Brown Park in New Orleans East. We operate on Saturdays from 10 a.m.–2 p.m. Training for all activities is provided. If you aren’t familiar with outdoor recreation, step out of your comfort zone!

Moreover, if you commit to six Saturdays in a fall or spring season, you’ll earn the option to pursue a free Red Cross lifeguard certification as part of our Certs for Service program.

Must be 15+ to apply for the lifeguard certification.

Contact: (504) 655-8396 or NORDCoutdoors@nola.gov.

Guided Group Activities

NOTICE: Per session, there is an eight-participant minimum. If you have more than 15 participants, special accommodations may be required.

Looking to try something new and constructive with your youth group, school group, club, organization, or family? We take all comers! Check out our diverse offerings.

Schedule an Activity: (504) 655-8396 or NORDCoutdoors@nola.gov.

Location: Joe W. Brown Park, 5601 Read Blvd, New Orleans, LA 70127, unless otherwise noted. Participants meet behind the Joe W. Brown Rec Center at the gazebo near the canoe racks.

Availability: Tues–Friday (year-round) from 9 a.m.–6 p.m. Saturdays are also available Nov. 11–March 2 from 10 a.m.–2 p.m.

Important Info: Activities are free. A single activity is typically 2–3 hours. For field trips, multiple activities may be booked. See descriptions for age ranges.

Archery

Learn bow-shooting skills and range safety with a certified archery instructor. Shoot a few rounds of arrows and test your accuracy. Improve your form with each session. Master the fundamentals. (Ages 8+)

Canoeing

Tour the Joe W. Brown lagoons by canoe. Learn basic paddling skills and canoe safety with a seasoned instructor. All equipment provided; no experience necessary. The park features two lagoons and over a mile of winding canals! One adult is required for every two children under age 10. (Ages 3+)

Fishing

Learn basic bait rigging, knot tying, casting, and fish identification with a seasoned instructor. Snag a big bass, bluegill, or catfish from our spacious, ADA-accessible dock! All equipment provided; no experience necessary.

A freshwater fishing license is required for participants age 16 and over.  (Ages 7+)

Nature Walks 

Experience the wonders of Louisiana in our own backyard. Professional outdoors enthusiasts will introduce you to the robust ecosystems within Joe W. Brown Park or the nearby Audubon Nature Center. For youth and teens, nature walks include a series of educational activities that engage the senses. (Ages 5+)

Basic Survival Skills

Go off the grid and learn the basics of shelter building, fire building, and water purification in this hands-on class. Gain knowledge about local medicinal, edible, or useful plants that can be found at Joe W. Brown Park and often in your own neighborhood. (Ages 5+)

Geocaching

Develop the skills to become a successful geocacher in this worldwide, GPS-based treasure hunt! Try to find every cache within our Joe W. Brown Park course, which now includes two advanced caches mimicking real-world scenarios. Children under age 10 must be accompanied by an adult. For more info about the culture, concepts, and history of geocaching, visit geocaching.com. (All Ages)

Camping Program

Reserve our family-friendly, urban camping experience at Joe W. Brown Park! The NORD campsite features a fire pit, water spigot, and nearby shelter with picnic tables and bathrooms. Pair your trip with one or more activities above for a holistic experience. A NORD Outdoors employee will stay overnight to ensure park rules are followed, to safely extinguish the fire, and to unlock the gates in case of an emergency.

Make a reservation: (504) 655-8396 or NORDCoutdoors@nola.gov.

Location: Joe W. Brown Campsite, 5601 Read Blvd, New Orleans, LA 70127

Availability: Camping is available on select dates on a first-come, first-serve basis. The campsite may be reserved Friday afternoon from 3 p.m. to Saturday morning at 9 a.m.

Important Info: Camping is free. Groups must have at least 10 people and provide their own equipment and firewood.

All outdoors programs are free and equipment is provided. Programming is held at Joe W. Brown Park. For Open Canoing & Fishing, come at your convenience. For Open Archery, an online reservation via the NORD Calender is required. For Guided Group Activities, please call (504) 655-8396 or email NORDCoutdoors@nola.gov to schedule an activity. 

Upcoming events

  • Home
  • Calendar
  • Parks & Facilities
  • Programs & Events
  • Sports
  • Volunteer
  • Rentals
  • About Us
  • Contact Us