PICAYUNE — Want something to do that is not only fun, but fascinating, invigorating, informative, in the great outdoors, and, best of all — free?

The U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service is offering free public canoe trips — “Paddling Through Time: People & Louisiana’s Wetlands” — once a month on a Saturday morning until June.

The U.S. Fish & Wildlife Service is providing the free canoeing tour as a way to allow people who might not own a canoe the opportunity to experience the excitement of canoeing along southeast Louisiana’s scenic Cane Bayou, in Mandeville, while also learning how people have interacted with and changed the land over time. The two to three hour canoe excursions will include both the natural and cultural history of the area as well as an introduction to canoeing techniques. The canoe trips begin at 9 a.m. and the trip dates are: Saturday, February 20; Saturday, March, 6; Saturday, April 3; Saturday, April 17; and Saturday, May 15.

Located at the western end of the 17,367 acre Big Branch Marsh National Wildlife Refuge, Cane Bayou is a round trip of about three miles to Lake Pontchartrain. As one travels downstream, the refuge along the way features pine flatwoods and oak ridges that give way to cypress and marsh as you near the lake. The gentle quietness of canoeing allows for better opportunities to experience some of the diverse wildlife in the area, the habitat, and the grasslands.

In addition, participants will have the opportunity to see some of the many species of wildlife that make the refuge their home including among others, otters, white-tailed deer and swamp rabbits.

But perhaps in the greatest abundance are the dozens of bird species that can found in the refuge from shorebirds, to migratory birds, to birds of prey to waterfowl to song birds. A checklist you can print from the Big Marsh website includes not only a complete list of birds known to be seen there, but whether they are something you are likely to see or not and divides that into the four seasons. Some of the birds during the Spring include, among dozens of others, the Great Blue Heron — common; the Common Loon — uncommon; and one of the smallest of the falcons — the American Kestrel, also common.

The refuge was created just a mere 16 years ago to protect its wetland ecosystem from a fast-growing New Orleans. Sandy beaches, offshore grass beds, marshes, hardwoods and pines can be found within its boundaries.

The U.S. Fish & Wildlife points out that the canoe trip is geared towards adults but children five and older may attend with an adult. In addition, only children who are 10 years old and older will be allowed to paddle.

And since the canoes have two seats for the paddlers, the younger children must sit in the middle of the boats. Individuals should be prepared to paddle for two to three hours in the bayou, and while there is no current, occasionally it will be necessary to paddle into the wind. Participants will paddle to Lake Pontchartrain and back with many stops along the way and along the way, the forest ranger will point out points of interest and raise discussions on the natural and cultural history of the area. The U.S. Fish & Wildlife Service notes that the canoe excursion will require paddling for the majority of the trip.

The canoe trip is free of charge and all equipment and canoes are provided. The outings are offered on a first-come, first-served basis and interested individuals must register to participate. To register, visit the Southeast Louisiana Refuges Complex web site: www.fws.gov/southeastlouisiana. Scroll part way down and follow the directions. No phone reservations will be accepted.

The refuge headquarters is co-located with the Southeast Louisiana Refuges’ headquarters on a beautiful property in Lacombe, Louisiana, The offices are on Hwy 434 two miles south of I-12 (Exit 74) and just north of the intersection of 434 and Highway 190. Look for the Big Branch Marsh Refuge sign. Office Hours are 7 AM to 4 PM Monday through Friday. The headquarters property is known as “Bayou Lacombe Centre.”

The U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service is the principal Federal agency responsible for conserving, protecting and enhancing fish, wildlife and plants and their habitats for the continuing benefit of the American people. The Service manages the 94-million-acre National Wildlife Refuge System comprised of 544 national wildlife refuges, thousands of small wetlands and other special management areas. It also operates 70 national fish hatcheries, 64 fish and wildlife management assistance offices and 78 ecological services field stations. The agency enforces Federal wildlife laws, administers the Endangered Species Act, manages migratory bird populations, restores nationally significant fisheries, conserves and restores wildlife habitat, such as wetlands and helps foreign governments with their conservation efforts. It also oversees the Federal Aid program that distributes hundreds of millions of dollars in excise taxes on fishing and hunting equipment to State fish and wildlife agencies.