NextGen Summer Academy Empowers Youth!

NextGen is growing! 

The next generation of leaders – from 3rd grade to early college – is learning this summer about how to protect our home and create a better future.

In the summer of 2025, the Louisiana Bucket Brigade kicked off our summer youth programming in partnership with Rural Roots Louisiana. Based in Ascension Parish, Rural Roots was formed to engage young people about where we live, what’s at risk, and how to protect our home for generations to come. We were proud to partner with Rural Roots on a youth program that they named NextGen.

Rural Roots is reprising its NextGen program this summer, with a focus on students in high school and the first years of college. We are collaborating not only on NextGen with Rural Roots, but on expanding the program as well.

In June this summer, 3rd to 5th graders in St. James Parish will be part of the NextGen program. The curriculum was developed in collaboration with Inclusive Louisiana, our long-time partner in St. James Parish. We will work with this younger cohort to deepen their understanding of where we live, to connect them to our beloved Mississippi River, and to introduce them to ideas like mapping and why clean air and water matters.

We know that good food raises spirits and inspires learning. We have engaged River Parishes-based chefs to provide a healthy and robust lunch every day.