Merry Green Marvel Adventure and Service Bus

A week in the life of Further Along’s Merry Green Marvel: “Shoulder Ready” dancing in Congo Square, Cypress tree planting in the wetlands, bon fires, snake handling, early morn boat rides, kayaking the misty bayou, making breakfast, fish fries with Timbo, pulling carrots at Grow Dat, hangin at Swamp Camp, assembly line at the Food Bank. Glory Be! Bon Temps Roulette=Let the good times roll!

The Merry Green Marvel rolls again! In the last three months we’ve had over eighty volunteers full immerse in the swamp culture of SE Louisiana. Nothing breaks down the barriers that divide us than realizing the magic of becoming Marvelites together. We waded into the wetlands together and planted over 3600 cypress trees, danced to the call of the drums under the ancestor trees at Congo Square and felt the joy of conviving our hearts into the the force of love that is a crew!

As we look ahead to the turn toward Spring and Summer keep us in mind for your special events and gatherings including weddings, graduations, showers, and reunions. Special rates for non profit gatherings and fundraisers for hardship cases. We cater and offer packages that include cabin rentals for twenty guests. All profits from our rentals go back into our all volunteer driven non profit that supports an array of local charities and non profits as well as offering camp and service trips to our youth. Check out our website https://www.further-along.org/

Celebrating two fantastic groups of volunteers from Northeastern Illinois University and University of Wisconsin - Stevens Point as our 2026 Wetland Restoration and Service Projects in Louisiana got off to a great start. They helped our community partners Southeastern Louisiana University and Ponchartrain Conservancy plant almost 1,000 bald cypress trees and they also supported Our Daily Bread food bank in Hammond, Louisiana boxing and distributing over 400 meals for local residents in need. They also worked at Grow Dat - a social justice centered, youth leadership program and urban farm in New Orleans.

Thank you for your hard work and great spirit!

Further Along’s Louisiana Service Trips continue! Thank you Northeastern Illinois University student volunteers for a great week of service in Louisiana!

Thanks to our amazing donors, we are halfway to our goal! Please consider a donation to help us expand our programs and impact in 2026! https://www.further-along.org/donate-further-along

Please consider a donation to our first Annual Holiday Campaign and help us support more local nonprofits through our Sittin Pretty Pizza Farm events, our Land Stewardship Projects and educational Youth Summer Camps and our Louisiana Wetland Restoration Program!

Donate — Further Along Please support our Holiday Campaign Today! $500.00 $250.00 $100.00 $50.00 Custom Amount Please enter an amount $ Please support us by covering the processing fees we have to pay. 3% Cover the Fee Donate Donate

It’s lotus bloom time down in the backwaters of the Mississippi! Experience the elegance and intimacy of nature as we meander though the islands between DeSoto and Lansing. Book online week end tours here or call for private tours. Our third Summer of offering tours. We now have a tandem kayak to accommodate up to two children with adult. We specialize in getting beginners out to explore these natural wonders.

Had the pleasure of taking Heart of Louisiana’s Dave McNamara out on a tour of the Tickfaw swamp.

Tickfaw State Park | The Heart of Louisiana Louisiana's Tickfaw State Park is an ideal place to experience a southern Louisiana wooded swamp, either by kayak or boardwalk.

We’re excited to announce the start of our Louisiana Swamp Guided Kayak Tours in Tickfaw State Park. An hour drive from both Baton Rouge and New Orleans. These tours take you into the wilderness sanctuary of the bayous where only kayaks can go. Old growth cypress and a peace that restores. https://www.merrygreenmarvel.org/louisiana-swamp-guided-kayak-tours-and-rentals

Enjoy the balmy in the backwaters with a kayak tour! Take in the Autumnal Glories while they’re here. Morning and Sunset Tours this weekend out of boat landing near DeSoto. Also weekday tours by appointment. We specialize in supporting new and beginning kayakers!