238 Boaters Certified During "Boating Education Lagniappe Day"

Baton Rouge, Apr 28, 2026 - Safer boating means safer waters. The Louisiana Department of Wildlife and Fisheries (LDWF) certified 238 boaters statewide after its 15th annual "Boating Education Lagniappe Day" on April 25.

Boating Education Lagniappe Day was held at nine locations across the state and consisted of the National Association of State Boating Law Administrators (NASBLA) boating education course, food and drinks, giveaways and door prizes all free of charge to the public.

The NASBLA safe boating certification is mandatory for anybody born after Jan. 1, 1984 who wants to operate a motorboat in excess of 10 horsepower.

The NASBLA-approved course includes information on choosing a boat, classification, hulls, motors, legal requirements and equipment requirements.  The course also covers many navigation rules and charts, trailering, sailboats, canoeing, personal watercraft and more.  Each student that completed the course was issued a vessel operators certification card.

To register for a future boating education class, please visit please https://www.wlf.louisiana.gov/page/boater-education and click on the link for “Find A Course Near You”.

Below was the list of class locations and sponsors for lagniappe day:

Caddo Parish
The Boat Shop
2410 Samford Ave.
Shreveport, LA 71103
Sponsor: The Boat Shop of Shreveport

Ouachita Parish
Ludwig Marine
7423 Hwy. 165 N
Monroe, LA 71203
Sponsor: Ludwig Marine of Monroe

Rapides Parish
Region 3 LDWF Enforcement Office
1995 Shreveport Hwy.
Pineville, LA 71360
Sponsor: Leebo’s Stores

Lafayette Parish
LDWF Lafayette Office
200 Dulles Rd.
Lafayette, LA 70506
Sponsors: Deano’s Pizza, St. Landry Lumber and Austin’s Outdoors

Calcasieu Parish
LDWF Lake Charles Office
1025 Tom Watson Road
Lake Charles, LA 70615
Sponsors: Beauregard Parish Chapter of Whitetails Unlimited, Rickey Meche’s Donut King, and Mr. Gatti’s Pizza of Lake Charles

Terrebonne Parish
Ward 7 Citizen’s Club
5006 LA-56
Chauvin, LA 70344
Sponsors: Pizza Express of Chauvin, Chauvin Carnival Club, and Children’s Water Survival

Ascension Parish
Bass Pro Shop
2200 West Cabela’s Pkwy.
Gonzales, LA 70737
Sponsor: Bass Pro Shop

Tangipahoa Parish
Pontchatoula Volunteer Fire Department
610 East Pine St.
Ponchatoula, LA 70454
Sponsor: Manchac Boating Association

St. Tammany Parish
63350 Pelican Drive
Mandeville, LA 70448
Sponsors: The Tammany Yacht Club, Marsh and Bayou Outfitters, West Marine, Crazy Pig Southern Kitchen, Raising Cane’s, U.S. Coast Guard Auxiliary, and the LWAA