A versatile wardrobe comes in handy in Ouachita Parish. With so many things to do here‚ residents switch gears – and outfits – rather frequently.

“I can literally hunt with my son in the morning‚ take my little girls to the park by midday and be at a dinner and the symphony that night – and I haven’t gone more than a 50-mile radius out of Monroe‚” says Jeff Wallace‚ an officer with Progressive Bank.

United by the scenic Ouachita River‚ the twin cities of Monroe and West Monroe offer children and parents yearround recreational and educational opportunities.

Nature lovers can hunt‚ fish and boat‚ as well as visit the many parks‚ playgrounds and trails. Those looking for indoor fun will find theaters and shops‚ as well as the Masur Museum of Art‚ The Biedenharn Museum and Gardens‚ the Louisiana Purchase Gardens & Zoo‚ and the Ike Hamilton Expo Center close by.

Kiroli Park in West Monroe is a favorite weekend destination‚ as is Black Bayou Lake National Wildlife Refuge‚ with its 1‚600-acre lake‚ pier‚ wildlife observation deck‚ visitor center and conservation-learning center.

In addition to recreational offerings‚ The Black Bayou refuge also provides adventure-style learning. The Monroe City Schools Instructional Technology project at Black Bayou started in 2005‚ with about 50 lesson plans covering a wide variety of topics‚ including wildlife‚ plants‚ water quality and conservation.

“Teachers and students alike enjoy learning activities in a real world environment where they can truly be engaged in the activity‚” says Rosemary Dillingham‚ instructional technology teacher assistant.

The popular program yields many memorable student comments‚ Dillingham says. They range from: “This is the most beautiful place that I have ever seen‚” to “Hey‚ did you see that fish eat that other fish?”

Area students are making great strides inside the classroom‚ as well. The Ouachita Parish School System ranks third-best overall in the state. Meanwhile‚ West Monroe’s George W. Welch Elementary School in 2006 received a Blue Ribbon School designation by the U.S. Department of Education following its state nomination for continually improving test scores.

“We’ve met our growth target and exceeded it for each of the last five years‚” says Vance Smith‚ the school’s principal‚ who lauds the hard work and cooperation of teachers and parents.

The award “is a big deal in the community‚” Smith says‚ “both for economic growth‚ realty development and business coming in.”

One place adults and children learn together is the Northeast Louisiana Children’s Museum‚ an interactive museum recently expanded by 5‚000 square feet. New handson exhibits include a pulley system‚ shadow wall‚ abacus and domino table‚ says Martha Ryan‚ who founded the not-forprofit museum 10 years ago with Melissa Saye.

At the more than 80-year-old Louisiana Purchase Gardens & Zoo‚ children get most excited about the excursion-boat rides‚ tigers‚ apes‚ monkeys‚ and a hippo named Shirley‚ says Gary Miers‚ public relations specialist with the City of Monroe.

The zoo’s newest attraction is a group of 16 Percheron draft horses used for wagon rides and saddle rides. Riders sit atop the large horses as the horses walk in a circle “like a pony ride‚” Miers says.

“The children enjoy a controlled circular ride in a custom double saddle‚” he says.