Pictured from left to right are Arthur Welch, Steven Fullen, and Fred Terasa.

Coordinated by Rotarian Arthur Welch, the Natchitoches Rotary Club recently journeyed out on their second field trip of the year to the Grand Ecore Visitors Center. Along with a tour of the new facility, led by Director of Interpretation Steven Fullen, the group enjoyed a delicious picnic-style luncheon provided by Tatae’s Catering. Fullen began the meeting on the deck of the facility, which provides a panoramic view from an 80-foot bluff overlooking the beautiful Red River. He explained that the Cane River National Heritage Area and the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers signed a cooperative endeavor agreement November 2015. Under the new agreement, the Cane River National Heritage Area will assist the Corps in daily operations and staffing. His goal is to create community outreach and educational programs, improve interpretive services and enhance the marketing and heritage tourism initiatives of the site. Educational and informational exhibits on the natural and cultural history of the region, along with remnants of Civil War earthworks can be seen at the Visitor Center. For more information, go to http://canerivernha.org/.