United States
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WELCOME to our Art, Habitat, & Heritage Institute site. Thanks for your interest. We need your help. We have a lot of general yard and garden clean up and planting to do. Also, I am partially handicapped, so I can use some strong guys for construction and maintenance. We have openings available now through 2019. Ideally, we want people who want to learn skills as a part of our International Intern Initiative, and can stay from two weeks to two months.
We inhabit a 2 acre mini eco-resort site in the subtropical rain forest & wetlands of Lacombe, Louisiana. The Habitat is on the north shore of Lake Pontchartrain: 40 miles to the New Orleans French Quarter; 30 minutes to the Gulf Coast. This property is a progressive creative and educational venue utilizing heritage and entertainment to develop an appreciation for the preservation, protection, promotion, and presentation of the environmental, historical, and cultural heritage of the area, in order to pass along this heritage to future generations. We are heavily involved in our community so you will be immersed in our culture with us. It will be an experience that will last a lifetime.
WHO WE ARE: WHAT WE DO
We are an edu-tainment venue based upon a modified Mayan Indian and Choctaw Indian theme. Help is needed for supervised construction work on projects related to modified Mayan architecture, art, and agronomy. Started in 1973, I have built/am building it with my own hands according to my own architectural designs. It is still very much a work in progress, and due to unsuccessful knee operations I could use the help of those with the intellect and strength to do what I can no longer do, but can teach.
As a south Louisiana boy, I was raised to be polite and considerate to all. I try to accommodate my life to assure my interns maximum educational exposure and opportunity to learn and apply. During your contribution to our projects, circumstances vary and frequently dictate the daily work specifics, but our master plan remains consistent and constant. Through this profile, and our initial meeting with the intern, we attempt to adequately communicate the terms and conditions of the stay and work. I personally ask for pardon for misunderstandings due to language, poor hearing on my part, or lack of familiarity. We try to be clear, honest, and forthcoming. We are neither ashamed nor shocked by others, or ourselves.
Living with others who are unfamiliar is part of the cultural challenge desired by clients who participate in our International Intern Initiative through Workaway. We live together in my home and must make allowances, but not be uncomfortable in close quarters.
I am somewhat of a free and unconventional spirit, so I scratch where and when I itch, belch and fart appropriately, curse frequently, disagree when I want, and hug when happy. This is me. I am what I am.
I intend to give each intern the personal attention and affection they deserve from me as a responsible host. Female interns are accorded proper respect without deference. We try to vet everyone before we accept them.
Naturally, not everyone fits in. Each has a different idea of what they wish from the experience. Sometimes what they want does not match with what we offer. However, we always try to meet as strangers, but part as friends.
LEARN-WORK-PLAY: We need people with appropriate skills, or who are willing to learn, and can contribute to our progress. We are in need of construction help and landscape improvement. I am a retired building contractor and instructor, so you can learn from my experience while you work. This property is a progressive educational venue utilizing heritage, art, travel, environment, and entertainment to develop an appreciation for our many and varied projects.
We are designed to be unique and of interest to interesting people. If you wish to contribute to this unique and somewhat extraordinary venue, we encourage you to apply. Applicants will be vetted and once accepted are entered into a hold harmless agreement with the host. We welcome interested and interesting people who can contribute to our building mission. While there are openings for cleaning and hauling, digging, landscaping, and general grunt work, we are specifically looking for skills in electrical work, carpentry, masonry, and other trades. If you learn, I teach.
Digital technology and computer skills that can be taught to me are also sought along with other creative talents. I have led an adventurous and exciting life and know a lot because I've done a lot. I invite you to share my knowledge and experience. Your ideas and help are needed, welcome, and appreciated.
We have several options for your interest and help:
1) Art Will Make You Smart: an art initiative, an edu-tainment venue based upon an interpretive Mayan Indian and Choctaw Indian theme. Help is needed for supervised work on projects related to modified Mayan architecture, art, Eco-technology, astronomy, and agronomy.
2) The Heritage Center: A 501 (c) 3 nonprofit dedicated to preserve, protect, promote, and present the environmental, historical, and cultural heritage of the area, in order to pass along this heritage to future generations.
3)The Habitat: A Sip, Sup, and Snore hospitality venue: This is our physical site where you will work, and live, and learn.
4) The Tours: specializing in eco-adventure and historical tours of the area along the American Gulf Coast with special emphasis on First American culture and history.
5) The Academy of the Beyond: a method of philosophical and metaphysical discovery that goes beyond belief.
PERSONAL INFO
Tom: I like all music, although all I can play is the radio. I love dogs, ( I have a male black Lab, Barack, and female Boxer, Chitto) blue-sky flying high, coral reef diving, jungle exploration, clear water, good wine, lovely women, intelligent men, existentialism, exploration, excitement and enjoyment! I pride myself on being a good host, if only slightly crazy. Give it a try.
My life motto: "If I can, I must!"
We welcome interested and interesting people who can contribute to our mission. As part of our LEARN-WORK-PLAY program, you will be taught skills and given training in various areas of our development and action plan.
There are always several projects underway, some large, some small, to which you can contribute. We are still definitely a work in progress. As our intern/volunteer/guest you are expected to contribute four to six hours per day to our mission depending upon factors like weather, materials, etc. During your free time, we will enable you to experience the recreational and cultural benefits of our area for your enjoyment.
Digital technology skills are also sought along with other creative talents to produce videos for our Louisiana Video Productions. Your ideas and help are needed and welcome.
WELCOME GUEST VOLUNTEERS TO OUR INTERNATIONAL INTERN INITIATIVE
Thank you for choosing our eclectic facility as a place to share your work skills and learn new ones. As our intern you will not only learn what to do, but how to do it. We welcome you as guest-helpers to contribute to our mission. This is not a spa, nor just a relaxing place to stop on your journey...although it is that too and more. Ours is a unique venue in several ways. It is a work in progress, so we appreciate your special contribution.
As with any host/visitor relationship there are requests, requirements, rules, regulations, and reasons that are necessary for a mutually beneficial association. Common sense, courtesy, and consideration go a long way for a pleasant stay.
HOW YOU CAN CONTRIBUTE
As you can imagine, many adventurous travelers are intrigued by our mission and apply to participate in order to learn and experience what we offer. Unfortunately, we can only accept a select few. Not all are qualified nor able to perform the work required.
We try to assign our interns to related projects according to their interest, skill, and ability; particularly in construction. But, we also engage you in our Academy of the Beyond, which enables you to go beyond belief.
As a retired contractor and planner, I can, given enough time and effort, provide you the instruction and training that will be helpful to you here and now, and also in the future. We don't just teach you What to think, we teach you How to think.
Physical labor is appreciated, valued, and required, and is used as a tool to compliment our instruction. It is a benefit to you as you learn certain creative aspects of our master plan.
ACCOMMODATIONS
Accommodation is neither sumptuous nor Spartan, but it is included free in our intern scholarship, as is most food. Smoking is permitted outside.
FOOD
Food will be supplied as required for meals. Sometimes we will cook Southern, sometimes Creole, sometimes Cajun, sometimes Creative. Most of our meals are plant-based, but may include meat in preparation. Interns are encouraged to learn about our local culinary culture by participating in its preparation. However, individual tastes and preferences vary, so we ask that interns chip in occasionally on the food and beverages that they prefer.
Special food needs: allergies, vegan, are considered. By necessity I am vegan.
Each intern helper is expected to contribute to meal preparation and clean up afterward.
FREE TIME
Free time is your time. Occasionally, we may provide tours of the local area. You are welcome to explore the area or just relax on our property, roam around, and feel free to ask about anything, or offer comments or suggestions to make your stay with us productive and enjoyable.
RULES AND REGS will be provided to you for an orderly function of our Learn-Work-Play protocol.
Thank you for considering us.
Gardening
Building
General Maintenance
Cooking / shopping
Help with Eco project
Help in the house
Charity work
Art project
Help with Computers / internet
Teaching
This area of Southeast Louisiana is a unique cultural entity blending a melange of Chacta Indian, Creole, Anglo, French, Spanish, African, & Caribbean, into a vibrant mix of cultures that has adapted to a lush subtropical aquatic-oriented environment. The owner is a connoisseur of varied pursuits; a world traveler who has a wealth of knowledge and an unconventional life style that should be of interest to interesting people who want to explore, engage, and enjoy new adventures and intellectual challenges suited to their quest for enticing and enriching experiences.
We assign projects to volunteers to finish as their ability and time applied requires. Special skills are given preference. Non-project volunteers are given random tasks as needed. Usually 5 hours per day are normal work times depending upon variables like weather and projects involved. Interns are also required to lend a hand in general household chores. We are building a venue suitable for theatrical and video presentations as well as unique structural variations based upon Maya architecture.
English some Spanish
Upstairs bedroom: queen double and single bed. Cabana apartment: queen double and couch, Great Room: two comfortable couches or air mattresses. Grassy tenting under the oaks is available.
New Orleans or the Gulf Coast is just under an hour away. A 20,000-acre wildlife refuge with trails and blueways is a half mile from us. Bayou Lacombe under a quarter mile...kayak rental and tours. 31-mile long hike & bike trail on our doorstep. A sand beach on Lake Pontchartrain is about 12 miles away in Fontainebleau State Park. No public transport. Through our tours we can either arrange or conduct trips to several different well known attractions like the French Quarter or little known areas back up in the swamps or along backroad byways. If you really want to know Louisiana come stay with us at The Habitat.
Internet access
Limited internet access
We have pets
We are smokers
More than two
Five hours per day of stay- flexible on times if you want to use my place as a base to explore other areas.
