Brooks School New Orleans 2026
January 18, 2026
We arrived to Louis Armstrong New Orleans International Airport mid-afternoon and were met by our guides Maren Scribner and Anthony Smooth who took us to a local specialty “hot dog” restaurant called Dat Dog where options included crawfish sausage, duck sausage, and alligator sausage. After our late lunch, we ventured into the historic neighborhood Treme where we walked through Louis Armstrong Park, New Orleans Jazz National Historic Park, and took note of a number of sculptures honoring legendary local musicians. Adjacent to the Park is Congo Square where enslaved people would meet on Sundays to play music as a community. Today, musicians continue to gather on the square, although we unfortunately did not see anyone out playing music, likely due to the unusually cold temperature today, 40 degrees Fahrenheit, likely kept the musicians away. We had some more local cuisine for dinner at Frankie & Johnny’s where dishes included Po’boys and other Cajun-Creole fare. Our night on the town wrapped up with a trip to a Frozen Yogurt store…what else would New Englanders order for dessert on a cold night in the winter? It took a bit of searching for keys to our cabins at Bayou Segnette State Park, our home for the next few nights, but the group remained in good spirits and then, looking out for alligators, headed off to bed to get a good night’s rest for tomorrow’s adventures!
~ Brooks School
January 19, 2026
We began our day by visiting Ogden museum of southern art where we engaged in MLK day activities and saw many cool art works from a variety of artists. Following our visit to the museum, we enjoyed tacos and quesadillas from a truck nearby. We then ventured out of the city to Whitney Plantation where we spent the afternoon learning about its history and legacy. We ended the night at a local dinner spot. Before heading back to our hotel, we walked around the arts bazaar where some of us purchased souvenirs before heading back to our hotel for the night.
By Taylor, Julia, Isabella and Sienna
January 20, 2026
Our day in New Orleans was a very memorable day of the trip so far. We started off the morning planting trees to help restore and protect the land. At first it seemed like it would be difficult, but once we got there and learned why we were doing it, the service felt really meaningful. Louisiana is constantly losing land because of flooding, erosion, and hurricanes, and planting trees helps protect the coastline and nearby communities. It felt good knowing that something we did could truly help in the long run.
After that, we went to the Lower Ninth Ward, which was one of the areas hit hardest by Hurricane Katrina. We got to see one house in particular that stayed in very well condition even after the storm, due to its structure. It was so interesting to see how much the storm changed the neighborhood and how some parts are still recovering almost twenty years later.
Later, we went to Rock ’n’ Bowl, which was a really fun way to end the day. It is a famous place in New Orleans where you can bowl, eat, and listen to live music. After such a heavy morning, it was nice to just relax, laugh with friends, and enjoy the music and food. The whole place had such a fun energy and really showed the personality of the city. Mr. Porrazzo especially showed off his bowling talents being the best player of the night!
By the end of the day, we were tired but really glad we got to experience all of it. We helped the environment, learned about an important part of New Orleans’ history, and still got to have fun. It was one of those days that made the trip feel really special and unforgettable.
By: Iyla, Charlotte, Lucia and Natalia
January 21, 2026
Today was one of the best days of our New Orleans trip. We started by going to Café du Monde for coffee and fresh beignets, then headed into the French Quarter to visit The Presbytère’s Hurricane Katrina Exhibit. We learned about the devastation of Hurricane Katrina and how it affected New Orleans and its people. After that, we had free time to explore as a group, walking around, visiting a fortune teller, getting lunch at the French Market, and looking at jewelry and shops. Later, we went to the Backstreet Cultural Museum in Tremé, where we learned about Second Lines, Social Aid and Pleasure Clubs, and the traditions of the city.
After some more free time at the Lakeside Shopping Center to shop and eat, we traveled to the Bywater neighborhood to learn about the start of the Plessy v. Ferguson case and its impact on segregation. We ended the day at Studio Be, created by artist BMike Odums, where the murals taught us about African American and New Orleans history. At night, we had dinner at a local restaurant, and then went back to the hotel.
By: Dhruva, Sebastian and Max
