06/15/2026
Founded in 2024, the Livonia High School Outdoor Club has quickly grown into a student-centered program that blends outdoor learning, academic support, and service to the school community. According to Outdoor Club sponsor Annina Wells, the club manages an on-campus garden and native pollinator habitat, introduces students to outdoor experiences, and provides academic mentoring alongside STEM-focused hands-on learning. Wells and her husband, Ernesto Amaguas, are the club sponsors.
Wells explained that the club was created to give students opportunities they might not otherwise have. Through the Outdoor Club, students have participated in activities such as kayaking, rock climbing, and hiking, helping expose them to new experiences in the outdoors while connecting those opportunities to learning and personal growth.
At the same time, the club has also responded to a more immediate need on campus and in Pointe Coupee Parish. The idea for the little libraries and little pantries came from Wells' awareness that some students were relying on school for their meals. She wanted to create a way for students and families to access help without drawing attention to themselves.
“The project grew out of a real need: some students rely on school for most of their daily meals,” said Annina Wells, teacher at Livonia High School and Outdoor Club sponsor. “We wanted our students and families to have what they need without having to ask. The little libraries and our little pantries give our community a quiet, dignified way to share books, food, and support with one another.”
That emphasis on dignity shaped the placement and purpose of the little pantries. Wells noted that it was intentionally placed in a more discrete location on campus so students could grab something on the way to the bus without feeling singled out. Families can also stop by after hours, allowing them to access resources privately.
What began as a support initiative soon became a hands-on student project as well. Students helped design and paint the units during three different after-school sessions, turning each little library and pantry into a colorful and meaningful expression of school pride. Rather than building the library boxes from scratch, the club purchased the units from the lending library website and then customized them through student artwork.
The result is a project that serves both practical and educational purposes. The little libraries operate on a simple leave-a-book, take-a-book model, and community members can also stop by to drop off or pick up food or books. Wells described the libraries as being “kind of like a free bookstore,” encouraging people to use them regularly and donate gently used books to keep them stocked.
Community support will be important as the project grows. Wells said the Livonia Outdoor Club accepts individual donations through its club fund, and those who want to help expand the initiative can contribute toward future sites.
The Livonia Outdoor Club has installed two little libraries: Arbor Clinic, 8387 Newfield Drive, Livonia, Louisiana, and across from City Hall in New Roads, 211 Main Street, New Roads, Louisiana.
The little pantry is installed at Livonia High School.
Wells also said the little libraries are easy to find. They are listed through the lending library network and appear on Google Maps, where users can search for “lending library” to locate units in Livonia and New Roads. With continued student involvement and community support, the Livonia High School Outdoor Club is building more than outdoor experiences, it is creating visible, practical ways for students and families to feel supported.
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Those interested in donating to the Livonia Outdoor Club fund can contact Mrs. Ann Jarreau at [email protected] or (225) 637-2532. Community members who would like to sponsor a little library or a little pantry or learn more about the project can contact Teacher Annina Wells at [email protected].
