FERRIDAY – A hiking trail and environmental classes for youth are projects the Bayou Cocodrie National Wildlife Refuge’s new manager wants to start at the 13,200-acre refuge in Concordia Parish.

But such projects are expected to cost thousands of dollars, said Mike Esters, who became the refuge’s manager six months ago. So the refuge’s staff and supporters are recruiting members for the Bayou Cocodrie Refuge Association, he told the Ferriday Rotary Club Thursday.

Funds for those and other projects will be raised through memberships costing $10 a year for individuals and $15 for families. &uot;Right now, we have a startup committee that is working on getting … nonprofit status for the association,&uot; Esters said.

The refuge recently mailed more than 800 letters to local residents and businesses to drum up support for the association. And about 40 people attended a meeting last month to learn more the group formerly dubbed &uot;Friends of Cocodrie.&uot;

Esters explained that he wants to build a hiking trail starting at the refuge’s Poole Road office and extending along the bayou itself, a trail that might one day include interpretive exhibits and tours. But such a project would cost about $5,000.

And classes to teach youth ages 14 to 17 the skills needed to make knowledgeable presentations about the environment to civic and school groups will cost about $2,000 a year, Esters said.

Classes will probably start in late May or early June, Esters said. For more information, call the refuge office at 336-7119.