“Did you know that when you add the lemonade powder to water, you’re causing a scientific reaction?” asked Supriya Jindal.

A combined group of campers from Pontchartrain Elementary School and Tchefuncte Middle School had a visit from Louisiana’s First Lady last week, as she presented a program on the importance of reading and developing math and science skills.

To stress how the two subjects are used in everyday life and in every occupation, she asked the campers what they wanted to be when they grow up. Then she asked the campers how math and/or science are used in that occupation.

First Lady of Louisiana Supriya Jindal, an advocate of education, showed her academic curiosity and sportsmanship Wednesday to summer campers at Tchefuncte Middle and Pontchartrain Elementary Schools by holding an alligator from Insta-Gator Ranch. (Staff Photo by Debbie Glover)

In speaking with her young audience, she related stories to them about the fun of science and math. She even reminded one young man who said he wanted to be governor when he grows up, that even the governor needs to know science and math to understand the many subjects and statistics that are part of his job.

As part of the presentation, John Price of Insta-Gator Ranch brought an exhibit to the campers. He talked about alligators, his occupation and how it all relates to science and math.

Jindal also presented a selection of books from Scholastic Books for the schools’ libraries. Pontchartrain Principal Kim Thomas and Tchefuncte Middle’s Principal Laura Norsworthy said they would divide the books according to reading levels.

Jindal also asked the campers to remember three things every day: math and science are fun; read a little every day, even during the summer; and thank the special people in your life, like your mother and father and teachers, every day.

Jindal said she became a chemical engineer because her father, uncles, and many people in her family were engineers. “It was a natural affinity for engineering,” she said. She also has a master’s of business administration degree and has completed coursework for her Ph. D. in marketing.

Jindal said it is important for children to read during the summer because they can loose the connection they had in the classroom. “Third through fifth grade, students become disinterested in math and science,” she said. It’s important for the students to realize that math and science are everywhere and can be fun, she said.

She has been visiting various schools across the state emphasizing reading and demonstrating the fun aspects of math and science. She usually conducts science experiments with them but said the alligator presentation was a first.

She delighted the campers by holding the small alligator. One even muttered, “And she’s a girl.”

Price had brought two alligators for petting. The first, Too Many Toes, is the smallest alligator at the ranch. He is about 10 months old and has “so many toes, it’s almost as if he has flippers.” This was the one Jindal cradled for a while.

The other alligator, Gaston, is older. Price held Gaston while the students petted him. In addition to Jindal holding the smaller one, Price let each gator attempt to walk on the slick floor. Both alligators had their mouths taped shut and each one was brought out separately. At one point, he asked the children to be quiet. They could hear Gaston breathing through his nostrils.

With his ranching experience, Price had the animals under control at all times. However, he demonstrated their power and abilities by setting Gaston on the floor. The animal quickly turned and attempted to strike at Price when he made a sudden move. He then picked up the alligator and reminded the campers how dangerous the animals are because of their wild instincts.

He told the students that no alligator is ever tame-they are all wild animals. “Not only is it against the law to have them as pets, but it’s also very dangerous,” Price said.

As part of her message to the children, Jindal reminded them to tell Price, “Thank you” at the end of the presentation.