Forever Explorers
Let Marine Discovery Center’s certified naturalists engage you in a fun and unique educational exploration of the Indian River Lagoon and the flora and fauna that thrive here.
Forever Explorers is designed for young-at-heart, lifelong learners and is geared to offer outdoor opportunities for adults who want to explore and better understand their surrounding coastal environment alongside certified naturalists and scientists!
Participants will explore the roles of salt marshes, mudflats and various saltwater plants and animals by visiting different spoil islands on MDC’s pontoon boat, Discovery, as well as through kayak excursions, land-based programs, and conservation activities! Each participant will receive an Adventure Guide binder and pen to document their experiences.
This program features a spring and fall session; each month focuses on a different theme, and each program explores a topic within that theme. Both sessions will conclude with an end-of-season gathering, slide show and prize drawing. There’s even wonderful Forever Explorers incentives for those attending multiple programs – 5 events earns a T-shirt; 10 earns a hat; 15 earns a water bottle; and 20 earns a pair of Costa del Mar sunglasses.
Forever Explorers is only for participants 18+.
Boat (price includes meal): $60 MDC Members | $65 Non-Members
Kayak (price includes snacks): $50 MDC Members | $55 Non-Members
Land: $8 MDC Members | $10 Non-Members
Conservation: Free (donations accepted)
MARCH
Land: Project Plankton – Wednesday, March 5 at 1:30 – 2:30 pm | Marine Discovery Center has begun monitoring the phytoplankton and zooplankton populations living in the Indian River Lagoon, right off our dock! By building this data set, we will be able to better understand the variety of life invisible to the naked eye and how plankton respond to environmental changes. Volunteers will learn how to properly collect plankton, prepare plankton samples, and catalog phytoplankton and zooplankton species. Join us to collect your own plankton sample and create a magnified clay version of what you have found to take home! This workshop will open your mind to what is not always visible but still deeply important and challenge you, creatively!
Kayak: Seagrass Surveys – Wednesday, March 12 at 9:00 – 11:30 am | Seagrass beds are critical habitat for hundreds of species in the Indian River Lagoon. Become the scientist on this one-of-a-kind adventure where guests will kayak to & snorkel over an established seagrass bed and join MDC staff in a mock seagrass survey to understand how this data is tracked and used by management agencies. Participants may bring their own snorkel gear (fins are not needed), MDC will have gear available for use. Snorkeling will be optional; it is not a required activity during the program. This tour launches from Mary McLeod Bethune Park West on Ladyfish Avenue in NSB.
Conservation: Shoreline Monitoring – Tuesday, March 25 at 9:30 am – 12:30 pm | Shoreline monitoring is the practice of documenting life and changes that are occurring along the shoreline! This program began after the establishment of our new living shoreline in July 2024 and provides us with an understanding of the impact living shorelines has on our surrounding ecosystem. Join us for a data filled morning at MDC measuring the slope of the shoreline, the amount of oyster growth happening on our restoration units, and the amount of plant life growing on the shoreline. Get ready to be hands on, feet wet!
APRIL
Kayak: Birds of Prey – Wednesday, April 2 at 10:00 am – 12:00 pm | A healthy food web depends on strong predators, especially those that soar above us! Guests will rotate between learning about birds of prey from Ponce Inlet’s own Marine Science Center and kayaking to Discovery Island to collect and dissect owl pellets. A snack will be provided!
Boat: Smyrna Dunes Snorkeling – Friday, April 4 at 1:00 – 3:30 pm | Climb aboard our pontoon boat, Discovery, for a high seas adventure! We will be traveling out to the lagoon-side of Smyrna Dunes Park to snorkel the shallow shoreline. We will dive deep into the top predators of the Indian River Lagoon and witness some of the colorful and unique local fish species . Whether you are an experienced snorkeler or think a snorkel is a kind of Midwest bagel, this program is for you! Lunch will be provided! You are welcome to bring your own snorkel and mask. If you do not have snorkel equipment, we will have extras on the boat! (This program was rescheduled from March due to winds)
Boat: Two Truths & A Lie – Wednesday, April 9 at 1:30 – 4:00 pm | Feeling confident in your knowledge on the Indian River Lagoon? Join us for our own spin on “Two Truths and a Lie”, Indian River Lagoon Style. Guests will have to pick out the information we share that is correct and incorrect while we cruise through the estuary and visit an island. We will also focus closely on about general misconceptions surrounding sharks and their critical role in the Indian River Lagoon. A late lunch is provided!
Conservation: Seagrass & Season Finale Party – Thursday, April 17 at 11:00 am – 1:00 pm | Party time! Its time to gather and celebrate the amazing Forever Explorers season! We will be coming together to get some work done in the seagrass and clam tanks and then heading to the lab for lunch and a raffle!
If you have any questions about this program,
please contact Carley Metcalf at [email protected] or 386.428.4828.
Our Mission:
"To protect our coastal ecosystems through education, conservation, and exploration"