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)
FEBRUARY
Kayak: Horseshoe Crabs – Thursday, February 6 at 12:00 – 2:30 pm | Horseshoe crabs are a vital link to understanding energy exchange across species and evolutionary change over time. Join us as we kayak to a historic horseshoe crab nesting site and search for these unique arthropods while learning about Florida Horseshoe Crab Watch – a statewide citizen science program focused on monitoring horseshoe crab populations and spreading awareness. Snack is provided! This program takes place at Indian River Lagoon Preserve Park at 700 Sandpiper Street in NSB.
Land: Love in the Lagoon – Thursday, February 13 at 5:30 – 7:00 pm | Join us atop Mt. Morgan for a special trivia game focused on relationships in the estuary. Ring in Valentine’s Day with some friendly competition and learn about courting and kinship in the animal kingdom! Light refreshments will be provided!
Boat: Painting the Lighthouse – Wednesday, February 19 at 4:15 – 6:45 pm | Let’s travel to J Hook Island and create colorful memories as we paint our own personal watercolor paintings of the Ponce Inlet Lighthouse with guidance from a local artist. Participants will also have ample time for island exploration! Dinner will be provided!
Conservation: Shuck and Share – Wednesday, February 26 at 9 am – 12:00 pm | This is your chance to get a behind the scenes look at MDC’s Shuck and Share oyster recycling program and be a part of habitat restoration in the lagoon. After learning about Shuck and Share, participants will lend a helping hand as we create oyster (BESE) mats! Volunteers will be threading recycled oyster shells from our Shuck and Share program onto mats using biodegradable zip ties. No experience is needed – we’ll show you what to do! Be sure to wear clothes you don’t mind getting dirty, bring sun protection (though we will be under cover most of the time) and a reusable water bottle. MDC will provide gloves and tools.
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.
Boat: Smyrna Dunes Snorkeling – Tuesday, March 18 at 10:30 am – 1:00 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!
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!
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"