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)
JANUARY
Boat: Migratory Species & Marine Mammals – Thursday, January 9 at 9:45 am – 12:15 pm | Join us on the Discovery as we venture to Disappearing Island to discuss a variety of migratory species and the threats facing marine mammals in the Atlantic. A late lunch is provided! (Want to learn even more? Our FREE public lecture on right whales is this evening at 6! Register online . . .)
Land: Ponce Preserve Hike – Thursday January 16 at 4:45 – 6:00 pm | Hike the wonderful trails of Ponce Preserve to learn about the variety of flora and fauna the preserve has to offer. Guests will get the opportunity to walk the boardwalk through the mangroves, hike the maritime forest to see large oaks and native American middens, and then head over to check out the dune and beach systems! Ponce Preserve is located at 4401 South Peninsula Drive in Ponce Inlet.
Kayak: Migratory Birds – Thursday, January 23 at 9:30 am – 12:30 pm | We are going on a duck hunt! It looks a little different than what you might think ….. We will paddle through Smyrna Creek, to J Hook Island, in search of migratory bird species that call the Lagoon home while the temperatures are low.
Conservation: Beach Cleanup – Sunday, January 26 at 7:15 – 8:30 am | MDC’s Forever Explorers is teaming up with Keep NSB Clean, a local organization dedicated to a debris free NSB, for a beach clean up at Grayce K. Barck Community Park in NSB for a beach clean up. Grayce K. Barck Community Park is located at 1100 N Atlantic Ave in New Smyrna Beach.
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
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.
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"