Forever Explorers

Forever Explorers is a new hands-on, feet-wet experience designed for young-at-heart, lifelong learners who want to explore their coastal environment.

The destination for each date is dependent on weather conditions, but it will include one of the following locations:

Firecracker Island | This large spoil island located in Edgewater on the Indian River Lagoon offers a wide mudflat on its northern tip that is perfect for finding various invertebrates, marine worms, conchs, crabs and oysters. Upland plants may be explored on the island’s higher elevations.

South Causeway Sandbar Island | Located under the northeastern side of the South Causeway Bridge, this smaller island started as a sandbar that became covered in Florida smooth cord grass (Spartina alterniflora) before a natural succession of mangrove trees became the predominant plant species. Shoreline offers a variety of species including crabs and conchs.

J-Hook Island | The northern tip of this spoil island provides a giant sand bar and mud flat at low tide, allowing for discovery of estuarine tidal-pool residents, marine worms, crabs and various invertebrates. The island’s western shoreline offers a slight drop-off that’s perfect for seine netting.

Disappearing Island | This spoil island offers a large sweeping shoreline on the western side of Ponce Inlet that hosts migratory shorebirds and provides a prime spot for seine netting and salt-marsh exploration. Marsh plants host periwinkle snails while the marsh waters provide a home to conchs, oysters and horseshoe crabs.

*Note to trip participants: Don’t forget to wear closed-toe water shoes and bring insect repellent, sunscreen, water and snacks, hat, sunglasses, camera/phone, binoculars, hand wipes, etc. The Discovery boat does have an emergency marine head (toilet) onboard.

If you have any questions about this program,
please contact Carley Metcalf at [email protected] or 386.428.4828.