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.
Open to participants 18+.
BOAT • Members $60 per person / Non-members $65 per person
Migration Mania – Wednesday, February 25 | 10 a.m. to 12:30 p.m. Explorers will join birders for the monthly Winter Birding Tour to learn about migratory species passing through this area on the way to nesting grounds in the Arctic. This trip will travel to Disappearing Island, where guests will disembark and learn about these species with top birders from local Audubon chapters.
Sunset Exploration – Wednesday, April 8 | 5 p.m. to 7:30 p.m. Explorers will travel to Disappearing Island to disembark and learn about tidal influence and intertidal communities that live at the mouth of Ponce Inlet.
KAYAK • Members $50 per person / Non-members $55 per person
Oysters – Wednesday, January 14 | 11 a.m. to 1 p.m. This kayak experience will focus on oysters and their challenges in a habitat affected by such things as algae, turbidity and subtidal predation. This program departs at Indian River Lagoon Preserve Park at 700 Sandpiper Street on beachside.
Birds of Prey – Wednesday, March 25 | 11 a.m. to 1:30 p.m. Explorers will paddle from MDC’s launch site for about an hour, stop by Discovery Island and disembark to look for owl pellets on the island, and then paddle back to MDC to dissect the pellets to learn what raptors eat by examining the pellet contents.
LAND • $10 per person
Rebel Farms – Tuesday, January 27 | 10 a.m. – 11 a.m. Explorers will visit Rebel Farms in New Smyrna Beach to learn about sustainable gardening and edible plants that can be grown in a 1-acre yard. We’ll meet at MDC and carpool to Rebel Farms!
Yaupon Tea – Wednesday, February 18 | 11 a.m. to 12 p.m. Explorers will visit Rise Yaupon’s facility in Edgewater to learn how Yaupon trees become tea, followed by a sampling of the tea made on site. We’ll meet at MDC and carpool to Rise Yaupon!
CONSERVATION • Free
Seagrass Monitoring – Wednesday, January 7 | 10 a.m. to 11 a.m. Explorers will learn sea grass monitoring basics at MDC with conservation science staff.
Horseshoe Crab Surveys – Wednesday, February 4 | 10 a.m. to 11:30 a.m. MDC conservation science staff will lead Explorers in mock horseshoe crab surveys, teaching what information and data is collected by citizen scientists for MDC’s surveys.
Brazilian Pepper Bustin’ – Wednesday, March 18 | 9 a.m. to 12 p.m. Explorers will have a chance to work with MDC’s conservation team in a Brazilian Pepper Busting activity to help eradicate this highly invasive plant species. This experience will take place at Indian River Lagoon Preserve Park at 700 Sandpiper Street on beachside.
BESE Oyster Mats – Wednesday, April 15 | 10 a.m. to 12 p.m. Explorers will learn about BESE Mats and how they are used to attract larval oysters to build oyster colonies.
Native Plants & End of Season Party! – Wednesday, April 22 | 10:30 a.m. to 12 p.m. Explorers will tour MDC’s native plant gardens with the center’s gardeners to learn about the value of native plants for one hour, followed by the season-ending party.
Click the individual program titles above to book that program, or click here to see & book all programs.
What is Forever Explorers?
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.
Each program is unique with a different topic to explore. In spring and fall the sessions will conclude with an end-of-season gathering, food and prize drawing. There are even wonderful 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 for participants 18+.
Register for any of our Forever Explorers programs online now!
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"