Marine Discovery Center Education Programs
Marine Discovery Center, 520 Barracuda Blvd, New Smyrna Beach, FL 32169
About
Marine Discovery Center Education Programs offers hands-on, feet-wet nature-based education that includes guided kayak tours, guided boat tours, indoor educational exhibits, and Adventure Camps for kids. The program features boat and kayak eco-tours, coastal ecosystem classes, conservation activities, citizen science programs, and volunteer conservation events or programs. Families can also take part in free monthly lectures, fundraisers, symposiums, galas, and activities such as archery at the on-site archery range.
• Ages: 3–18 years old
• Schedule: Open daily with weekday and weekend hours
• Price: Admission to the facility and grounds is FREE; tours, education programs, and special events have associated fees.
Marine Discovery Center Education Programs includes boat eco-tours and kayak eco-tours led by a certified Florida Master Naturalist, along with programs taught by certified naturalists and teachers. Activities connected to citizen science and conservation include oyster bed and shoreline restoration projects, oyster-shell recycling, water-quality testing, invasive-plant eradication, sea grass surveys, and horseshoe crab surveys. The program also offers supplemental classes through the Florida Master Naturalist Program (FMNP), as well as coastal ecosystem classes, camps, and lectures.
Marine Discovery Center has spent over 25 years informing and educating citizens and guests about the biodiversity of the Indian River Lagoon, which is recognized as the most biologically diverse estuary in North America and is home to more than 4,000 species of plants and animals along 156 miles of Florida’s east coast. Its mission is “To protect our coastal ecosystems through education, conservation, and exploration.” It is recognized as a regional resource for the Indian River Lagoon and works with area colleges, universities, and environmental conservation groups, inviting citizen scientists to join its volunteer conservation team.
Boat tours depart from 116 N Causeway, and visitors are asked to obtain a parking permit from the Welcome Center or from the boat crew before the tour departs. Indian River Lagoon Preserve Park Kayak Tours launch from Indian River Lagoon Preserve Park at 700 Sandpiper Street, which also hosts some camps and education programs.
Parents and visitors have shared that children have enjoyed summer camps and encounters with animals such as otters and dolphins, and groups of high school students have experienced first-time boat trips, starfish encounters, and restoration projects. Reviews describe knowledgeable guides sharing information about New Smyrna Beach, the Indian River Lagoon, local wildlife, and how human activity affects the ecosystem, with sightings that have included dolphins and a variety of birds. Multiple testimonials note that staff are professional, kind, and passionate, and that the center offers informative signage, interactions with partner groups such as Audubon visitors, and a range of experiences for all ages.
Last updated February 16, 2026.
• Ages: 3–18 years old
• Schedule: Open daily with weekday and weekend hours
• Price: Admission to the facility and grounds is FREE; tours, education programs, and special events have associated fees.
Marine Discovery Center Education Programs includes boat eco-tours and kayak eco-tours led by a certified Florida Master Naturalist, along with programs taught by certified naturalists and teachers. Activities connected to citizen science and conservation include oyster bed and shoreline restoration projects, oyster-shell recycling, water-quality testing, invasive-plant eradication, sea grass surveys, and horseshoe crab surveys. The program also offers supplemental classes through the Florida Master Naturalist Program (FMNP), as well as coastal ecosystem classes, camps, and lectures.
Marine Discovery Center has spent over 25 years informing and educating citizens and guests about the biodiversity of the Indian River Lagoon, which is recognized as the most biologically diverse estuary in North America and is home to more than 4,000 species of plants and animals along 156 miles of Florida’s east coast. Its mission is “To protect our coastal ecosystems through education, conservation, and exploration.” It is recognized as a regional resource for the Indian River Lagoon and works with area colleges, universities, and environmental conservation groups, inviting citizen scientists to join its volunteer conservation team.
Boat tours depart from 116 N Causeway, and visitors are asked to obtain a parking permit from the Welcome Center or from the boat crew before the tour departs. Indian River Lagoon Preserve Park Kayak Tours launch from Indian River Lagoon Preserve Park at 700 Sandpiper Street, which also hosts some camps and education programs.
Parents and visitors have shared that children have enjoyed summer camps and encounters with animals such as otters and dolphins, and groups of high school students have experienced first-time boat trips, starfish encounters, and restoration projects. Reviews describe knowledgeable guides sharing information about New Smyrna Beach, the Indian River Lagoon, local wildlife, and how human activity affects the ecosystem, with sightings that have included dolphins and a variety of birds. Multiple testimonials note that staff are professional, kind, and passionate, and that the center offers informative signage, interactions with partner groups such as Audubon visitors, and a range of experiences for all ages.
Last updated February 16, 2026.
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