Marine Discovery Center Education Programs
Marine Discovery Center, 520 Barracuda Blvd, New Smyrna Beach, FL 32169
About
Marine Discovery Center Educational Programs include hands-on, feet-wet nature-based education such as guided kayak tours, guided boat tours, daily boat and kayak eco-tours, and eco-tours focused on the Indian River Lagoon. Kids and families can take part in Adventure Camps for kids, camps, field trips, indoor educational exhibits, coastal ecosystem classes, and supplemental classes through the Florida Master Naturalist Program. The programs also include conservation activities such as oyster bed and shoreline restoration projects, oyster-shell recycling, water-quality testing, invasive-plant eradication, sea grass surveys, horseshoe crab surveys, and volunteer conservation events or programs, along with free monthly lectures, monthly free public lectures, and special events including fundraisers, symposiums, and galas.
• Ages: 3–18 years old
• Schedule: Open most days with daytime hours, including weekday and weekend options
• Price: Admission to the facility and grounds is FREE. Tours, education programs, and other special events have associated fees.
Boat and kayak eco-tours are led by a certified Florida Master Naturalist, and programs include classes, camps, lectures, and eco-tours with certified naturalists and teachers. Marine Discovery Center has spent over 25 years informing and educating citizens and guests about the biodiversity of the Indian River Lagoon, which spans 156 miles down Florida’s east coast and boasts more than 4,000 species, and is tagged as the most biologically diverse estuary in North America. The organization is a nonprofit with a mission “to protect our coastal ecosystems through education, conservation, and exploration” and is recognized as a regional resource for the Indian River Lagoon. Marine Discovery Center works with area colleges and universities and environmental conservation groups and invites the public to participate as citizen scientists and volunteers in restoration and sustainability activities.
Parents and visitors have described the programs and experiences as informative, detailed, and memorable, mentioning staff who are professional, kind, passionate, and knowledgeable about the Indian River Lagoon and local wildlife. Testimonials highlight first-time boat experiences for high school students, restoration projects, otter and dolphin encounters during summer camp, and guided boat trips where dolphins and a variety of birds were spotted while learning about local history and how human activity affects the ecosystem. Several visitors report learning more in a short tour than in months of living in the area and express strong support for the overall vision of the facility and what it offers to the public.
Last updated June 2, 2026.
• Ages: 3–18 years old
• Schedule: Open most days with daytime hours, including weekday and weekend options
• Price: Admission to the facility and grounds is FREE. Tours, education programs, and other special events have associated fees.
Boat and kayak eco-tours are led by a certified Florida Master Naturalist, and programs include classes, camps, lectures, and eco-tours with certified naturalists and teachers. Marine Discovery Center has spent over 25 years informing and educating citizens and guests about the biodiversity of the Indian River Lagoon, which spans 156 miles down Florida’s east coast and boasts more than 4,000 species, and is tagged as the most biologically diverse estuary in North America. The organization is a nonprofit with a mission “to protect our coastal ecosystems through education, conservation, and exploration” and is recognized as a regional resource for the Indian River Lagoon. Marine Discovery Center works with area colleges and universities and environmental conservation groups and invites the public to participate as citizen scientists and volunteers in restoration and sustainability activities.
Parents and visitors have described the programs and experiences as informative, detailed, and memorable, mentioning staff who are professional, kind, passionate, and knowledgeable about the Indian River Lagoon and local wildlife. Testimonials highlight first-time boat experiences for high school students, restoration projects, otter and dolphin encounters during summer camp, and guided boat trips where dolphins and a variety of birds were spotted while learning about local history and how human activity affects the ecosystem. Several visitors report learning more in a short tour than in months of living in the area and express strong support for the overall vision of the facility and what it offers to the public.
Last updated June 2, 2026.
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