Marilyn Sullivan (left) of the Marine Discovery Center in New Smyrna Beach took summer campers like Kendall Stura, 10, of DeLand, on a tour of the black waters of the Spruce Creek recently. The campers went on a seven-mile trek in kayaks to get a first-hand look at a fresh water ecosystem, its habitat and wildlife. Cracker Creek Canoeing, located adjacent to Gamble Place, supplied the kayaks.

Until this week, the smooth, white bulkheads of New Smyrna Beach’s Water Taxi were only that, unadorned surfaces. Starting now however, those blank surfaces will not only support the taxi’s pilot house, they’ll provide an advertising venue – and yet one more way of reaching self-sustainability.

Leigh Dontigney of New Smyrna Beach prepares to set sail in his homemade boat called the ‘Silverfish’ during the inaugural cardboard boat race at the Marine Discovery Center in New Smyrna Beach. Mr. Dontigney was allowed to use only cardboard and duct tape and spent more than 20 hours and used more than 400 feet of duct tape creating the boat. For the race, he was required to paddle to a marker about 30 feet from shore. But with some urging from the crowd, he continued paddling to a channel marker in the middle of the lagoon and still managed to come out dry. Mr. Dontigney won the race handily – he was the only contestant.

Chip Clark of New Smyrna Beach kayaks near Riverside Drive in New Smyrna Beach recently. Mr. Clark said he enjoys getting out on the water to exercise and admiring the beauty of nature. Kayak rentals are available at several places on the river in New Smyrna Beach including the Marine Discovery Center.