MANGROVE MANIACS – AGES 9-12 Activities include island explorations, fish and invertebrate studies, kayaking, fishing and tours of the backwaters of the Indian River Lagoon.   LOGGERHEADS – AGES 4-8 Activities will include island explorations, arts and crafts, fishing, shoreline and dock explorations and a tour of Ponce Inlet Lighthouse and the Marine Science Center. [...]

LECTURE SERIES – CRITTERS OF THE LAGOON WHEN: Thursday, March 15th, 2012 6-8pm WHERE: Marine Discovery Center ADMISSION: No charge – No reservations For more information contact Mark Spradley – mark@marinediscoverycenter.org, or call: 386-428-4828 THIS MONTHS LECTURE WILL BE BY THE STAFF OF THE MARINE DISCOVERY CENTER. LEARN ABOUT THE ODD CREATURES IN THE LAGOON, [...]

LECTURE SERIES – RAPTORS WHEN: Thursday, February 16th 6-8pm WHERE: Marine Discovery Center ADMISSION: No charge – No reservations For more information contact Mark Spradley – mark@marinediscoverycenter.org Gina and Tom Holt from Wild About Birds, located in Edgewater, will bring their friends Katie, Frodo and Tomahawk, the Raptors, for a fun and engaging evening with [...]

Where: Indian River Lagoon Park 663 Sandpiper Ave. New Smyrna Beach 32169 When: Tuesday mornings 8-10 am January 10th through April Admission: No charge No Reservations Meet at the shelter. Bring binoculars.

The signs of Spring will be signaling armored, living fossils to the shorelines of the eastern United States. From the rebirth of legendary Japanese warriors to the modern miracle of the LAL bacterial test, come along with us as we explore Limulus Polyphemus, the heroic Horseshoe Crab. The talk will conclude with the introduction of [...]

Date: Wednesday, January 11, 2012 Start Time: 10:00 am End Time: 11:30 am (Time Zone: US/Eastern) Description: TALES OF WHALES: AND OTHER CETECEANS This is a program designed for children 2 – 5 years old with an accompanying adult. Maximum number of participants is 20. There will be marine science education and arts & crafts [...]

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.

As several campers scrambled to get into their kayaks, squeals of excitement resonated from beyond the water’s edge, while a voice of authority urged campers to “stay together.” Chad Truxall, education director at the Marine Discovery Center, had his troops excited about learning how GPS tracking worked. This was just one of the many exercises the 30-plus campers experienced over the two-day 2009 Winter Camp held at the Indian River Lagoon Preserve in New Smyrna Beach, Dec. 21-22.

Brenden Neville (left), 11, of Edgewater Elementary helps Chad Truxall of the Marine Discovery Center (right) pull in a net filled with marine creatures during a science education program in New Smyrna Beach recently.

Lou King says the Marine Discovery Center could not have a more perfect name. “It’s so much fun to see the faces on the kids when they see something they’ve never seen before,” said Ms. King, the Center’s education coordinator. “They are truly making these great discoveries.”