Virtual Education Programs
MDC Virtual Education Programs
Join the MDC staff for a variety of online virtual programming all about the Indian River Lagoon! From animals and plants to conservation science research and beyond, we’ve got programs that the whole family will enjoy.
Registration for these programs is FREE, but donations always are appreciated. We need your support to stay afloat!
We currently use the Zoom platform (as well as some Facebook Live) for our virtual programming. We want to assure you that we have been careful to enact all the safety protocols to make our Zoom experiences positive ones, and we will continue to monitor any safety and security updates.
Virtual Public Lectures
While we await the ability to have larger congregations of people again, we are offering our popular monthly public lectures in an online-only format. Each month we highlight a different topic and invite an expert guest speaker as a way to educate our community. We hope you’ll join us for these free informative programs.
Coming soon…
Microplastics in the Indian River Lagoon | March 18 at 7 p.m.
Presenters Dr. Linda Walters of the University of Central Florida, Dr. Holly Sweat of the Smithsonian Marine Station in Fort Pierce, Fla., and UCF graduate student Casey Craig will describe micro plastics and focus on their current research, which includes: citizen-science monthly data collections throughout the IRL; plastics in IRL oysters; and microbial communities (microbiomes) on the plastics.
The program is free, but participants must set up a personal Zoom account to access the webinar.
Past Webinars
Invasive Species of Florida
April 16, 2020
Public Lecture: Coyotes
August 20, 2020
Public Lecture: Right Whales
January 21, 2021
Public Lecture: Bird Walks at MDC
May 21, 2020
Public Lecture: Florida Weather Myths
September 17, 2020
Public Lecture: Climate Change & Coastal Resilience
July 16, 2020
Public Lecture: Seahorse Research
October 15, 2020
Public Lecture: Horseshoe Crabs and Human Health
February 18, 2021
Virtual Florida Master Naturalist Program
The Florida Master Naturalist Program (FMNP) is an adult education UF/IFAS Extension program developed by the University of Florida and provided by many Extension offices and participating organizations throughout the state of Florida. FMNP training will benefit persons interested in learning more about Florida’s environment or wishing to increase their knowledge for use in education programs as volunteers, employees, ecotourism guides, and others.
Marine Discovery Center teaches the core Coastal module twice a year as well as several special topics throughout the year.
Traditionally these courses are taught in-person, but due to the restrictions brought about by COVID-19 we are implementing online-only and hybrid versions of our core and special topics.
Coming soon…
Coastal Systems: HYBRID online and in-person | March 22 - April 30
This hybrid online AND in-person module provides instruction through classroom, online (via Zoom), field trip, and practical experience on the general ecology, habitats, vegetation types, wildlife, and conservation issues of Coastal Systems in Florida – Coastal Uplands, Estuarine, and the various Nearshore Marine Environments. The program also addresses society’s role in coastal areas, develops naturalist interpretation skills, and discusses environmental ethics.
MDC’s Little Lessons Webinar Series
Little Lessons are geared towards children in Pre-K – 2nd grade and are a combination of Facebook Live storytime sessions and webinars.
We are not presenting new Little Lessons at this time, but please enjoy recordings of our past programs.
Past Webinars
Marvelous Mollusks
April 8, 2020
Splendid Spinies
April 29, 2020
Jazzy Jellies
April 15, 2020
Stupendous Sea Turtles
May 13, 2020
Extraordinary Earth Day
April 22, 2020
Coastal Connections Webinar Series
“Discover Amazing” as you join our talented staff for a closer look into what makes the Indian River Lagoon and Florida’s coastal ecosystems so special. From creature features and microplastics research to the plants and animals of shoreline restoration work, you’ll learn what MDC staff and volunteers do to protect and restore the vital habitats of the Indian River Lagoon.
We are not presenting new Coastal Connections at this time, but please enjoy recordings of our past programs.
Past Webinars
All About Ecotones
April 9, 2020
Discover Estuaries
April 28, 2020
Virtual Marsh Walk
May 14, 2020
Horseshoe Crabs
May 21, 2020
Microplastics Galore!
April 10, 2020
Birds of the Salt Marsh
April 30, 2020
Mangrove Madness
April 16, 2020
Oh C.R.A.P.
April 14, 2020
Marsh Succulents
April 23, 2020
Oysters
May 7, 2020
Virtual Boat Tour
May 28, 2020
"To protect and restore the Florida coastal and Indian River Lagoon ecosystems
through education, research and community stewardship."