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…
Climate Change and Sea Level Rise | July 16, 7 p.m. EDT
Stetson University’s Dr. Jason M. Evans will explore the effects of climate change and sea level rise in his July monthly online lecture “Floodplain Management and Climate Resilience in East Central Florida and Beyond.” The online presentation is set for Thursday, July16, at 7 p.m. Eastern.
Evans will discuss the scientific background of global climate change and sea-level rise. He will also discuss natural hazards and coastal floodplains in East Central Florida and explore what it means to plan for resiliency — a discussion designed with local citizens and property owners in mind.
He will also discuss specific case studies in New Smyrna Beach, Cape Canaveral, nearby Rockledge, Satellite Beach, the Florida Keys and coastal Georgia.
Past Webinars
Invasive Species of Florida
April 16, 2020
Public Lecture: Bird Walks at MDC
May 21, 2020
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 versions of certain special topic courses.
Coming soon…
Special Topic: Wildlife Monitoring
We do not currently have another course scheduled but will update this page when we do.
This 8-day ONLINE ONLY course is designed to provide training in principles and commonly used techniques for surveying and monitoring wildlife. People that complete this course will better understand the reasons for monitoring wildlife and the methodologies used to do so. This course includes Zoom-based instruction, guest presenters, and discussion as well as at-home activities and field experiences and will better equip students to participate in data collection for wildlife monitoring projects. This course will cover surveying and monitoring mammals, birds and herpetofauna.
Registration Fees for all 8 days of Online Special Topics Courses
$185 Attendee Fee with Color Manual
$165 Attendee Fee with USB Drive
$150 Partner Attendee Fee
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.
Coming soon…
At this time, our Little Lessons webinars have concluded for Spring 2020. We hope to resume virtual lessons again in the fall.
Past Webinars
Marvelous Mollusks
April 8, 2020
Splendid Spinies
April 29, 2020
Jazzy Jellies
April 8, 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.
Coming soon…
At this time, our Coastal Connections webinars have concluded for Spring 2020. We hope to resume webinars again in the fall.
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."