Marine Discovery Center

06/20/2026

It's , and we're celebrating another successful survey season in the Indian River Lagoon! We're also saying THANK YOU to the many volunteers who helped us locate crabs, take body measurements & notes on physical features, record environmental condition data, and tag animals with numbered U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service tags.

MDC partners each spring with FWC Fish and Wildlife Research Institute and University of Florida to survey horseshoe crabs in the during mating season. Want to help out next year? Become an MDC volunteer! Learn more at https://marinediscoverycenter.org/volunteer/

06/19/2026

The long-awaited next installment of our Living Lagoon T-shirt Series just dove into Sandi's Sea Shop, and we're sure this one will appeal to all you bird nerds and lagoon lovers out there.

Mimicking the colors of the female belted kingfisher, this latest design is featured in rust and blue. No matter which you choose, we know this limited-edition shirt will have compliments just flocking your way 😊 So what are you waiting for - make like a kingfisher and get here quickly before these shirts fly away for good!

Our Living Lagoon t-shirts are $30 each, and every purchase you make supports our mission 🥰 We're open 9-5 weekdays and 9:30-2:30 weekends.

👕 Big shout-out to our models, Kim & Skylar, and our t-shirt designer (and Conservation Science Coordinator) Tess!

06/18/2026

🎣 Fishing has been a component of our hands-on, feet-wet camps since the beginning! Our campers learn hook & line but also utilize dip nets and seine nets to examine life in the Lagoon. Teaching fishing not only brings kids up close and personal to a variety of species, it also allows us to instruct campers about safe and ethical angling practices 🐟

What's the most amazing thing you've ever caught in the Lagoon?

06/17/2026

These MDC garden volunteers were out in the Florida heat earlier today sprucing up and beautifying the spaces around Hunter Amphitheater. A HUGE shout-out to these fabulous folks for always showing up and working so hard!

Interested in helping out at MDC? Learn more at https://marinediscoverycenter.org/volunteer/

06/17/2026

A huge thank you to New Smyrna Lodge #149 F. & A. M. for supporting our scholarship program 💕

Our Executive Director, Chad, said he is so glad he always opens his eyes when taking a picture 😉🤣

06/17/2026

Spend time on the water with Dad this Father's Day ☀

🛶 9 a.m. Guided Kayak Ecotour
🐬 3:30 p.m. Dolphin Discovery Boat Tour
⚓️ 6:00 p.m. Evening Dolphin Discovery Boat Tour

Book a tour today at https://fareharbor.com/embeds/book/marinediscoverycenter/?full-items=yes&flow=1188540 or visit MarineDiscoveryCenter.org

📸 R.leclairphotography

06/16/2026

A message from Education Specialist Claire Miller🎣

06/16/2026

“Some people leave a lasting impact not only on their own family, but on an entire community. Larry Littrell was one of those people.”

We couldn’t agree more! Larry was a wonderful, longtime friend to MDC and a supporter of conservation in the Indian River Lagoon and beyond. A fly fisherman and podcast host, Larry taught casting lessons in various locations on campus, sported MDC merch around town, focused on creating community through the Tailer Trash Fly Fishing Podcast, and hosted Fly Fishing Film Tour viewings at MDC, with proceeds benefitting the pillars of our mission work.

So wonderful to see him honored at the Skate Park 💕🛹🛼

Some people leave a lasting impact not only on their own family, but on an entire community. Larry Littrell was one of those people.

From helping bring a skatepark to Casselberry after his son Wyatt asked, “Dad, why don’t we have a skatepark?” to advocating for improvements at the New Smyrna Beach Skate Park, Larry was always showing up, supporting kids, and helping make things better.

On March 17, 2025, Larry passed away after a courageous battle with cancer.
On June 16th at 6pm, we will honor his legacy with the dedication of a bench at the NSB Skate Park inscribed with one of his favorite sayings:

“Keep Pushing.”

A fitting tribute to a devoted father, loving husband, and a man who never stopped supporting the dreams of others.

Join us at the NSB Skate Park for the Larry Littrell Bench Dedication Ceremony as we celebrate Larry’s life, his legacy, and the example he set for all of us who cheer from the sidelines while our kids chase their dreams.

06/16/2026

On we're shouting out a turtley huge THANK YOU to New Smyrna Beach Turtle Trackers and Marine Science Center for educating our Summer Adventure Camps about these incredible creatures each year.

While we love sea turtles (we even named two of our camps after sea turtle species) and educating the public about their role in our environment as well as what we can do to protect them, partnering with local organizations and facilities like these that specialize in sea turtles provides insight into research, rescue, and rehabilitation.

Friends of the Marine Science Center
County of Volusia