NEW SMYRNA BEACH GUIDED TOUR FIELD GUIDE
Lagoon Lessons: A Saltwater Daycamp on the Indian River for Ages 5–12
A single‑day (6.5‑hour) Marine Discovery Center holiday camp combining pontoon-boat trips to Disappearing Island, hands‑on ecology, and water activities for children ages 5–12.
Lagoon Lessons: A Saltwater Daycamp on the Indian River for Ages 5–12.
Spend a school holiday with toes in the water and eyes on the lagoon: the Marine Discovery Center’s single‑day camp brings small groups of 5–12‑year‑olds into the Indian River Lagoon for guided, feet‑wet learning. Across a morning aboard the pontoon The Discovery and time back at the MDC Main Campus, campers kayak, explore mangrove forests and meet the resident critters that define Florida’s coastal ecosystems.
Highlights
Outing Highlights
Pontoon Trip to Disappearing Island
Campers spend the morning aboard the pontoon The Discovery en route to Disappearing Island, exploring mangrove forests and encountering the lagoon’s shoreline life under instructor guidance.
Meet the Resident Critters
Hands‑on encounters are built into the day: instructors introduce campers to the Indian River Lagoon’s wildlife and the living connections between mangroves, estuaries, and shorelines.
Kayaking and Salt‑marsh Discovery
Alongside boating, campers paddle and explore restored salt marsh areas—learning ecological concepts through active, feet‑wet experiences and guided interpretation.
What the day feels like
What a Day Feels Like
It’s a compact, instructor‑led field day: a morning on the pontoon visiting mangroves and shoreline critters, then a return to the MDC Main Campus for further hands‑on activities and ecosystem lessons—an intentional mix of boating, kayaking, and outdoor learning designed to keep campers engaged and wet‑booted.
Suitability
Who it's for
Who this camp suits—and who it doesn’t.
Practical planner
Details to review before reserving
Camp runs as a single‑day program (6.5 hours); camp hours are 8:30 a.m. to 3:00 p.m.
Bring a waste‑free lunch and snack, refillable water bottle, sunscreen, hat/sunglasses, swimwear, towel, closed‑toe water shoes (required), and a change of dry clothes and sneakers.
Price is $50 per camper; payment is required at the time of reservation and cancellations must be made two weeks in advance to receive a refund.
Camp activities begin and end at the Marine Discovery Center Main Campus, with the pontoon departing from MDC for the morning outing when boat use is scheduled.
Review cancellation policies before reserving.
Frequently asked questions
Planning Your Outing
What ages can attend?
The camp is for children ages 5–12.
How long is the camp day?
This is a single‑day program; camp hours are 8:30 a.m. to 3:00 p.m. (6.5 hours).
How much does it cost and how do I pay?
Pricing is $50 per camper and payment is required at the time of reservation.
What is the cancellation policy?
Cancellations must be made two weeks in advance to receive a refund.
Will the pontoon boat be used?
For single day holiday camps, a minimum of 8 campers booked is necessary for the boat to be utilized during camp.
What should my child wear and bring?
Pack a waste‑free lunch and snack, refillable water bottle, sunscreen, hat/sunglasses, swimwear, towel, closed‑toe water shoes (required), and a change of dry clothes and sneakers.