We have just returned from our Mangroves, Manatees & More trip, where we enjoyed the company of the best group of paddlers yet!  THANK YOU to the paddlers, volunteers, musicians, guest speakers, caterers, and Environmental Learning Center staff who helped make it such an enjoyable experience.  A successful trip is a team effort.  On March 2nd, we will stage our inaugural "Kissimmee River Restoration Paddle". We are super excited to be heading down to this natural river and learning about the history and restoration. 

Check out our Videos page for a great video from our Mangroves, Manatees & More trip of paddlers getting on the water and prepping for their 16.5 mile coastal paddle! 

Upcoming Schedule

February 9-15 2025 Mangroves, Manatees & More! - COMPLETED!

March 2-8, 2025 Kissimmee River Restoration Paddle - SOLD OUT!

April 11-13, 2025 Suwannee River Paddling Festival - SOLD OUT!

April 11-16, 2025 Suwannee River Wilderness Trail - SOLD OUT!

Our 2025 - 2026 Season will be released May 1st, 2025. Be sure to sign up early as most trips sell out.

Also in this issue, read about the Ecology of the Indian River Lagoon, History of the Indian River Lagoon, and Bioluminescent Creatures.

We look forward to seeing you outside soon.

Considered one of the most biologically diverse estuaries in North America, the lagoon has been designated an Outstanding Florida Water and an Estuary of National Significance.

The site’s mangrove wetlands and salt marshes provide breeding, nursery and feeding areas for a variety of organisms. These coastal areas also filter runoff, stabilize sediments, maintain water quality and protect shorelines from erosion.

The Indian River is not a river at all, but, more precisely, an estuary and a lagoon. It is a place where saltwater (from the ocean) and freshwater (from the mainland) meet to form brackish water. 

The saltwater comes from the ocean through inlets like the Sebastian Inlet. The fresh water comes from tributaries that flow off the mainland, like the Sebastian River or Turkey Creek. 

The Indian River Lagoon is the body of water wedged between the barrier islands of Florida’s eastern coast and its mainland. [Read More…]

Human history in the IRL dates back nearly 15,000 years ago when the first hunters and gatherers made their way through the area. Many of the early humans had little to no impact on the area due to their low numbers. Most of the human impact began with the arrival of the Spanish in the mid-1500s.

The Spanish were the first to establish settlements in 1656. Fort Pierce, as we know it today, was a major trading post during the English period. Jonathan Dickinson was one of the first Englishmen to journey to the IRL area in 1645, but was later captured by Indians and traded to the Spaniards. Spain ceded Florida to the English in 1763 who attempted to flock people to the area by offering favorable land grants. However, it wasn’t until Andrew Turnbull established a colony in New Smyrna in 1768, that modern drainage canals and agriculture began to form the area into what it is today. [Read more…]

Stretching for some 156 miles along Florida’s east coast, the Indian River Lagoon is an ecosystem of rare flora and fauna. And there’s something special in the water: Here you’ll find the most reliable display of naturally occurring bioluminescence in the United States. 

The more sheltered northern reaches of the Indian River Lagoon, where the effect is strongest, is a dazzling destination for the whole family. Kayaking with an ecotour (or on your own), you can watch mullets streaking past like rockets—their underwater trails an Avatar-like shade of blue created by the lagoon’s unique algae. It’s an opportunity to learn about marine biology and the delicate balance of ecosystems. [Read More …]

How To: View Bioluminescence

Click here for the article.

Get your very own Camp Coffee Mug! $20 to help support our environmentally friendly dish program