Take a hike and learn a little about this beautiful, diverse, and ecologically authentic place. It's diverse because it ranges from hammock (high ground) through salt marshes (sometimes underwater) to mangrove forest (with its feet in the water).
It's ecologically authentic because before we built our pavilions, we cut down all the exotic invasive trees like the Brazilian peppers and the Australian pines and replaced them with indigenous (native) species such as live oaks, cabbage or sabal palms, coontie, and wax myrtle.
It's beautiful because, well, just look around. But beauty is not just skin deep here. Our surroundings are especially beautiful because they provide a natural habitat for birds, fish, crustaceans, and mammals of many kinds. In fact the Indian River Lagoon, the big body of water that nearly surrounds us, is home to more than 4,000 different species, 36 of which are endangered or rare. It's such a diverse estuary (the most diverse in North America) that the E
nvironmental Protection Agency has named it an Estuary of National Significance.
Try to be quiet during your walk about so that the birds and small animals will show themselves. With luck you'll see an otter. Or down by the canoe dock, a dolphin or manatee. Look up, look down; there's a lot to see. Follow the signs posted near the paths and boardwalk. You can't get lost and you can find out a lot.
Then, come inside our buildings...Chill in our Entry Pavilion. Watch worm-rock reef fishes in our tropical tank. Look into our Nature Nook, a nature-oriented gift shop where profits help our educational mission.
A sweet, little exhibit area for pre-school children can be found in the Dry Lab. Relax. Play. Stay as long as you like.
Sorry. Due to a major fire on June 30th, 2008, our Wet Lab exhibit area was lost in the fire. Construction is now underway to build an even better exhibit area. If you'd like to make a contribution to our Fire Fund Campaign, please visit our HOME page for opportunities.
Venture out. Encounter our boardwalks into mangrove swamps. 
See our Ospreys. Our sunshine, and our unique island habitats. It’s all yours for a visit! No admission charge.
Open: Tuesday - Friday 10am - 4pm, Saturday 9am - 12pm (extended to 4pm during winter season) and Sunday 1pm - 4pm.
Campus Map
(Click for a full page printable copy of the ELC Campus Map)
1 = Canoe Dock
2 = Waterside Pavilion (the kids call it Spider Cafe
3 = George's Trail Boardwalk
4 = Gazebo and Greenhouse
5 = Butterfly Garden and Otter Statue
6 = Entry Pavilion, Visitor's Center and The Nature Nook gift shop
7 = Classroom
8 = Wet Lab with live animals and touchable exhibits
9 = Dry Lab with more interactive computers and play area for preschool children
10 = Library and Administrative Office
11 = Osprey Platform
12 = Pond and Mardie's Hut picnic shelter
13 = Native Plant Trail
14 = Native Plant Garden
15 = Security Cottage
16 = Pier and Pontoon Boat
17 = Laura R. Jackson historic home (open Saturdays)