Discover ELC
The heart of education, conservation, and our community.
Seeing the hundreds of birds returning to nest on Pelican Island was amazing! For our friends visiting from California, this captured the wonder of the Indian River Lagoon and the diversity of wildlife here. The captain and guide were both fantastic at pointing out wildlife along the trip. We followed a pod of dolphins as they hunted and seemed to play with each other near the boat.
Welcome to the Environmental Learning Center!
Hours
Mon–Fri · 8 AM – 5 PM
Sat–Sun · 8 AM – 4 PM
Admission
FREE for ELC Members
FREE for Under Age 2
FREE with SNAP/WIC Card
*****
$10 · Adults (12+)
$8 · Seniors 65+ & Military
$5 · Children (2–11)
The 64-acre lagoon-island Nature Center is located in the heart of the beautiful and diverse Indian River Lagoon in Vero Beach, Florida.
We are open seven days a week to the public (free to members or with paid admission). Explore our 2,000 gallons of aquariums, touch tank, and live animal exhibits, stroll miles of boardwalk nature trails, and enjoy our wellness programs designed to connect mind, body, and nature. Go shopping in our unique Nature Nook Eco-Boutique. Don’t miss our rotating art galleries showcasing local and regional artists, or our field trips that bring hands-on environmental education to thousands of students each year. Join one of our daily pontoon tours, rent a kayak or paddleboard for your own eco-adventure, or take part in a guided nature or bird walk. We also welcome groups for custom programs and offer our scenic campus as an event venue for meetings, celebrations, and special gatherings.
Our mission is to educate, inspire and empower all people to be active stewards of the environment and their own well-being.
Let’s Explore
Monthly Happenings
Wild and Beautiful: Global Wildlife Photography Exhibition at the Environmental Learning Center
This winter, the Environmental Learning Center unveils Wild and Beautiful, a global wildlife photography exhibition by Mark and Cheri Schumann. Spanning Antarctica, Alaska, Africa, Europe, and the American West, the
Environmental Learning Center Announces New Advisory Council in Indian River County
The Environmental Learning Center has launched a new Advisory Council made up of over 25 community leaders dedicated to advancing environmental education and stewardship in Indian River County.
Seeing the Unseen: “Homeless in a Land of Plenty” Artist Book Talk at ELC
The Environmental Learning Center will host a powerful Artist Book Talk with photographer and author Mark Schumann, exploring Homeless in a Land of Plenty. Through striking black-and-white images and personal
Lagoonapalooza 2026 Welcomes More Than 2,500 Guests for a Day of Music, Nature, and Lagoon Exploration
Lagoonapalooza 2026 welcomed more than 2,500 guests to the Environmental Learning Center for a free day of music, hands-on activities, and exploration of the Indian River Lagoon.
February 2026 Newsletter
Welcome to February! It’s a perfect time to talk about our shared love of the natural world! Everything we do here at the ELC is designed to foster human connections to nature.
Why ELC Was Voted Best Tourist Destination on The Treasure Coast Again
The Environmental Learning Center was voted Best Tourist Destination on the Treasure Coast by Indian River Magazine. Just 20 minutes from downtown Vero Beach, ELC offers something no other destination
Calendar
×
February 2026
| Sunday | Monday | Tuesday | Wednesday | Thursday | Friday | Saturday |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
|
Sunday February 1
1
|
Monday February 2
2
|
Tuesday February 3
3
|
Wednesday February 4
4
|
Thursday February 5
5
|
Friday February 6
6
|
Saturday February 7
7
|
|
Sunday February 8
8
|
Monday February 9
9
|
Tuesday February 10
10
|
Wednesday February 11
11
|
Thursday February 12
12
|
Friday February 13
13
|
Saturday February 14
14
|
|
Sunday February 15
15
|
Monday February 16
16
|
Tuesday February 17
17
|
Wednesday February 18
18
|
Thursday February 19
19
|
Friday February 20
20
|
Saturday February 21
21
|
|
Sunday February 22
22
|
Monday February 23
23
|
Tuesday February 24
24
|
Wednesday February 25
25
|
Thursday February 26
26
|
Friday February 27
27
|
Saturday February 28
28
|
March 2026
| Sunday | Monday | Tuesday | Wednesday | Thursday | Friday | Saturday |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
|
Sunday March 1
1
|
Monday March 2
2
|
Tuesday March 3
3
|
Wednesday March 4
4
|
Thursday March 5
5
|
Friday March 6
6
|
Saturday March 7
7
|
|
Sunday March 8
8
|
Monday March 9
9
|
Tuesday March 10
10
|
Wednesday March 11
11
|
Thursday March 12
12
|
Friday March 13
13
|
Saturday March 14
14
|
|
Sunday March 15
15
|
Monday March 16
16
|
Tuesday March 17
17
|
Wednesday March 18
18
|
Thursday March 19
19
|
Friday March 20
20
|
Saturday March 21
21
|
|
Sunday March 22
22
|
Monday March 23
23
|
Tuesday March 24
24
|
Wednesday March 25
25
|
Thursday March 26
26
|
Friday March 27
27
|
Saturday March 28
28
|
|
Sunday March 29
29
|
Monday March 30
30
|
Tuesday March 31
31
|
April 2026
| Sunday | Monday | Tuesday | Wednesday | Thursday | Friday | Saturday |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
|
Wednesday April 1
1
|
Thursday April 2
2
|
Friday April 3
3
|
Saturday April 4
4
|
|||
|
Sunday April 5
5
|
Monday April 6
6
|
Tuesday April 7
7
|
Wednesday April 8
8
|
Thursday April 9
9
|
Friday April 10
10
|
Saturday April 11
11
|
|
Sunday April 12
12
|
Monday April 13
13
|
Tuesday April 14
14
|
Wednesday April 15
15
|
Thursday April 16
16
|
Friday April 17
17
|
Saturday April 18
18
|
|
Sunday April 19
19
|
Monday April 20
20
|
Tuesday April 21
21
|
Wednesday April 22
22
|
Thursday April 23
23
|
Friday April 24
24
|
Saturday April 25
25
|
|
Sunday April 26
26
|
Monday April 27
27
|
Tuesday April 28
28
|
Wednesday April 29
29
|
Thursday April 30
30
|
May 2026
| Sunday | Monday | Tuesday | Wednesday | Thursday | Friday | Saturday |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
|
Friday May 1
1
|
Saturday May 2
2
|
|||||
|
Sunday May 3
3
|
Monday May 4
4
|
Tuesday May 5
5
|
Wednesday May 6
6
|
Thursday May 7
7
|
Friday May 8
8
|
Saturday May 9
9
|
|
Sunday May 10
10
|
Monday May 11
11
|
Tuesday May 12
12
|
Wednesday May 13
13
|
Thursday May 14
14
|
Friday May 15
15
|
Saturday May 16
16
|
|
Sunday May 17
17
|
Monday May 18
18
|
Tuesday May 19
19
|
Wednesday May 20
20
|
Thursday May 21
21
|
Friday May 22
22
|
Saturday May 23
23
|
|
Sunday May 24
24
|
Monday May 25
25
|
Tuesday May 26
26
|
Wednesday May 27
27
|
Thursday May 28
28
|
Friday May 29
29
|
Saturday May 30
30
|
|
Sunday May 31
31
|