Environmental Learning Center

Environmental Learning Center

Discover ELC

The heart of education, conservation, and our community.

Welcome to the Environmental Learning Center!

 64-acre lagoon-island Nature Center 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). Visit our 2000 gallons of aquariums, touch tank, and live animal exhibits, stroll miles of boardwalk nature trails, and enjoy our many outdoor picnic and play areas and wellness programs. We offer daily pontoon tours, and kayak and paddleboard rentals for eco-adventures, as well as guided nature and bird walks. Group programs are available. We provide a vast array of experiences fostering human connections to the natural world and knowledge about our Florida native environment.  

Our Mission is to educate, inspire and empower all people to be active stewards of the environment and their own well-being. 

Recurring Events

Daily Wild Lagoon Boat & Paddle Eco-Tours

Mondays 9-10 AM Tai Chi & Balance

Wednesdays 1-3 PM Wild Wednesdays – Unstructured Play for Homeschoolers

Wednesdays 1:30-2:30 PM Chair Yoga

Fridays 1-2 PM Yoga

Saturdays 11:30-1:30 PM Unplug + Play

Coming Up!

3/5 – 4/30 “Inspired by Nature – Art of the John’s Island Club”

9-11 AM Guided Kayak Excursions  4/2, 4/5, 4/9, 4/12, 4/19, 4/23, 4/25 (or by appt)

3/28 9 AM Ethnobotany Walk

4/3 8 AM Beginners’ Bird Walk

4/3 2 PM Volunteer Orientation

4/5 9-10 AM & 10:30-11:30 Little Wonders

4/6 1 PM veroBEach Kind Youth DayFREE ADMISSION to the ELC today!

4/15 6-7:30 PM Gifford Youth Orchestra Performance 

4/16 Noon Currents & Connections (Lunch & Learn) “An Update on the Health of the Lagoon and Lagoon Project Restoration Funds”

4/23 9-10:30 AM Ethnobotany Walk 

Highlights

Nature Guide On Pontoon Boot

Educating

ELC provides visitors with hands-on learning opportunities to explore the Indian River Lagoon ecosystems and discover the complex connections between us and the natural world.

Girl With Fish / Seine Netting 1

Inspiring

ELC inspires conservation by recognizing and appreciating other living organisms and demonstrating how our actions impact the environment and our health.

Circle Boys At Disovery Station

Empowering

ELC empowers the community to restore and protect the Indian River Lagoon, an estuary of national significance, by utilizing and sharing its campus for learning, exploring, collaborating, and celebrating.

Monthly Happenings

April Little Wonders Crabby Critters

April Little Wonders

Crab(by) Critters 4/5 ~ 9-10 AM or 10:30-11:30 AM Join us as we explore the critters that crawl, scuttle, and dig around the ELC campus. We’ll find crab homes, create

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Beginners' Bird Walk

Beginners’ Bird Walk

Join us April 3 at 8 AM for our next Beginners’ Bird Walk. Guests should meet at the Environmental Learning Center Welcome Center by 7:45 AM for an 8:00 AM

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Ethnobotany Walk 2

Ethnobotany Walks

Join our Native Plant Specialist, Marc Spiess, for a walking tour showcasing the diverse use of native and introduced plants, from culinary delights to medicinal wonders.

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May Little Wonders Spring Surprises

May Little Wonders

Spring Surprises 5/17 ~ 9-10 AM or 10:30-11:30 AM Take your little one on an adventure as we explore our campus to discover the many surprises and change that happen

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volunteering

Volunteer with the ELC!

Join us for our next volunteer orientation on April 3rd at 2 PM. Orientations take place every first Thursday of the month. Join us for an introduction to the Environmental

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Calendar

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