March 2020 Activities & Events
EcoFest
Sunday, March 1 from 11 a.m. to 4 p.m.
FREE ADMISSION!

This year, the theme of our event is Our Planet, Our Health. You're invited to our environmental festival to celebrate how our planet is connected to our well-being.

This Event Includes:
• Live Music by the Leftovers
• Food Trucks - The Bearded Chef, Kona Ice, Treasure Coast Concessions
• Canoe Quick Trips through the mangrove tunnels
• Live Animal s with the Treasure Coast Wildlife Center
• Drum Circle at 1 p.m.
• Exhibition Booths - FAU Harbor Branch Marine Mammal Ambulance, Pelican Island Audubon Society, League of Women Voters, Barrier Island Center, Florida Forest Service, Click and Grow
• Activities - EcoQuest Challenge, Greeting Cards to the Government, Giant Bubbles, Biocube Scavenger Hunt, Face Painting, Pond Dip Netting, Osprey Watch, Sidewalk Chalk Competition, Origami Making, Earth & Space Kit, Proper Pet Protocol (Poop Game!)
• Workshops & Talks - Trees for Life, Lagoon Health, Nature Therapy

Thanks to our generous supporters: Treasure Coast Golf Superintendents Association, Schlitt Gonzalez Real Estate Team, George E. Warren Corporation, Totally Turtles USA, Bob and Ellie McCabe and Ron and Evelyn Blank.
March Greetings from the Executive Director
An osprey with a recently captured lagoon fish in its talons, swooping to deliver the gift to his mate at their nest; a gopher tortoise emerging from its burrow; zebra longwing and atala butterflies flitting about; a marsh hare foraging at sunset; a pod of dolphin frolicking as seen from the dock, pontoon boat or kayak. These are some of the wonders we (and our guests) are fortunate to enjoy at the ELC. The humans have been active as well! Campus has been bustling with activity in February with all of the Indian River County 3rd grade field trips, along with our Little Wonders (18 months to 4 years) and Lagoon Academy (home school program), and Junior Interpreters (middle schoolers) participants engaged in hands on, feet wet activities. Our adult Celestial Navigation and wellness classes are in full swing. We have had a ton of folks coming out to enjoy our beautiful Clyde Butcher black and white landscape photography exhibit. (This exhibit will be on display only through mid-April so be sure to come out and enjoy it.) Visitors have been basking in our spectacular weather on our pontoon trips to Pelican Island National Refuge and our seasonal Manatee viewing trips on the St. Sebastian River. Our popular Lagoon Days 4th grade field trips are kicking off.

We have hosted meetings for the Pelican Island Conservation Society, the Home School Hopper, an adorable camping themed baby shower, a guided paint party, the Envirothon (an environmental Olympic style competition for ~200 regional middle and high school students) and our own Non-Profit Leader’s Appreciation Lunch as well as an ELC Donor and Volunteer Appreciation Valentine Mixer. Thank you for the amazing turnout for our new Native Plant Nook grand opening with a day full of speakers! Lots of homeowners showed up that want to be better friends to our ecosystems. We also were out and about for community outreach events, took a special staff field trip to Bok Tower and attended the Lagoon Symposium where we had two of our knowledgeable Environmental Educators present.

In particular this month, we want to thank Captain Hiram’s for their donation of $3,745 from their November 2019 River Run! Richard Atkinson has donated a beautiful river launch ("Patty Ann") that we can use to take 6 guests out on the west side of our island waterway (we are still in need of a 8-10 hp outboard for this if anyone has a spare😊). Our new fleet of 8 canoes have arrived and we want to thank our contributors at our Mangroves and Moonlight event in January that made this addition possible. We are thrilled with our aquarium upgrades (lighting and acrylic restoration), also made possible by a wonderful donor. Coming soon are other purchases made possible by the generosity of our supporters including new binoculars as well as upgrades for the Discovery Station.

Sunday, March 1 is our huge EcoFest event! We hope you all come out to this FREE festivity with plenty of action for young and young at heart! If you have not been to campus recently to check out our Nature Nook, please do. So many local, eco-friendly items to explore. We are currently taking registrations for our Spring Break Camp 3/23-27 and our expanded summer camp sign ups will open soon. On 4/4 we hope to see you at the Members BBQ on the Build Site (the spot where our new Education and Event Pavilion will be soon) followed by an open exhibit mixer featuring Sandra Johnson’s colorful Florida nature paintings capturing the magic of this Paradise we call home.

Want to help?
  • If you are not a current member, please consider joining/renewing. $50 for free admission to ELC, 7 days a week year round, for the whole family - quite the deal! (We do also offer free admission to anyone demonstrating financial need, so never let that stop you from visiting.)
  • We are always looking for awesome individuals age 14 to 90's to add to our fabulous team of volunteers. Check out the info about the many roles on our website or contact Nancy (our Volunteer Coordinator).
  • Did you know we coordinate private pontoon, canoe or kayak trips for groups?
  • Remember that ELC makes a great venue for meetings and special events (Chat with Kathleen or Angie in Guest Services).
  • Help us spread the word about ELC by following us on social media and sharing our posts.
  • Ask me to speak at your work or club.
  • Serve on a committee or learn more about Board of Directors opportunities.
  • If you would be willing to host a cocktail party in your home and invite your friends, we are happy to provide an ELC and environmental update.
  • And, of course, donations and sponsorships are always so helpful and appreciated (Spring Appeal coming soon).

We want you to think of the ELC as an extension of your own backyard. Come here to play, rest, learn and celebrate! A sincere THANK YOU for being a part of the ELC Family. Together we are better.

Yours in Service,
Barbara Schlitt Ford
Executive Director

P.S. As Robin Williams once said, “Spring is Nature’s way of saying ‘Let’s Party!” Hope to see you at YOUR ELC soon….
Join us for FREE Saturday on March 7!
Explore our beautiful campus, visit the Discovery Station interactive museum and touch tank or take a walk on the boardwalks and #DiscoverELC!



Native Bees EcoTalk
Sunday, March 22 at 1:30 p.m.

Want to know more about the bees native to our area? This marvelous talk by Michelle Peterson highlights the diversity & importance of them. Free with general admission.
Edible & Medicinal Plant Walk
Saturday, March 14
11 a.m. to 1 p.m.
Experience nature while using many of the same tools as our ancestors to observe plants and their properties.
$25 Non-member Adult
$22.50 Member Adult
$15 Student/Educator
ELC
Cucumber Face Cream & Lip Balm Making Class
Saturday, March 28
from 11 a.m. to 1 p.m.
Come and join us for this most rewarding class! You will learn how to prepare a wholly organic face and body cream. This is a hands-on , professional caliber class that provides an experience like that of a real cosmetics lab. It is not expensive to produce and the instructor will be there for material support.

$25 Non-member Adult
$22.50 Member Adult
$15 Student/Educator
Manatee Spotting Pontoon Tour

Have fun spotting manatees and other wildlife on our Manatee Spotting Pontoon Boat Tour! See these gentle giants in their natural habitat, and learn along the way while our naturalist guide narrates.
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For this tour, meet at:
Dale Wimbrow Park Boat Ramp
11805 Roseland Rd
Sebastian, FL 32958
Artists Series
Calling all artists!

The ELC is seeking applications from artists of all mediums for rotating art shows. We want to feature YOUR nature inspired artwork! We are also looking for permanent exterior displays for our Artist Series.
Lagoon Academy
Home School Program

Lagoon Academy features one month programs which include 4 sessions with a specific focus for ages 7-12 years old. Each month we explore different aspects of the ELC’s lagoon island campus through environmental education programming that incorporates hands on activities to make learning fun!
Clyde Butcher: Living Waters Series
On display through April 20


Free with general admission! Check out Clyde Butcher's black & white photographic images of the Florida Aquatic Preserves. View 29 beautiful images that have never been seen in our area!



Spring Break Camps
March 23-27 from 8:30 a.m. to 4 p.m.

Packed with fun, adventure and learning, this outdoor exploration camp will inspire your child's sense of love and wonder for the Indian River Lagoon ecosystem. Campers will enjoy a variety of activities throughout the week!
Canoe Tours

There's nothing better than paddling a canoe on Indian River Lagoon! Join our experienced canoe guides & explore off-the-beaten-path canoe trails!
Living Yoga with Elise
Every Tuesday from 9 a.m. to 10 a.m.

Each class will provide a whole-body workout to promote body awareness, physical discipline, mental focus and a spirit of youthfulness and joy!

$12 Non-member
$10 Member, Student, Educator, or Senior
Qigong with Hester Denniston
Every Thursday from 9 a.m. to 10 a.m.

Qigong is the practice of aligning breath, movement, and awareness for exercise and meditation. Join us in this mind, body and spirit practice.

$12 Non-member
$10 Member, Student, Educator, or Senior
Walking Meditation in the Butterfly Garden
4th Sunday of every month from 11 a.m. to 12 p.m.

Walking meditation is a 'meditation in motion' -- great for beginners! We'll attune to nature through our five senses in the embrace of the Butterfly Garden.

$15 Non-member
$13.50 Member, Student, Educator, or Senior
Sunset Pontoon Boat Tours
A perfect way to end the day! Sit back, relax and take in the beauty around you on our Sunset Pontoon Tours. Cruise on the lagoon and enjoy the incredible Florida sunsets while watching the wildlife.A naturalist guide will provide information along the tour. Binoculars are provided. Click below to see dates and times or call guest services at (772) 589-5050 ext. 101 to book a private tour.

$35 Non-member Adult
$30 Member Adult
$15 Non-member Child
$12 Member Child
Pelican Island Pontoon Boat Tours
Enjoy a relaxing cruise on the Indian River Lagoon on our Pelican Island Tour! A naturalist guide will provide information along the tour. Binoculars are provided. Click below to see dates and times or call guest services at (772) 589-5050 ext. 101 to book a private tour.

$35 Non-member Adult
$30 Member Adult
$15 Non-member Child
$12 Member Child
SAVE THE DATE!
Members-Only
BBQ on the Build Site
April 4 at 12 p.m.

Come see the plans for our new Education & Event Pavilion! Enjoy delicious BBQ and fun activities on the build site. This event is FREE with an ELC membership, so join today! All members receive free year-round admission along with discounts and many other benefits! Also join us from 2-4 p.m. for local artist, Sandra Johnson's art showing cocktail party!
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