Virtual Field Trips
Your students can explore the Indian River Lagoon without leaving the classroom! Check out MRC’s archived Virtual Field Trips to learn more about a variety of lagoon-related topics.
Baffling Baffle Boxes!
December 16, 2021
What happens to all the water that drains off our roofs, lawns, and streets? Where does it go? How does it affect our health and the water quality of the Lagoon so many enjoy? What is being done to help clean it before it enters our waterways? To find out, join the Marine Resources Council (MRC) and the City of Melbourne ECO Division on December 16, 2021 at 9:00 a.m. for a baffling virtual field trip supported by Lagoon Loyal!
Our special guest, Dani Straub, will be giving a tour of the Sherwood Park Stormwater Project to give us an awesome look into how runoff pollution can be filtered through rain gardens, retention ponds, and baffle boxes before draining into the Indian River Lagoon. This is the 50th project of the Save Our Indian River Lagoon (SOIRL) restoration program. Join us for an eye-opening event to get a closer look at how the City along with other partners are working to reduce litter and chemicals from entering our waterways.
This 60-minute virtual field trip is geared toward youth grades 4th and up, but is open to all ages. Participants will have the chance to ask questions through the Q&A box that will be answered toward the end of the presentation.
The Future of Wildlife Is in Our Hands
November 18, 2021
Did you know that Florida Wildlife Hospital (FWH) has been rescuing, rehabilitating, and releasing thousands of sick, injured, and orphaned animals in Brevard County, since 1973? To learn more about this amazing organization, join the Marine Resources Council (MRC), the City of Melbourne ECO Division, and our special guest, FWH’s Lindsay Mayer, for an in-depth look at the day to day functioning of FWH, some of their native species they care for, how to recognize when an animal needs help, and how you can help.
Hanging Out with Bats!
October 27, 2021
Do you know all of the bat species that live in Florida? What is their diet like? Why are bats so important? To find out, join MRC and the City of Melbourne ECO Division for our Halloween-themed virtual field trip! Our special guest, Angela Stull of the Lubee Bat Conservancy in Gainesville, FL, will be hanging out with fruit bats, also known as flying foxes, to give us an eye-opening introduction to these amazing creatures.
Come get a virtual, up-close look at some of the fruit bats at the Lubee Bat Conservancy located in Gainesville, FL. Learn about their amazing senses and behaviors, while getting the chance to enjoy watching them snack on some of their favorite foods. Our special guest will also talk about their important job in the environment and how they care for these amazing flying mammals.
Helping Sea Turtles Survive!
September 23, 2021
Do you know all of the sea turtle species that visit our beaches? How old can a sea turtle get? Why is Brevard County an important place for sea turtles? To find out, join MRC, the City of Melbourne ECO Division, and special guests Susan Skinner and Dan Schaller with the Sea Turtle Preservation Society (STPS), who will be out in the field to teach us about these amazing creatures.
Brevard County beaches host nesting sea turtles each summer and are some of the most important nesting habitats in the world for loggerhead and green sea turtles. These living dinosaurs have been around for more than 100 million years, but now face a growing threat from humans. The Sea Turtle Preservation Society works to protect sea turtles and their habitats, and each one of us can also do our part to help sea turtles survive.
IRL Restoration Efforts
May 8, 2021
In this virtual field trip you’ll meet up with Nicole from the Marine Resources Council in Melbourne, Florida, for an overview of steps being taken to restore the Indian River Lagoon.
Nicole will first guide you through MRC’s mangrove nursery. You’ll see the three types of mangroves grown in the nursery and learn how to identify them. Nicole with also explain why it’s important to have mangroves on our shorelines. Later, Nicole will briefly discuss rain barrels and their importance in reducing stormwater runoff into the Lagoon. Finally, you’ll head down to the Lagoon shoreline and see more examples of mangroves, discuss the important of oyster prisms, and finally go over the importance of breakwaters for shoreline health.
An Explorer’s Guide to Stormwater
April 15, 2021
Do you ever wonder what happens to all the rainwater when it falls? Where does it all drain to when it hits our roofs and roads? How does so much trash end up in our Lagoon? Join MRC and the City of Melbourne’s ECO Division to find out the answers and learn how you can help prevent polluted water entering our Lagoon.
Viewers will discover the impacts human behavior and the best management practices for stormwater. Our special guest is Jennifer Thompson, Environmental Specialist with Brevard County Natural Resources Management Department. Jennifer reports from the field on stormwater drainage systems, and Nicole Broquet tours MRC’s rain garden and offers alternative techniques to help clean and conserve water.
Discover the Florida Scrub
March 11, 2021
Join Megan Selva with the City of Melbourne Environmental Community Outreach (ECO) Division as she hikes through our local scrub ecosystem and interviews special guest Dustin Angell, Director of Education at Archbold Biological Station. Dustin will be at Archbold, a 9,000-acre pristine scrub ecosystem located in Venus, FL.
They will be exploring two separate scrub habitats to compare and contrast our coastal scrub here on the Atlantic Ridge to the inland scrub located on the ancient dune islands that make up the Lake Wales Ridge.
Among the Mangroves
February 18, 2021
Get ready to escape the classroom or your home by joining us on a virtual field trip to learn about one of Florida’s most amazing ecosystems, MANGROVES! This program will introduce you to the mangroves of Florida, how to ID each species, and why these trees are terrific. We’ll showcase our mangrove nursery, discuss restoration, and then plant a mangrove on the MRCs shoreline.
MRC Facilitators Nicole Broquet, Director of Education, and Caity Savoia, Director of Science and Restoration, are your guides during this 45-minute tour.