PONCE INLET -- The Volusia County Marine Science Center (MSC) offers a wide variety of programs for youths and adults throughout the year, and the opportunities continue this October. All programs are open to the public. MSC admission applies for all on-site events and reservations are required.
Students young and old can discover the many wonders of marine life in environmentally rich Volusia County through the following opportunities:
● 1 p.m. - 3:30 p.m. Saturday, Oct. 10: Plankton lab - Plankton means “wanderers” and often these minute creatures wander the ocean
currents. Join MSC staff as they collect plankton samples and then bring them back to our laboratory to use microscopes to investigate and
identify these ocean travelers. Participants may find larval forms of crabs, diatoms, radiolarians, copepods, and many more. Registration is
required. Please call (386) 304-5545.
● 10 a.m. Wednesday, Oct. 14: The magnificent journey - Mysteries of bird migration lecture field trip - Autumn winds bring great changes
in the skies. Billions of birds are on the move as seasons shift. This spectacle goes unnoticed by most people, but in this Oct. 14 field trip,
participants will have the opportunity to search for these travelers as they find their way across Volusia County. Come with us as we look for
falcons, sandpipers, warblers, thrushes, buntings and many more. Bring binoculars, water and a sense of adventure. Registration is required. Please call (386) 304-5545.
● 1 p.m. Saturday, Oct. 24: Lighthouse Point Park dune walk - Join MSC staff for a hike along the dune ecosystem and learn all about the
plants and animals that inhabit it. The Volusia County park is home to many unique species of plants and animals. Learn how to identify native plants and how to differentiate animal tracks. Come prepared to hike the beach and nature trails. Dress for the outdoors, wear sunscreen and comfortable walking shoes. Reservations are required. Please call (386) 304-5545. The program is free with park admission of $3.50 per vehicle.
● 1 p.m. Saturday, Oct. 31: Raptors - No group of birds captures our imagination like raptors. Join MSC staff for this rare opportunity
to meet the new collection of raptors. From the diminutive eastern screech owl to the power of the red-tailed hawk, this program will
introduce visitors to the wide range of raptors found in Volusia County. Learn about the extraordinary adaptations that have made them the rulers of the air. Registration is required. Please call (386) 304-5545. The program is free with admission to the MSC.
Mark your calendar for these upcoming educational programs at the Marine Science Center in November and December:
§ 10 a.m. Saturday, Nov. 7: Volunteer recruitment and orientation;
§ 1 p.m. Saturday, Nov. 7: All about gopher tortoises;
§ 10 a.m. Saturday, Nov. 14: Wings On the Wind Bird Festival;
§ 1 p.m. Saturday, Nov. 21: The Life of Owls;
§ 10 a.m. Saturday, Nov. 28: Life of a Horseshoe Crab;
§ 10 a.m. Saturday Dec. 5: Volunteer recruitment and orientation;
§ 1 p.m., Saturday, Dec. 5: Right Whale program;
§ 1 p.m., Saturday, Dec. 12: Squidy squids!;
§ 1 p.m. Saturday, Dec. 19: Raptors.
The Marine Science Center, 100 Lighthouse Drive, Ponce Inlet, is open from 10 a.m. - 4 p.m. Tuesday - Saturday and noon - 4 p.m. Sunday.
Admission is $4 for seniors, $5 for adults, $2 for children 3-12 and free for children under 3. Learn more about this exciting facility and its work by visiting www.marinesciencecenter.com.