Events Calendar

World Oceans Day Celebration at the Smithsonian Marine Ecosystems Exhibit

On World Oceans Day, people around our blue planet celebrate and honor the ocean, which connects us all. Come celebrate World Oceans Day at the Smithsonian Marine Ecosystems Exhibit at the St Lucie County Aquarium on June 8th! This family-friendly event will feature concurrent activities such as crafts, exhibitors, seining programs, behind the scenes tours and more from 10:00 am to 3:00 pm. Regular admission rates apply  ($4.00 for adults and $3.00 for children (4-17 years old)).

Schedule of Events
8am-10am Beach Clean-up at Jetty Park, Ft Pierce
10am         Kayak tour to Wesley Island with Environmental Resources Department
10:30am    Feeding Frenzy Tour
11am         Behind-the-Scenes Tour
11:30am    Seining demonstration 
11:30am    Kayak tour to Wesley Island with Environmental Resources Department
12:30pm    Seining demonstration
1pm           Kayak tour to Wesley Island with Environmental Resources Department
1:30pm      Behind-the-Scenes Tour
2pm           Seining demonstration
2:30pm      Snack Time Feeding Tour 
3pm           Event Ends

In addition to the above scheduled events, these activities will be on-going throughout the event:

Make Your Own Reusable Straw! Plastic straws are some of the most common trash items found in the oceans. Americans use up to 300 million straws a day, and most of them are not recycled! Kids can make their own reusable straws out paper and beeswax for a long-lasting alternative to plastic straws.

Aquarium Mad Libs! Take our Aquarium Mad Libs Challenge!

Special Video: NOAA’s Trash Talk! Find this informative video playing on a loop in our Discovery Room. This short documentary outlines why trash in our oceans, and in particular plastic, is so hazardous to marine life and what we can do to help.

Sea Turtles Rock! Rock Painting Paint your own sea turtle on a rock and then hide it for others to find. Help raise awareness about sea turtle conservation!

Station Events and Tours

FREE | Behind-the-Scenes Tour of the Research Station

Third Thursday of each month at 2PM - Free. Registration is required.

Once a month we open our doors to the public to share current Smithsonian research on the plants and animals of the Indian River Lagoon and marine environments throughout the Caribbean. Tours are approximately one hour in length and begin at 2pm in the Conference Room. Suggested age: 14+

Please register online here. 

Questions? Please contact Scott Jones.

Aquarium Events and Tours

For more information or to register for any of these events, please call the Education Office at 772.465.3271 or send an email to SMSEducation@si.edu.

Marine Biology Summer Camps

Do you have any young and avid explorers of the marine world at home? Are you looking for summer experiences that will foster your little one's sense of curiosity and adventure? Then, swim no more! The Smithsonian Marine Ecosystems Exhibit will offer week-long summer camp sessions for age groups 6-8, 9-11, 12-13 and 14-16. 

Registrations are now open, so give us a call at 772-465-3271 or write us at SMSEducation@si.edu to inquire about any details.