The Smithsonian Marine Ecosystems Exhibit, in conjunction with the Smithsonian Marine Station at Fort Pierce and St. Lucie county, is dedicated to educating the general public and school children about the critical need to preserve Florida’s marine environments.

At the Marine Ecosystems Exhibit, visitors can explore six different Florida marine and estuarine habitats and learn about the complexity and importance of marine ecosystems. The largest display is a spectacular living model of a Caribbean coral reef ecosystem. Other displays include seagrass, mangrove, lagoon hardbottom and nearshore reef habitats, as well as a deepwater Oculina coral reef. There are several smaller aquarium displays and a touch tank where you can meet some of our local sea creatures. Please ask about marine science reference materials available for review.

School and Group Programs
We offer school and group programming during normal hours Tuesday through Friday, year around. Please register two weeks in advance for all school or group programming. Call 772-465-3271 to register.

Self-guided Visits
Any group can book a self-guided visit with two weeks notice. Staff will briefly review behavioral guidelines and then groups are free to tour at their own pace. High School Groups! Did you know you can also request a customized introductory talk by Smithsonian staff? Subjects can include Smithsonian Marine Station research, careers, Lagoon ecology or another topic of your choosing.
[All ages. Max 75 participants.]

Staff-assisted Tours
School groups may choose to participate in an on-site, student-driven activity. Grade-appropriate activities are available for K-2, 3-5 and 6-8. Staff will introduce and supervise activities and offer a review session with students, as time allows.
[Grades K-8. Max 45 students. 1 hour. Tues.—Fri.]

You can download a preview copy of the activity that matches your grade level below. Files are Adobe PDF format. You can download the free Adobe Reader from their web site. Click on the link and the file will open in a new browser window. Otherwise, right click on the link and select "Save Target As..." and save the file to your hard drive. There is no need to print enough copies for your students, your group will receive copies when they arrive for use on-site. If you have questions or trouble with the files, email us.

Grades K-2
Help Me Find My Home!
Grades 3-5
Marine Scavenger Hunt (this is a large file)
Grades 6-8
ESI: Eco-System Investigation

Ecosystem Explorers
Ecosystem Explorer programs are two-hour, staff-led explorations of our local marine and estuarine ecosystems featuring hands-on activities and Smithsonian staff expertise. Students will rotate through three interactive learning stations. Teachers will receive a curriculum packet with background materials and pre- and post-visit activities. All stations and materials are SSS-based. Programs are currently available for grades 3-5 and 6-8.
[Grades 3-8. Max 40 students. 2 hours. Available Wed.—Fri.]

Ecosystem Explorers: 3-5
Students focus on the habitats of the Indian River Lagoon and Florida coast. Stations include food webs, water chemistry and an exploration of the Exhibit’s living ecosystems.

Ecosystem Explorers: 6-8
Students look at how we study the Indian River Lagoon. Learning stations include scientific classification and dichotomous keys, research and sampling techniques and a more challenging investigation of the Exhibit’s living ecosystems.

To register for school or group programs, please call 772-465-3271.
If you have questions or special requests, please contact Cristin Ryan at 772-465-3271 or ryanc@si.edu.

Exhibit Tours
There is much more to the Smithsonian Marine Ecosystems Exhibit than what you see in the galleries. As complex and impressive as our ecosystem exhibits are, they are the proverbial tip of the iceberg.

Exhibit Gallery Tours
Join us every Tuesday at 2:00 PM for a tour of our six model ecosystem diplays lead by Exhibit staff. We'll share stories and provide insight on what makes our constantly changing ecosystems so unique. Be prepared to ask questions and share your observations during this informal presentation.
Admission to the Exhibit is free on Tuesdays and there is no cost for the tour.
[All ages. Max 10 people. 45 minutes. Tuesday, 2:00 pm]

Behind-the-scenes Tours
The Exhibit staff conducts a weekly behind-the-scenes tour of the facility every Saturday at 2:00 PM. This insightful tour gives visitors a look at the necessary systems essential to keeping the living ecosystems thriving. Biological, chemical and mechanical filtration systems, lighting systems and chillers and feeding regimes are all explained. Behind-the-scenes tours are free with the price of admission.
[Suggested ages 10 and up. Max 10 people. 45 minutes. Saturday, 2:00 pm]

Group Tours
Exhibit and behind-the-scenes tours may be available on a limited basis for school or community groups. Tours are always dependent on staff availability. Please contact Cristin Ryan for more information at 772-465-3271 or ryanc@si.edu.

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