Volusia County Environmental Management

10/29/2025

We're looking forward to this weekend's Wildlife Festival at the Marine Science Center!

The Marine Science Center is excited to announce our upcoming event.
“WILDLIFE FESTIVAL 2025”

The festival will celebrate the natural beauty of Volusia County from the ground to the sky. Come learn how the Gopher Tortoises and their neighbors depend on native plants and smart backyards to provide healthy habitats and protect our waterways.

Marine Science Center Wildlife Festival
Saturday, November 1st, 2025
10 am to 3 pm
100 Lighthouse Drive Ponce Inlet, Fl 32127
Free admission

This year’s spotlight is on gopher tortoises and how native plants form the foundation of life in Florida. From deep burrows to tiny flowers to soaring treetops, discover how all life is connected and depend on each other for food, shelter, and survival; including humans!

• Explore interactive booths from environmental and wildlife organizations as well as local vendors, food and music.
• Meet live raptor and reptile animal ambassadors and learn about their habitats.
Step inside the fascinating world of the gopher tortoise and the many creatures that share its burrow.
• Discover how planting native plants can help birds and tortoises thrive.
• Experience the renovations and new exhibits.

With presentations, activities, and conservation education for all ages, it’s a day to celebrate the beauty, balance, and biodiversity of Florida.

Please note: No animal releases are scheduled.

Parking Info: Free parking is available behind the Ponce Inlet 7/11. A free shuttle bus will transport guests to and from the MSC. Shuttles will run between the hours of the event. Also limited parking is available at Lighthouse Point Park.
Disability accessible parking is available on Lighthouse Dr. at the Marine Science Center.

10/03/2025

🌊 Thank You for Making the 40th International Coastal Cleanup a Huge Success! 🌎

With the incredible support over 1,600 dedicated volunteers covering over 116 miles of coastline, we removed an astounding 7,378+ pounds of trash from our shores! 💪🌿 Your hard work made a real difference for our oceans and marine life.

We also captured some amazing moments from the day—head over to our story to see highlights from each cleanup site starting today and ending this Sunday. 📸 You might even spot yourself in action!

09/30/2025

🌎 Ready to make a difference right from your own home? Don’t miss out—register now for an upcoming Climate Smart Floridian Webinar! These lively, info-packed sessions dive into all kinds of eco-friendly topics like renewable energy, water-saving hacks, native landscaping tips, and a whole lot more. 🌿💧

Our very first session on Sustainable Transportation kicks off this Thursday from 11:00 AM to 12:00 PM!

👉 Click the link below to save your spot and start your journey toward a smarter, more sustainable Florida!

Climate Smart Floridians is a fun, hands-on program that empowers residents to take simple actions for a more sustainable future. Learn how everyday choices impact the climate—and how you can make a real difference at home and in your community.

09/30/2025

We had an awesome time celebrating the Challenge at the Lyonia Environmental Center 🎉! Adventurers who took on this year's challenge swung by to snag their well-earned swag—and let’s just say, they left smiling. As a bonus surprise, attendees also got their hands on the very first copies of Volusia County’s brand-new Snake ID Guide!🐍.

Stay tuned for the next challenge!

09/24/2025

Are you looking to learn more about native landscaping? Join us at the DeLand Regional Library for our Be Floridian Now presentation on October 8th, from 1:00 PM to 2:00 PM. Here, you'll learn more about the benefits of planting native plants.

The workshop will include a live demonstration of various arrangements of native, non-native, and invasive plant species. Our team will also show you how to make an effective bug repellent with native Beautyberry.

To register for this event, click the link below!
https://www.eventbrite.com/e/plant-like-a-floridian-workshop-tickets-1283972740029?aff=ebdsshcopyurl&utm-campaign=social&utm-content=attendeeshare&utm-medium=discovery&utm-term=organizer-profile&utm-share-source=organizer-profile

09/18/2025

Earn your Climate Smart Floridian certificate through UF IFAS Volusia County Extension Urban Horticulture Program! You'll hear from a variety of subject matter experts on sustainability topics, including renewable energy, green buildings, and water conservation! The series will close with a behind-the-scenes tour of the Tomoka Landfill. This is a great start for anyone interested in learning more about what you can do at home to help keep our planet healthy.

To check out this year's sessions and register, click the link below!

https://www.eventbrite.com/cc/climate-smart-floridians-4634793?utm-campaign=social&utm-content=creatorshare&utm-medium=discovery&utm-term=odclsxcollection&utm-source=cp&aff=escb

09/09/2025

We know you're smart, but are you climate smart? Come on out to the Sandra Stetson Aquatic Center for our Climate Smart Floridians Kick-off! This event will be held on September 26, 2025, from 6:00 PM -7:00 PM. Enjoy lite bites while learning how to help protect and preserve our environment by making small changes at home.

This program is offered by UF IFAS Volusia County Extension Urban Horticulture Program in collaboration with our Green Volusia Program. This event is sponsored in part by Stetson University's Institute for Water and Environmental Resilience.

To register for this event, click the link below.
https://www.eventbrite.com/e/climate-smart-floridians-kick-off-tickets-1665447200409?utm-campaign=social&utm-content=attendeeshare&utm-medium=discovery&utm-term=listing&utm-source=cp&aff=ebdsshcopyurl

08/15/2025

Join the Green Volusia Business Recognition Program (GVBRP) and learn how to make your business more sustainable while cutting operational costs!

✅ Eco-friendly tips
✅ Cost-saving strategies
✅ Community recognition

To sign up for our next cohort starting September 16th, visit www.volusia.info/gvbr.

Interested in learning more about the program? Join us for our GVBRP Deep Dive webinar on September 4th by clicking the link below.

https://www.eventbrite.com/e/1581809718449?aff=oddtdtcreator

08/04/2025

Registration Now Open for the 40th International Coastal Cleanup! 🌊💙
The International Coastal Cleanup is coming to Volusia County on Saturday, Sept. 20, from 8 to 11 a.m., and we need YOU to join the crew. We’ll be cleaning up at more than 20 sites along the beach, Halifax River and Indian River. Last year, 1,562 volunteers collected 8,500 pounds of trash — let’s beat that record!

Registration is now open at www.volusia.org/cleanup! Bring garden gloves, a refillable water bottle, and trash grabbers — we’ll provide the rest.
The first 1,200 preregistered volunteers get a limited-edition 40th anniversary ICC giveaway AND a native tree (while supplies last). Tree pickup spots include Michael Crotty Bicentennial Park in Ormond-by-the-Sea, City Island Park in Daytona Beach, and the Marine Discovery Center in New Smyrna Beach.

Let’s keep our coast clean, protect our wildlife, and have fun doing it! 🐢