Education and Outreach
LUMCON’s Marine Education Program invests in communities through enriching and relevant place- and skill-based experiences on the coast for all learners among Louisiana’s citizenry.
Connecting People with Marine and Coastal Science
About Us
The Program’s purpose is to support and empower current and future marine scientists and ocean-literate citizens by connecting people with Louisiana’s marine and coastal environments through science, research, and education. Our programs give learners opportunities to explore the coast, engage with marine science, and develop the skills used to investigate the environments around them.
Our programs serve a wide range of audiences, from K–12 students and university learners to educators, families, community members, and others interested in marine and coastal science. Opportunities range from field and laboratory experiences to camps, courses, professional development, community programs, and resources for learning beyond our facilities.
What Makes LUMCON Different?
LUMCON brings together something few learning experiences can: place, science, community, doing, and coastal Louisiana.
- Place – You’re actually in coastal Louisiana, in an ecosystem you’re studying and learning.
- Science – Experiences are grounded in the questions, methods, tools, and work of marine scientists.
- Community – Science and education happen side by side. You’re not visiting a place that talks about research; you’re learning and contributing to science where research is happening.
- Doing – Learners aren’t just observing science. They’re collecting, measuring, testing, investigating, designing, and solving.
- Louisiana – The coast isn’t a backdrop. It’s part of the science. Here, the questions are messy, the conditions are changing, and there’s plenty left to figure out together.
What We Offer
Explore the ways LUMCON Education & Outreach brings marine and coastal science to learners, educators, families, and communities.
Science Belongs Out Here. Explore field experiences, courses, camps, and other opportunities to investigate marine and coastal science at the DeFelice Marine Center.
Explore marine science closer to home. Blue Works brings marine science, technology, and engineering together in a space where anyone can explore, create, and discover.
Discover the science behind Louisiana’s coast. Come explore talks, programs, and opportunities to connect with LUMCON’s marine and coastal science. Whether you’re a lifelong learner, exploring as a family, just curious, or somewhere in between, come discover something new with us.
Looking for something to explore? We’ve got you. Find digital resources, activities, and tools that bring LUMCON’s marine and coastal science into classrooms, homes, and learning beyond the coast.
Looking for Something Specific?
Looking for a program, planning a visit, or wondering what LUMCON has to offer? Start here.
K-12 Student Opportunities
K–12 Learner Opportunities
Science belongs out here. At LUMCON, K–12 learners get beyond the textbook to experience marine and coastal science through field experiences, laboratory investigations, hands-on activities, and programs designed around Louisiana’s coast.
Learners collect observations, use scientific tools, ask questions, and build the skills to investigate the marine and coastal environments around them. Programs are available for school classes, homeschool groups, scouting organizations, and other K–12 learners.
At the DeFelice Marine Center, learners can take their science into the field and laboratory through coastal & marine science investigations and programs that make use of LUMCON’s coastal location, research facilities, and scientific expertise.
At Blue Works, learners explore marine science through hands-on activities that bridge science, technology, engineering, and problem-solving in a space designed for exploration and discovery.
Which experience is right for your group?
Still not sure which program would be the best fit? Start with what you want learners to do.
Investigate the ecosystem.
Explore Louisiana’s salt marsh and coastal environments through field research and investigation.
→ Marine Center
Create what helps us explore it.
Explore how science, technology, engineering, and design help us investigate the coast and Gulf.
→ Blue Works
Staying longer? Why not both?
Combine the two for a fuller experience—investigate the coastal ecosystem at the Marine Center, then explore the tools, technologies, and engineering that help us study it at Blue Works.
Higher Education Opportunities
Higher Education Opportunities
LUMCON gives university learners and instructors opportunities to get closer to marine science through courses, field experiences, research, and hands-on learning along Louisiana’s coast.
For university learners, opportunities include field-based learning, university courses, seminars, research experiences, and other ways to put marine science into practice. Depending on the program, learners can work alongside scientists, use research facilities and equipment, and experience the coastal environments they are studying.
For instructors, LUMCON provides a unique setting for field experiences that complement university courses and bring coastal and marine science into focus. Faculty can also work with LUMCON to explore courses, customized learning experiences, and other opportunities for their students.
Current Opportunities for University Learners
Looking for a way to gain hands-on experience, build skills, or spend time learning alongside marine scientists? Explore opportunities such as:
- University Courses
- STEM Prep
- Research Experiences for Undergraduates
Programs vary by year and availability. Visit each opportunity for current details, eligibility, and application information.
LUMCON also supports learning beyond our campuses through virtual programming, including courses, seminars, and lectures that can reach classrooms across Louisiana and beyond.
Digital Resources
Digital Content & Resources
Can’t make it to the coast? We got you.
Explore Louisiana’s marine and coastal science wherever you are. Our digital resources bring place-based science, activities, art, data, and LUMCON expertise beyond our campuses—giving learners, educators, families, and lifelong learners ways to explore, investigate, and engage with the coast from wherever they are.
Scheduling and Reservations
Scheduling & Reservations
Ready to plan a visit? We can help.
Whether you already know what you want your group to do or you’re starting with a general idea, our Education & Outreach team can help you plan an experience that fits your learners, your goals, and the time you have available.
To get started, contact the Associate Director of Education & Outreach at [email protected].
Not sure what you need?
That’s okay. You don’t have to have it all figured out.
Tell us what you want your learners to explore, what you’re teaching, or what you hope they take away from the experience. We can help you determine what would work best for your group—or develop an experience around your goals.
Ready to start planning?
To begin the reservation process, we’ll ask for:
- Preferred dates or timeframe
- Group leader and point-of-contact information
- Billing address
- Course number and title for university groups or grade level for K–12 groups
- Estimated number of participants, including adults and instructors
- Arrival and departure times
- Requested activities or educational goals
- Meal requests, if you are interested in meals during your visit
Once we have the information needed to get started, your request is forwarded to our reservations team. Your designated point of contact will receive a confirmation email with your reservation estimate and everything you need to prepare for your visit.
Your confirmation will include the appropriate LUMCON policies, forms, and other information for your group. We’ll let you know what needs to be completed before your visit.
Customized Program Requests
Guest Speakers
LUMCON educators and researchers are available to share their expertise with groups through guest talks and presentations on a variety of marine and coastal science topics.
Have a topic in mind? Contact our Education & Outreach team to learn more and explore options for bringing LUMCON science to your group.
Are you looking for a way to engage in LUMCON programs without the travel?
We support learners no matter where they are located.
Marine Science Clubs
LUMCON is here to support anyone interested in marine and coastal science. That includes offering suggestions and support for student organizations, faculty, or teachers who want to start a Marine Science Club in their communities, at school, or on campus. Visit the Marine Science Club page to find suggested activities for existing clubs, as well as, things to consider if you decide to start a club. These are only suggestions. It is important to make your club your own so that it reflects the talents, interests, and perspectives of your members. Just remember we are here to help!
Bayouside Classroom
Bayouside Classroom asks students to collect scientific data, either at LUMCON or from another location in the state, to learn about estuaries and watersheds. Students then enter their data into an online database accessible all year long so they can see how water quality changes with the seasons. Contact our Associate Director of Education and Outreach about participation in this program.
Digital Content & Resources
Are you looking for a way to engage in LUMCON programs without the travel? We support learners no matter where they are located.