Marine Center Programs
Links
Field Experiences · Summer Programs · Semester Courses · Marine Science Club · White Boot Explorers · Bayouside Classroom
About
For decades, LUMCON has offered unique and impactful programs that put learners directly on the coast. Our place-based and skill-based programs have a legacy of promoting learner development by providing access and connection to Louisiana’s coastal environments. Our programs offer a variety of day or residential education and outreach programs for all audiences from any academic, experience, and professional level. Programs at the DeFelice Marine Center are tailored so that every visit is as unique as each learner. Below are all the ways learners can engage with LUMCON programs at the DeFelice Marine Center.
Placed-Based Field Experiences
LUMCON strongly believes its role is to maintain an academic pipeline made up of accessible, low-cost, high-quality, and relevant opportunities that ensure the success of students becoming leaders in advancing our understanding of Louisiana’s coastal and marine environments. LUMCON helps to achieve student success through place-based, skill-based, hands-on education opportunities built on experiences that go beyond what they can learn in the classroom or on campus. The location of the Marine Center is ecologically unique. Our programs provide a chance to learn about Louisiana’s coast through a scientific lens. With access to LUMCON’s world-class facility, research fleet, and field access learners can understand our coast as an integrated system.
Field trip programs can be requested at the K12 and University level. The programs are fully customizable and tailored to fit the education needs of the participating students. Field trips can take place any day of the week from September to May with some limited availability in the summer. The program experiences can designed to cover a duration anywhere from a half day (4 hours) to several days depending on the educational goals set for the experience. You can learn more about our facilities, lodging, dining, and program activities using the links to our field trip handbooks below. To see our most current list of fees visit our Fees, Policies, and Forms page.
For more information or questions you can email our education program staff at [email protected]
Summer Programs
In the summer, the Marine Center becomes a robust community of people participating in various programs focused on research activities that help us better understand our changing landscape. You can learn more about our research programs by viewing our research program page.
Select an option from the menu below to see what programs are offered this summer.
Middle School or High School Students
Summer Camps
| Camp | Camp Information |
|---|---|
| LEAD Camp | LUMCON’s Estuarine Awareness and Discovery (LEAD) Camp is a week-long residential camp designed to give high school science-minded students a chance to explore Louisiana’s coastal environments as scientists. Possible activities include a research cruise, a barrier island trip, paddling, dissection, microscope work, beach and marsh surveys, and more. View the camp one-pager for more information about this opportunity. Download the 2026 LEAD Camp Application or use this online application. Cost/student: $400 (cost includes lodging, meals, and camp activities) 2026 Dates: June 7-13 |
| Field Marine Science | Field Marine Science (FMS) Camp is an opportunity for high school students to gain practical and real-world experience in conducting field research in the coastal marshes of south Louisiana. Students design, complete, and present the results from team research projects. View the camp one-pager. Download the 2026 FMS Camp Application or use this online application. Cost/student: $400 (cost includes lodging, meals, and camp activities) 2026 Dates: June 21-27 |
Undergraduate Students
REU Program & Internships
The Research Experiences for Undergraduates (REU) program has been sponsored by the National Science Foundation (NSF) and other grant-funding organizations. Students attending university in the fall semester are eligible to spend 10 weeks at LUMCON during the summer conducting research and learning about careers in the sciences. All experiences are customized based on the applicant and the mentor that they are paired with. For example, past REU students have had projects focusing on shrimp respiration, deep-sea community composition, and coastal nitrogen cycling. Visit our REU webpage or contact our REU Director for more information about our REU program.
Students are also welcome to pursue internships at LUMCON during the academic school year and outside of the REU program. Students should contact DeFelice Center Faculty or the LUMCON Librarian directly to inquire about research and information sciences opportunities.
Summer Courses
| Course Name | Course Information |
|---|---|
| STEM PREP | (Offered May through July: 4 CREDITS)- LUMCON’s STEM Prep program is a residential summer program to help freshmen or sophomore-level undergraduate students who are seeking an opportunity to gain work experience and learn skills to advance their academic and career goals in science, technology, engineering, and math (STEM) fields within marine and/or environmental science. Find more program information and application details on the STEM Prep program webpage. |
Graduate Students
Graduate Student Fellowships
This fellowship program is designed to support the research activities of graduate students in STEM fields. This fellowship provides an opportunity for graduate students to complete a summer in residence at LUMCON where they will take advantage of LUMCON’s unique location and facilities and opportunities to work with LUMCON scientists to complete research that will contribute to their thesis/dissertation. Go to the Graduate Fellowship program page to find more details and the application form.
Educators
LUMCON offers several programs for preK-12, non-formal, and university educators to improve their expand their knowledge and capacities to bring a gulf coastal flair to their classes. These programs help teachers understand the scientific process, learn marine and coastal science, and gain confidence in active learning methods. In addition, workshops (lasting 4 hours to 1 week) can be designed to meet school or district needs for professional development for teachers and other educators. Click this link to learn about some of the programs we offer. LUMCON also offers a variety of workshops and professional development opportunities throughout the school year. Monitor our socials or add your information to our email contact list to get updates and details.
Field Site to Lab Bench
A Free Teacher Professional Development Workshop
Workshop Description
This 4-day workshop provides fully hands-on, place-based experiences in both field and laboratory settings. Participants will explore marine science, biology, chemistry, and ecology by collecting and analyzing data to answer research questions they generate themselves.
The workshop emphasizes practical strategies for classroom implementation, showing how to scale scientific inquiry and integrate Louisiana-specific coastal and marine science into standards-based lessons. Teachers will gain new ideas for designing investigations that let students formulate questions, test hypotheses, and draw evidence-based conclusions.
Workshop Details
- The workshop will be held at the DeFelice Marine Center in Cocodrie, LA.
- Participants will be provided with meals and lodging (if required) during the workshop.
- Participants will work with LUMCON science staff to learn how they use lab and field techniques in their research programs.
- Teachers will learn fun and engaging ways connect research questions, science content, and data to help answer questions.
- Participant will receive a $450 stipend for attending and participating in workshop activities.
- Workshop will include discussions about coastal and marine science career pathways for students.
Contact us if you have questions, would like more details, or would like to register for the workshop.
Workshop Contact: [email protected] | (985) 851-2860
Contact our Director of Education and Outreach to request a workshop or apply for any of the following opportunities. Click here for information on LUMCON fees and policies.
Semester Courses
LUMCON offers synchronous online courses during the spring and fall academic semesters.
- Changing Coastal Oceans (spring 2025)
- The Ocean and Society (fall 2025)
Students must be enrolled at one of the following universities to participate in these courses. Interested students should ask their advisors about how to register.
- University of New Orleans
- Dillard University
- Northwestern State University
- Louisiana State University-Shreveport
- Louisiana State University-Eunice
- University of Louisiana-Lafayette
- University of Louisiana-Monroe
- Nicholls State University
- Tulane University