Marine Center Programs
Links
Field Experiences · Summer Programs · Semester Courses · Marine Science Club · White Boot Explorers · Bayouside Classroom
SCIENCE BELONGS OUT HERE.
See it. Measure it. Investigate it.
The education & outreach programs at the DeFelice Marine Center put learners in the middle of Louisiana’s coastal environment, where they can investigate coastal ecosystems through place-based field research and laboratory work. They collect samples, use scientific tools, make measurements, work with data, and investigate questions about the coastal ecosystems around them.
We know what we’re doing, and we’ll make sure you know how to do it, too!
Explore the ways your students can experience coastal & marine science with LUMCON.
Placed-Based Field Experiences
Louisiana’s coast is the setting, the subject, and the reason we’re here. Our programs use the salt marsh and surrounding coastal environments as places to ask questions, gather evidence, and make sense of what we find.
Experiences are shaped around the learners, the time available, and the questions being investigated. Some are built around a single field investigation; others unfold over a day, several days, or an entire course.
What the experiences are
From the big picture to the details that make the coastal ecosystem work.
Students typically move between field and laboratory investigations, using observations, data, scientific tools, and techniques similar to those used by researchers. They might begin by looking at the coastal ecosystem as a whole, then zoom in to investigate the details within a sample, measurement, or observation.
By collecting their own information and then analyzing and interpreting it, students begin to see how those details connect to the larger coastal system. What may have started as a broad picture of the coast becomes a much more detailed understanding of the places, processes, and patterns they are investigating.
The specific investigations vary by program, age group, and goals. Explore the program handbooks to see the experiences available for your students.
Planning an Experience
Flexible formats
LUMCON offers experiences for learners from PreK through adult level, with options ranging from half-day and full-day visits to overnight residential programs. The length and structure of a visit depend on the time available and the activities selected.
Group size & cost
Groups are typically 10–55 participants. Larger groups may be accommodated on a case-by-case basis. Cost varies based on group size, duration, and the experience selected.
Planning with LUMCON
Group leaders, teachers, and instructors don’t need to have everything figured out before reaching out. Once a reservation is requested, LUMCON educators work with group leaders to design an experience that aligns with their educational goals and the interests of their students. Earlier planning gives groups the best chance of getting their preferred dates, although last-minute requests can sometimes be accommodated.
For University & College Instructors
University and college instructors can work with LUMCON to design a visit around the specific needs of their course. Instructors may choose from available activities or develop an experience around their own course objectives, field investigations, or laboratory needs. LUMCON educators can work with instructors to determine how our coastal environment, facilities, and expertise can support their students’ learning.
Before You Come
A successful field experience starts with being prepared for the coastal environment. Please make sure your group is ready for both outdoor fieldwork and laboratory activities.
Every participant must have:
☐ Closed-toe, closed-heel shoes — required for participation at the Marine Center
☐ Water bottle
☐ Extra shoes or rubber boots
☐ Sunscreen
☐ Bug spray
☐ Hat
☐ Clothing/layers appropriate for outdoor fieldwork and laboratory activities
Before your visit, teachers should:
☐ Confirm or update the expected number of students, teachers, and chaperones with the
☐ LUMCON reservations team
☐ Review the weather and expected field conditions and make sure students are prepared
☐ Return any required forms to the reservations team
☐ Review the appropriate program handbook for additional information
Ready to get started?
Explore the program handbooks for more information about planning your Marine Center experience or contact us at [email protected].
Summer at the Marine Center
In the summer, the Marine Center becomes a vibrant community of students, educators, researchers, and others engaged in programs that connect people with coastal research and help us better understand our changing landscape.
Select an option below to explore the programs offered this summer.
Middle School or High School Students
Summer Camps
Spend a week living and breathing coastal science. Get outside, get into the lab, work alongside scientists, and investigate Louisiana’s coast from a whole new perspective.
LUMCON’s Estuarine Awareness and Discovery (LEAD) Camp
LEAD is a week-long residential camp for high school students interested in science and the coastal environment. Students spend the week investigating Louisiana’s coastal ecosystems through field experiences, laboratory work, research-based activities, and exploration with LUMCON educators and scientists.
Activities may include research cruises, barrier island trips, paddling, beach and marsh surveys, dissections, microscopy, and more.
Cost: TBD, including lodging, meals, and camp activities
2027 Dates: TBD
[Learn more about LEAD] [Apply]
Field Marine Science (FMS) Camp
Choose a question. Design an investigation. Follow the evidence. FMS Camp puts students in the role of marine science investigators. Students choose their own research projects and work through the scientific process—from developing a question and designing an investigation to collecting and analyzing data and drawing conclusions about Louisiana’s coastal environment.
Cost: TBD, including lodging, meals, and camp activities
2027 Dates: TBD
[Learn more about LEAD] [Apply]
Undergraduate Students
STEM PREP
Build the skills to work in science.
STEM Prep gives undergraduate students an immersive experience in the day-to-day world of marine science research. Working alongside LUMCON faculty and staff, students build technical, research, communication, teamwork, and professional skills while contributing to active coastal research. The program is designed to give students the tools, experience, and confidence to thrive in the scientific workforce.
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