MARINE CENTER PROGRAMS

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Field Experiences · Summer Programs · Semester Courses · Marine Science Club · White Boot Explorers · Bayouside Classroom

LUMCON offers a wide variety of education and outreach programs for all audiences from any academic, experience, and professional level.  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.

For more information or questions you can email our education program staff at education@lumcon.edu


SUMMER PROGRAMS

In the summer, the Marine Center becomes a robust and diverse 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 going to our research program page.

Select an option from the menu below to see what programs are offered this summer.

SUMMER CAMPS

LUMCON offers two on-site residential summer camps for grade 8-12 students each year. The information for these two camps is below.
We are also offering non-residential summer camps at our Blue Works facility.  Use this link to visit our Bluw Works summer camp page.

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 2025 LEAD Camp Application or use this online application. Cost/student: $400 (cost includes lodging, meals, and camp activities)
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 2025 FMS Camp Application or use this online application. Cost/student: $400 (cost includes lodging, meals, and camp activities)
REU PROGRAM AND 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.
CARIBBEAN MARINE ECOLOGY May 20-31, 2025: 3 CREDITS- This is an intensive 10‐day long, field‐oriented course focused on understanding the ecosystem services provided by terrestrial and aquatic environments endemic to the Caribbean region. Specifically, students will explore the cultural, health, economic, and ecological importance of Bahamian ecosystems, and learn about the role that humans play in influencing these environments. Students will explore course content through daily field activities, lab analyses, guest lectures, tours, and self‐reflection.  Find more course information and details on the course one-pager and the course syllabus.   Click the link to download the course application.  The deadline to apply is January 31, 2025.

GRADUATE STUDENT FELLOWSHIPS

This fellowship program is designed to support the research of a graduate student from an underrepresented group in STEM. 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.

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 through out the school year. Monitor our socials or add you information to our email contact list to get updates and details.

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

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. By clicking this link to our Marine Science Club page you will be redirected to our page that has 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 diversity of your members. Just remember we are here to help!

WHITE BOOT EXPLORERS CLUB

Want to become an official LUMCON White Boot Explorer? Go to our White Boot Explorer’s Club website to complete 4 training levels.  Once you have completed all 4 levels you become an official member of the Society of White Boot Explorers.  Members get access to bonus content, invitations to member-only events and opportunities, and are eligible for in-person program activities and workshops.

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. Access the Bayouside Classroom website. or contact our Associate Director of Education and Outreach about participation in this program.