Free Outdoor Adventures Showcase Volusia’s Natural Treasures

Posted On: May 14, 2026

From paddles to snorkeling adventures and an estuary exploration, Volusia County's Explore Volusia programs offer residents a front-row seat to the county's most stunning natural landscapes. Environmental specialists will guide participants through unique outdoor adventures across conservation lands - all at no cost.

Spruce Creek Paddle: 9 to 11:30 a.m. Tuesday, June 2, at Doris Leeper Spruce Creek Preserve, 2317 Creek Shore Trail, New Smyrna Beach.

Join Volusia County environmental specialists for a two-hour paddle through the wetland marshes of Spruce Creek. Participants will launch from Doris Leeper Spruce Creek Preserve and paddle up Spruce Creek. Along the way, the group will identify the plants and animals that make the salt marsh habitat unique. Paddlers may bring their own watercraft or use one of the county's sit-on-top kayaks free of charge. They must wear a personal flotation device and whistle. Ages 10 and up are welcome, and children must be accompanied by an adult. Wear closed-toe shoes that can get wet.

Snorkeling Adventures: 11 a.m. to 1 p.m. Wednesday, June 3, and 11 a.m. to 1 p.m. Wednesday, June 17, at Lighthouse Point Park, 5000 S. Atlantic Ave., Ponce Inlet. Learn about marine life as you snorkel in this beautiful underwater ecosystem. Participants must have their own snorkeling gear and know how to swim. Ages eight and up are welcome, and children must be accompanied by an adult. Wear closed-toe shoes that can get wet.

Estuary Exploration: 10:30 a.m. to noon Thursday, June 11, at Doris Leeper Spruce Creek Preserve, 3283 Sleepy Hollow Road, New Smyrna Beach. Participants will use dip nets and seine nets to study the aquatic life living among the mangrove islands and oyster reefs in these salt marsh areas. All ages are welcome, and children must be accompanied by an adult. Wear closed-toe shoes that can get wet.

Birding While Boating Paddle: 9 to 11:30 a.m. Tuesday, June 16, at Spruce Creek Park, 6250 S. Ridgewood Ave., Port Orange. Join environmental specialists on a paddle among the mangrove islands near Strickland Bay and discover native wading birds, raptors, and shorebirds. Participants will discover these birds' adaptations to survive in an aquatic ecosystem. Paddlers may bring their own watercraft or use one of the county's sit-on-top kayaks free of charge. Paddlers must wear a personal flotation device and whistle. Ages 10 and up are welcome, and children must be accompanied by an adult. Wear closed-toe shoes that can get wet.

Bioluminescence Paddle: 8:30 to 10:30 p.m. Tuesday, June 30, at River Breeze Park, 274 H.H. Burch Road, Oak Hill. Explore the beauty of bioluminescence during this night-time paddle through Mosquito Lagoon. An environmental specialist will explain what these tiny organisms are and what makes them glow. Paddlers may bring their own watercraft or use one of the county's sit-on-top kayaks free of charge. Paddlers must wear a personal flotation device and whistle and have an electric white light (flashlight, lantern, or headlamp). Ages 10 and up are welcome, and children must be accompanied by an adult.

Reservations are required for all programs. To register, search for Explore Volusia on Eventbrite or contact Tommy Nordmann at [email protected] or 386-943-7081, ext. 21266.