Sams House Fossils - Saturday, October 12, at 1:00 PM - 3:00 PM-To celebrate National Fossil Day in October, stop by Saturday, October 12th anytime between 1:00 PM - 3:00 PM. Come chat with our naturalists and take a look at some of our fascinating fossils.

Bring Your Own Kayak  - Thursday, October 17, 9:30 AM - 12:00 PM-Meet up at the Thousand Islands Conservation Area for our monthly water tour. Registration is required.  Please call 321-449-4720 to sign up.  Meet at 599 Ramp Road, Cocoa Beach, FL 32931

Frontier School: Tracks and Scat - Friday, October 18, 10:30 AM - 12:00 PM-We all leave footprints. Learn how and who's been prancing and dancing around us and what they might leave behind. Registration opens on October 1st. SPACE LIMITED. Please call 321-449-4720 to sign up.  

New Ice Age Exhibit- Ribbon Cutting - Sunday, October 20, at 1:00 PM - 3:00 PM-We have added a new surprise to our education loop at Sams House. Join us as we highlight Fossil Month with Speakers David Celli, Central Florida Fossils, and Elaine Williams, Archaeologist, beginning at 1:30 PM, followed by an unveiling of the new life-size Glyptodont sculpture. Refreshments will follow. Please call 321-449-4720

Guided Hike at Sams House - Sunday, October 27, at 10:00 AM - 11:00 AM-Stop by the Sams House for an hour-long guided hike through the Sams House trails. Please bring a hat, water, and walking shoes.

Saturday Bird Walks at Sams House - Saturdays, 9:00 AM - 10:00 AM-Join the Naturalist Staff (weather permitting) as we look and listen for birds around the park.  From beginner to expert, all levels of birders are welcome. We encourage you to bring your binoculars, if possible.  We have a limited supply to borrow if necessary.  Please meet out front between the cabin and the white house prior to the 9 AM walk.

Scavenger Hunt - Every Sunday 10:00 AM – 4:00 PM-Stop by the 1888 house to pick up your nature hunt. Enjoy the afternoon exploring the grounds.

House and Cabin Tour - Every Thursday and Saturday at 3:00 PM-Tour the inside of Brevard County’s oldest standing home (1875) and the adjacent 1888. Florida Vernacular-style home to learn about the Sams Family. The Sams House at Pine Island Conservation Area was created and is managed under Brevard County’s Environmentally Endangered Lands Program referenda. The Program was established by voters in 1990 and reaffirmed in 2004 and 2022 to protect and preserve the rich biological diversity and native species of Brevard County for future generations.

6195 N Tropical Trail,
Merritt Island, FL 32953
Phone: 321-449-4720 

Creatures Fest October 12th, don’t miss the free family critteriffic fun! Check out all of our upcoming fall happenings below…

Touch Tank - Drop in and interact with our interesting sea creatures. Horseshoe crabs, sea cucumber, sea stars & more!

• Sundays in October, 12 p.m. - 2 p.m. (no touch tank October 13th)
• Tuesdays in October, 10:30 a.m. - 12:30 p.m. 
• Saturday, October 12, 11 a.m. - 3 p.m. @ Creatures Fest
  
  

What You Plant Matters! - Sunday, October 6, 2 p.m.-Cofounders of Native Butterfly Flowers Nursery, Anna and Tim Harrison, will share the many reasons why planting native is important. Learn how to make your backyard a welcome habitat. Please enroll.

Sanctuary Trail Workday - Tuesday, October 8, 9 a.m. - 11 a.m.-(reoccurring monthly on second Tuesdays) Maintain trails and remove invasive plants. Learn which plants to remove from your own yard and which to plant to create habitat for wildlife. Seasoned volunteers and new recruits/short term volunteers are all welcome. Please email Nichole if interested. Meet at the BIC and be sure to prepare for the elements.

Creatures Fest! - Saturday, October 12, 11 a.m. - 3 p.m.-Join us for a free, fun, family event to celebrate animal diversity, ecology and conservation with a Halloween theme. Enjoy critteriffic games, touch tank, live animal encounters, conservation booths, scavenger hunt, eco-art crafts, black light not-so-scary experience, food trucks and more!This year features Frank “Alligator” Robb and his rescued reptiles. Costumes encouraged and appreciated. 

Glass Turtle Workshop - Sunday, October 13, 11 a.m.-Join Melbourne Beach-glass artist, Delynn Ellis, for a Make-Your-Own-Turtle class. Students pick their own colors and design a fused glass turtle. Learn the fundamentals of cutting and designing with colorful art glass. No experience is necessary. Materials fee $25. Space limited, please enroll. 

Sea Turtle 101 & Beach Cleanup - Saturday, October 19, 10:30 a.m.-Come learn about our local sea turtles and how you can aid in their conservation. Then take action and help rid our important sea turtle nesting habitat of marine debris. Participation prizes for kids while they last. Please enroll. 

Fall Festive Eco-Art - Saturday, October 26, 11 a.m. - 2 p.m.-Repurpose household items to make festive luminaries for your favorite holiday or season. Please enroll.

Conservation at the Crossroads: Over 20 Years of HSWRI's Marine Conservation Efforts in the IRL and the Path Forward-Saturday, November 2, 11 a.m.-Join Dr. Jeff Eble, Florida Program Director at Hubbs-SeaWorld Research Institute (HSWRI), to learn about their work in the Indian River Lagoon where they've made important strides in protecting dolphins and other vulnerable species. Please enroll.

Save-The-Date For Ocean Treasures Festival - Saturday, February 15th from 10 a.m. - 4 p.m.-Join us for a day at the beach celebrating its many treasures! Speak to experts on marine life and conservation, have your cabinet curiosities identified and entered into a beachcombing competition, participate in crafting demos, shop from ocean-inspired artists, support the art raffle to benefit Sea Turtle Conservancy, try the scavenger hunt, enjoy take-in-make eco-arts, food trucks & more!

The Barrier Island Center was created and is managed under Brevard County’s Environmentally Endangered Lands Program referendum.
The referendum was established by voters in 1990, and reaffirmed in 2004 & 2022, to protect and preserve the rich biological diversity of Brevard County for future generations. The Barrier Island Center is centrally located in heart of the Archie Carr Refuge in southern Melbourne Beach at
8385 South Highway A1A. The Barrier Island Center operates in collaboration with the Sea Turtle Conservancy to provide hands-on educational experiences for visitors to the Refuge through interactive exhibits, special programs and a 1-mile long “dune-to-lagoon” nature trail. Admission is free to the education center which is open to the public Tuesday through Sunday from 9 a.m. - 5 p.m. For more information please call, (321) 723-3556.