A DAY IN THE LIFE
OF THE INDIAN RIVER LAGOON

A Day in the Life of the Indian River Lagoon (ADIL) is a community-based, experiential research program designed to have students, teachers, community volunteers and environmental experts collaborate in the collection of water quality data and biological inventories along the Indian River Lagoon.

This project is designed to help students (grades 4-12)  and community members develop an appreciation for, and knowledge of, the Lagoon and the current health issues and stressors facing this estuary.

Each year thousands of teachers, environmental experts, students and community volunteers collect scientific data at various sites along the 156-mile stretch of the Lagoon – all on the same day in October. Volunteer citizen scientists use hands-on field techniques to measure chemical, physical, and biological parameters to determine how their local piece of the estuary fits into the larger ecosystem. Data such as, temperature, salinity, dissolved oxygen, pH, and nitrate and phosphate concentrations from all sampling locations are posted on the ADIL website. These data are available to the general public, including Indian River Lagoon decision makers. Teachers are encouraged to integrate ADIL data into school curriculum, science fair projects, and research projects throughout the school year. The results will help students and community volunteers build a better understanding of their local ecosystem’s ecological health and the relationship their site has to the entire watershed; essentially creating an environmental report card of the lagoon.

All schools and scientific organizations along the IRL are encouraged to participate in this hands-on educational opportunity and community collaboration.

6th Annual A DAY IN THE LIFE OF THE INDIAN RIVER LAGOON will take place on October 5, 2023

If you have questions about this project or are interested in getting involved, please contact Missy Weiss at: mweiss@teamorca.org.

Watch this webinar to learn more! ADIL Webinar

2022 Partners

Atlantic High School

Brevard County Homeschoolers

Brevard County Rotary Park in Merritt Island

Barrier Island Sanctuary

BrainLab Tutoring

Brevard County

Brevard County Stormwater

Brevard County Natural Resources

Brevard County Parks & Recreation: Riverwalk Nature Center

Brevard Zoo

Bridges Montessori

Central Middle School

City of Cocoa Beach

Cocoa Beach High School

Ecological Associates Inc.

Edgewood Junior-Senior High School

Environmental Learning Center

Florida Institute of Technology

Florida Department of Environmental Protection

Florida Fish & Wildlife Conservation US Fish & Wildlife Service

FWC & Martin County’s Ecosystem Restoration & Management Section

Gifford Middle School

Heritage High School

Hobe Sound Nature Center

Indian River County Stormwater Division

Jensen Beach High School Earth Savers

Innovation Montessori High School

John Carroll High School

Manatee Observation and Education Center

Marine Science Center Volusia County

Martin County High School

Marine Discovery Center

Marine Oceanographic Academy at Forest Grove Middle School

Modern Minds

Marine Resources Council

Ocean Breeze Elementary

The Pine School

Martin County Public Works Department

Redeemer of Stuart

River Center, Loxahatchee River District

Rockledge High School

Sebastian Charter Junior High

Sebastian River High School

Smithsonian Marine Station Southern

St. Lucie West Centennial HS

St. Marks Academy

St. Andrew’s Episcopal Academy

St. John’s River Water Management District

Stella Maris Environmental Research

Storm Grove Middle School

Sun Grove Montessori School

Sunlight Christian Academy

The Nature Conservancy at Blowing Rocks Preserve

UF/IFAS Extension St. Lucie County 4-H Program

Vero Beach Elementary

Vero Beach High School

Palm Beach Homeschoolers

PROJECT FUNDERS:
The 5th Annual A Day in the Life of the Indian River Lagoon is funded by: Quail Valley Charities, Inc., ScottsMiracle-Gro Foundation and the W.A.I.T.T. (We Are In This Together) Fund at The Community Foundation Martin – St Lucie.