Barrier Island Center at Doc Ehrhart Sanctuary

Brevard County's barrier island is a unique place where the temperate climate of the north meets the sub-tropical climate of the south. This meeting of climates allows for a rich diversity of habitats, plants and animals. The Barrier Island Center is set in an ideal location among the dunes of Brevard’s barrier island, within the heart of the Archie Carr National Wildlife refuge – the nesting site of tens of thousands of sea turtles each year. 

Barrier Island Center:

The Barrier Island Center showcases the beauty and diversity of the barrier island, and serves as the primary visitor and education center for the Archie Carr National Wildlife Refuge. The Center is open to the public and features interactive exhibits, an auditorium, gift shop, classroom, and observation deck. It is an ideal location for educational adventures such as study trips, summer camps, turtle walks, and special events.

Barrier Island Center School Study Trips:

Looking for a fun, educational adventure that lets your group experience the wonders of Brevard’s barrier island ecosystem firsthand? With access to ocean, lagoon and everything in between, the Barrier Island Center is the place to be, and best of all it’s free! To schedule a trip your students will remember please complete our study trip request form .

Doc Ehrhart Sanctuary:

The 34-acre sanctuary was renamed to the Doc Ehrhart Sanctuary in April 2025. For over 50 years, Dr. LLewellyn "Doc" Ehrhart and his team collected sea turtle nesting data that was instrumental in the designation of the critical nesting beaches at the Archie Carr Refuge. This data also helped recover the green sea turtle populations. The sanctuary, which includes a 1-mile trail that stretches from dune to lagoon, offers several spectacular views of the ocean and Indian River Lagoon. The trail winds through multiple different habitats including maritime hammock, coastal strand and tidal swamps to name a few.

Join us on a Guided Sea Turtle Walk!

During June and July, the Brevard County Environmentally Endangered Lands (EEL) Program, through its partner the Sea Turtle Conservancy (STC), has a limited number of spaces for the public to join us on a guided sea turtle walk from the Barrier Island Center. Through this program, the EEL Program and STC hopes that the experience of a guided sea turtle walk will help inspire future naturalists and sea turtle advocates. Florida's beaches, especially along the east central coast in the Archie Carr National Wildlife Refuge, provide a nesting habitat for more nesting loggerhead turtles than any place in the Western Hemisphere, and more endangered green turtles than any place in North America. Endangered leatherback sea turtles also nest along the Archie Carr National Wildlife Refuge.

If you are interested in participating in a sea turtle walk, click on one of the following links to secure your spot.

Register through Sea Turtle Conservancy ;

Register through Friends of the Carr Refuge ;

Additional details will be provided once you have made a reservation.

Activities

Barrier Island Sanctuary Volunteer Opportunities

Volunteers are essential to the Barrier Island Sanctuary. Join in the fun while you help preserve the Sanctuary's natural beauty for the future.

Are you interested in helping educate our community and visitors? Here are just some of the ways you can become involved and share your talents...

• Gift Shop Assistants
• Education Programs
• Study Trip Leaders
• Tour Guide
• Docent
• Administrative Assistant/Data Entry
• Trail Guide
• Turtle Walk Scout
• Exotic Plant Control
• Gardening Helpers
• ...the possibilities are endless!

Requirements - Willingness to learn, love of nature, desire to give a little time each week to the community, commitment to helping sea turtles and their environment! If this sounds like you, please contact us to find out more about volunteering.

Contact Joy for more information! 

Click here for the EEL Program Volunteer Login Page: Volunteer Login 

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