An estimated 1,000 visitors made their way to the Environmental Learning Center to enjoy the return of EcoFest which, by all accounts, was an absolute and heartwarming success. The exceptionally well-organized, free event featured fun and educational activities for all ages.

All throughout the 64-acre island campus along the Indian River Lagoon – home to Florida palm, pine and mangrove forests – exhibits and activities had been set up by ELC volunteers and other eco-centric organizations and agencies, all focused on this year’s theme, “Our Planet, Our Health.”

Wielding fat chunks of colored chalk, schoolchildren knelt on the “sidewalk,” creating drawings of some of the area’s wildlife. Lydia and William Lacivita and their parents, Joe and Serena, traveled from Port St. Lucie to enjoy their second EcoFest, and both little ones agreed that holding a “real, live starfish” at the Discovery Station Touch Tank was their most favorite thing.

A 14-foot-tall Smokey the Bear and his huge firefighting bulldozer were extremely popular with the elementary school crowd, according to Forest Rangers Dakota Voltolina and Raymond Kirkland.

Visitor Constance Daly called the numerous ELC volunteers “very knowledgeable and amiable,” and longtime ELC board member Bill Stewart said he was “impressed with the number of people here.”

The Pond Watch was another favorite, where children sloshed about in a shallow pond, nets in hand, scooping up whatever wiggled or swam by (mostly tadpoles). Assisted by Junior Interpreters (middle school volunteers), critters were placed into water-filled jars so they could be observed through magnifiers, before being gently poured back into the pond. Watching son Liam, 6, peering intently at the little creatures, Mara Hall, a first-time visitor from Boynton Beach, said they would absolutely be back.

And what child could resist a game entitled “Race for the Poo”? Created by Ann Ricciardi to remind folks to clean up after their pets, because “all canals lead to the lagoon,” youngsters donned gloves and at “GO!” ran down the course, poo bag in hand, grabbed a bit of faux poo and raced back to the finish line. In the race between siblings Joseph Coles, 13, and Larkyn Coles, 10, Joseph edged Larkyn out, probably, he figured, because “I play soccer.”

Popular with all ages was the Drum Circle, led by Brandon Putzke, who brought drums, bells, and sticks for an ever-changing circle of enthusiastic participants to try out.

The five-hour event also included an exhibition of “The Living Waters,” the stunning black-and-white photographs by Clyde Butcher, eco-talks and workshops by local experts, canoe mini trips, an osprey watch, citizen science walks, scavenger hunts and live music.

Barbara Schlitt Ford, ELC executive director, praised first-time EcoFest chairman Nicole Lemmo Saini, calling her “a rock star” for the terrific job she had done.

Saini said this year’s goal in bringing back EcoFest was to open the event up to the community and show in clear terms the connection between the lagoon and global science.