The ELC will offer free admission to military personnel and their families this summer.

Vero Beach, FL-May 6, 2024-The Environmental Learning Center will join museums nationwide in the Blue Star Museums initiative. This program provides free admission to currently serving U.S. military personnel and their families this summer. The 2024 program will begin on Armed Forces Day, Saturday, May 18, 2024, and end on Labor Day, Monday, September 2, 2024. Find the list of participating museums at arts.gov/bluestarmuseums. 

Blue Star Museums is a partnership between the National Endowment for the Arts and Blue Star Families, collaborating with the Department of Defense and participating museums across America.

“We thank the 2024 Blue Star Museums who invite military personnel and their families to experience the many wonders they have to offer, whether it’s a glimpse into the past, an encounter with awe-inspiring art, or a moment of discovery,” said Maria Rosario Jackson, PhD, chair of the National Endowment for the Arts. “The Environmental Learning Center is helping to enrich the lives of military families and build meaningful connections between our nation’s military and their local community.”

Blue Star Museums include children’s museums, art, science, and history museums, zoos, gardens, lighthouses, and more, and hail from all 50 states, the District of Columbia, and the U.S. Virgin Islands. The current list of participating museumswill continue to develop over the summer as organizations are welcome to register to be a Blue Star Museum throughout the summer.

The free admission program is available for those currently serving in the United States Military—Air Force, Army, Coast Guard, Marine Corps, Navy, and Space Force, members of the Reserves, National Guard, U.S. Public Health Commissioned Corps, NOAA Commissioned Corps, and up to five family members. Qualified members must show a Geneva Convention common access card (CAC), DD Form 1173 ID card (dependent ID), DD Form 1173-1 ID card or the Next Generation Uniformed Services (Real) ID card for entrance into a participating Blue Star Museum.

About the Environmental Learning Center 

  The Environmental Learning Center is a 64-acre island nature park surrounded by the Indian River Lagoon.  The ELC is located at the western foot of the Wabasso Bridge in Indian River County at 255 Live Oak Drive in Vero Beach, Florida. The nonprofit nature center is a destination for water activities, walking trails, and wellness programs. With a mission to educate, inspire and empower all people to be active stewards of the environment and their own well-being, the ELC is committed to sharing the importance of protecting and restoring our natural resources. For information on events and programs offered at the ELC, visit DiscoverELC.org or call Guest Services at (772) 589-5050.   Follow the Environmental Learning Center on Facebook and Instagram. Please note the ELC will be closed on Memorial Day, Fourth of July, and Labor Day. 

About the National Endowment for the Arts

Established by Congress in 1965, the National Endowment for the Arts is the independent federal agency whose funding and support give Americans the opportunity to participate in the arts, exercise their imaginations, and develop their creative capacities. Through partnerships with state arts agencies, local leaders, other federal agencies, and the philanthropic sector, the Arts Endowment supports arts learning, affirms and celebrates America’s rich and diverse cultural heritage, and extends its work to promote equal access to the arts in every community across America. To learn more, visit arts.gov or follow us on Twitter, Facebook, Instagram, and YouTube.

About Blue Star Families
BlueStar Families (BSF) is the nation’s largest chapter-based military and veteran family support organization. Its research-driven approach fosters strong communities with a focus on human-centered design and innovative solutions. Since its founding in 2009, BSF has delivered millions of dollars in benefits and impacted more than 1.5 million people each year. For more information, click here and follow along with Blue Star Families on Facebook, Instagram, andTwitter.

#BlueStarMuseums and @NEAarts, @BlueStarFamily @discoverELC