Mississippi Science Teachers Association Annual Conference 2025
2025-10-21 08:00 - 2025-10-22 11:00 UTC | MSU Riley Center, 2200 5th Street, Meridian, MS, 39301, United States
Grand Bay NERR will be at the MSTA Fall Conference! Come find us at our booth in the exhibits area to learn more about our education programs.

Open to MSTA attendees only.

Nature Drawing for Teens and their Grownups Series: Value and Shading
2025-11-15 09:00 - 14:00 UTC | Grand Bay National Estuarine Research Reserve Coastal Resources Center, 6005 Bayou Heron Road, Moss Point, MS 39562, MS, 39562, United States
The Grand Bay NERR is excited to launch a new art workshop series focused on teenagers learning to draw nature. This 4-part series will give teens and their grownup a chance to learn different skills within the drawing art form. With guest teacher, experienced artist and educator, Carrie-Ann Pierson, students will learn techniques of basic drawing with nature as the subject. The third workshop hosted on November 15th will be value and shading. These classes are limited to 12 total participants; you must reserve your spot by emailing Jen Cumbest at jennifer.cumbest@dmr.ms.gov. It is highly encouraged for participants to commit to and attend all 4 sessions.

Fall Paddle 2025
2025-11-22 10:00 - 12:30 UTC | Grand Bay National Estuarine Research Reserve Coastal Resources Center, 6005 Bayou Heron Road, Moss Point, MS 39562, MS, 39562, United States
Estuaries are where the rivers meet the sea, creating a unique and important ecosystem. Learning and understanding this valuable environment can only increase your connection to nature in your community. Join us as we kayak along our bayou here at Grand Bay NERR! Space is limited to 16 participants! We provide tandem kayaks. Email Jennifer Cumbest at jenniger.cumbest@dmr.ms.gov to register!

Wildlife Roadshow Show 2025
2025-11-24 10:00 - 11:30 UTC | Grand Bay National Estuarine Research Reserve Coastal Resources Center, 6005 Bayou Heron Road, Moss Point, MS 39562, MS, 39562, United States
The Environmental Studies Center is bringing the Wildlife Road Show to the Grand Bay NERR! Learn about all the wonders of our native wildlife. This show features rehabilitated live animals, which may include opossum, gator, snake, owl, hawk, and pelican. Space is limited to 40 people! You must reserve your seats to the show. Join the NERR staff for a soup lunch afterwards! Soup will be Newk’s Tomato Basil and Chicken Tortilla. Registration will open Nov 7th. Once all seats are filled you can email Jennifer Cumbest (jennifer.cumbest@dmr.ms.gov) to be added to the waitlist.

Nature Drawing for Teens and their Grownups Series: Charcoal
2025-12-06 09:00 - 14:00 UTC | Grand Bay National Estuarine Research Reserve Coastal Resources Center, 6005 Bayou Heron Road, Moss Point, MS 39562, MS, 39562, United States
The Grand Bay NERR is excited to launch a new art workshop series focused on teenagers learning to draw nature. This 4-part series will give teens and their grownup a chance to learn different skills within the drawing art form. With guest teacher, experienced artist and educator, Carrie-Ann Pierson, students will learn techniques of basic drawing with nature as the subject. The third workshop hosted on December 6th will be charcoal. These classes are limited to 12 total participants; you must reserve your spot by emailing Jen Cumbest at jennifer.cumbest@dmr.ms.gov. It is highly encouraged for participants to commit to and attend all 4 sessions.

Star Party 2025
2025-12-13 17:00 - 21:00 UTC | Grand Bay National Estuarine Research Reserve Coastal Resources Center, 6005 Bayou Heron Road, Moss Point, MS 39562, MS, 39562, United States
Witness one of the largest meteor showers of the year the Geminids Meteor Shower! We will also have an amazing night of free family fun planned with a variety of soups and hot chocolate to enjoy. Some of the activities include: hayride from the Coastal Resources Center to boat launch, viewing the Geminids Meteor Shower, screech owl walk on our Savanna Trail boardwalk, cookie decorating (and eating!), pictures with Santa Claus, reindeer games, and creative crafts.

Track and Sign Certification Training
2026-02-07 08:00 - 2026-02-08 17:00 (America/Chicago) | Grand Bay National Estuarine Research Reserve Coastal Resources Center, 6005 Bayou Heron Road, Moss Point, MS 39562, MS, 39562, United States
Come join this rigorous and fun field training and certification in learning to read the tracks and signs of wildlife that call the upland forests, pine savannas, and salt pannes home at Grand Bay National Wildlife Refuge. Space is limited! This course will run from February 7th-February 8th with lunch included. Dorm accommodations are available on a first come first serve basis at $15/ night. Course fee is $350 with discounts for local residents (MS and AL coastal counties only- Hancock, Harrison, Jackson; Baldwin, Mobile). More information can be found in the Coastal Training section under “Trainings & Workshops”.
Any questions can be directed to the Training and Engagement Coordinator, Margo Posten at margo.posten@dmr.ms.gov or 228-697-0205. Register *HERE*

Batik Art Workshop: Birds
2026-02-07 08:00 - 2026-02-08 17:00 UTC | Grand Bay National Estuarine Research Reserve Coastal Resources Center, 6005 Bayou Heron Road, Moss Point, MS 39562, MS, 39562, United States
At the Grand Bay NERR, we explore science and art as linked discovery endeavors with a series of workshops that connect our community to the reserve. Dr. Ayesha Gray, ecologist/artist, is the director of the reserve and she has worked in the art form of batik, using hot wax to draw on fabric, for decades and taught art workshops at the NERR since 2015. We invite those who have or have never batiked at all art skill levels to attend this course and create reserve-inspired batik art. This class’s theme is birds, and we will begin by participation in our Sparrow Sweep event. This event includes searching for, trapping, and banding sparrows with Dr. Mark Woodrey. We will use this experience to explore our pine savanna for close nature observations where we’ll look for art inspiration to create our pieces.

Sparrow Sweep 2025
2026-02-07 09:00 - 12:00 UTC | Grand Bay National Estuarine Research Reserve Coastal Resources Center, 6005 Bayou Heron Road, Moss Point, MS 39562, MS, 39562, United States
Join Dr. Mark Woodrey and his students for a morning of sparrow searching, trapping, and banding. Learn about the different species of sparrows that winter in south Mississippi. Activities include field observation, pine savanna hiking, and mist netting observations. Participation is limited to the first 40 registrants. To register contact Jennifer Cumbest (info below).

Biloxi Boat Show
2026-02-07 13:00 - 2026-02-08 14:00 UTC | MS
Grand Bay NERR will have an activity booth during the Kids Event at the Biloxi Boat Show. The Kids Event begins at 1pm – 2pm on Saturday and Sunday.

Batik Art Workshop: Digging into the Science of Art
2026-02-09 08:00 - 2026-02-10 17:00 UTC | Grand Bay National Estuarine Research Reserve Coastal Resources Center, 6005 Bayou Heron Road, Moss Point, MS 39562, MS, 39562, United States
At the Grand Bay NERR, we explore science and art as linked discovery endeavors with a series of workshops that connect our community to the reserve. Dr. Ayesha Gray, ecologist/artist, is the director of the reserve and she has worked in the art form of batik, using hot wax to draw on fabric, for decades and taught art workshops at the NERR since 2015. We are celebrating our 17th batik workshop with a look at the science of batik art. We invite those who have or have never batiked at all art skill levels to attend this course and create reserve-inspired batik art. This workshop will include exploring various reserve habitats for close nature observations where we’ll look for art inspiration to create our pieces.

Mobile Boat Show
2026-02-28 13:00 - 2026-03-01 14:00 UTC | MS
Grand Bay NERR will be at the Mobile Boat Show on February 28th and March 1st, 2026, from 1:00 pm – 2:00 pm for the Kids 101 event

Spring Paddle 2026
2026-03-21 10:00 - 12:30 UTC | Grand Bay National Estuarine Research Reserve Coastal Resources Center, 6005 Bayou Heron Road, Moss Point, MS 39562, MS, 39562, United States
Estuaries are where the rivers meet the sea, creating a unique and important ecosystem. Learning and understanding this valuable environment can only increase your connection to nature in your community. Join us as we kayak along our bayou here at Grand Bay NERR! Space is limited to 16 participants! We provide tandem kayaks. Email Jennifer Cumbest at jennifer.cumbest@dmr.ms.gov to register!

Celebrate the Gulf Marine Education Festival 2026
2026-04-11 10:00 - 15:00 UTC | Memorial Park, Pass Christian, MS, 101 Fleitas Ave, Pass Christian, Mississippi, 39571, United States
Celebrate the Gulf Marine Education Festival was first established in 1991 to teach residents and visitors about the importance of the Gulf of America. The festival is held the first Saturday in April (except for 2026, due to Easter) under the beautiful canopy of the live oak trees in Memorial Park in Pass Christian, Mississippi in conjunction with our sister festival, Art in the Pass. Join us and our 35+ exhibitors to learn about everything from our upland habitats and wildlife to the recreational and commercial services that the Gulf of America provides! Come get a festival poster signed by our winning artist, and talk to our Student Science Showcase winners to learn about the science local students are doing in our community. We will have live animal shows, free family caricatures and photo booths, and tons of activities for kids of all ages. Come join us in celebrating our Gulf on the second Saturday in April!
