FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE 

The Environmental Learning Center Launches New Advisory Council to Champion Next Generation of Environmental Stewardship 

VERO BEACH, FL – February 3, 2026 – The Environmental Learning Center (ELC) is proud to announce the formation of its new Advisory Council, a distinguished body of over twenty-five community leaders dedicated to advancing the mission of the beloved nonprofit nature center. For nearly 40 years, the ELC has been providing “hands-on, feet-wet," immersive environmental education opportunities in Indian River County, and this new Council is poised to ensure its dynamic future. 

The Advisory Council, chaired by IRC Business Leader and ELC volunteer Steve Schlitt, is designed to serve as a vital link between the ELC and the broader community. Council members will act as ambassadors for the organization, safeguarding the story of its roots while providing critical connections and advice to ensure the ELC remains a thriving nonprofit that serves our community for generations to come. 

The ELC's mission is to educate, inspire, and empower all people to be active stewards of the environment and their own well-being. The new Advisory Council brings a wealth of diverse experience and expertise to this endeavor.

Voices from the Council -   

The decision to join the Council was a personal and powerful one for many of the members. 

● Dr. Duane DeFreese, Indian River Lagoon Council Executive Director and noted expert in the marine science community, expressed his motivation, stating, "The ELC is an invaluable asset in the fight to protect the Indian River Lagoon. Joining the Advisory Council is a chance to ensure the science-based education the ELC provides continues to reach every corner of our community, inspiring real action and long-term stewardship of this nationally significant estuary."

● Kelly Baysura, Assistant Superintendent of Curriculum and Instruction for the School District of Indian River County, works closely with the ELC as a valued partner. “The ELC plays an essential role in strengthening educational opportunities for students in our community, providing inquiry-based learning that brings science, environmental stewardship, and real-world problem-solving to life. These experiences deepen classroom learning, spark curiosity, and help students build the critical thinking skills needed for future success.” 

● Donna Anderson is the niece of one of ELC’s founders, Maggy Bowman, and is passionate about the ELC's role in youth development. "I believe wholeheartedly in the power of experiential learning in nature," Anderson commented. "The ELC's ability to connect children with the natural world is unparalleled. As a Council member, I want to help secure the resources and partnerships needed for the ELC to continue offering these transformative experiences to every child in Indian River County." 

● Clemens Schaub, principal of a highly successful tropical architecture and design firm, shares: “The ELC is a part of me and represents the very best attributes of the place where we live and our children’s children will live. It teaches about this incredible ecosystem, not in a preachy way, but through experience by exposing and touching all who are drawn into its embrace. We all have to work at stretching the ELC’s arms even further to allow as many as possible to feel its love.” 

Securing the Legacy -   

The Advisory Council members include other distinguished individuals, such as former Board Members Cindy O’Dare (O'Dare Boga Dobson Group at One Sotheby's International Realty), Sandy Kahle (retired founder of Maitland Farm Preschool), Janice Broda (Indian River Mosquito Control District); ELC co-founder George Bunnell’s nephew David Carter (partner at the Gould Cooksey Fennell law firm), respected science educator Margaret Ingram (Executive Director of The Science Institute of Discovery), Matilda Sorensen (Co-Owner of Dale Sorensen Real Estate), Coastal Engineer and environmental advocate Michael Walther (Coastal Tech), who helped to design and build the ELC’s docks and boardwalks. Dr. David Cox, who has been involved with the ELC since its inception, has helped to restore the campus's native habitats and assisted with the Campus Master Plans.  

In addition to these significant leaders and philanthropists with historical wisdom to share, mid-career professionals also demonstrate their understanding of the profound responsibility of preserving the ELC’s legacy as evidenced by the commitment to the mission by wealth manager Jim Beindorf  (SpirePoint Private Client), Andrew Gonzalez (President Elect of Realtors Association of IRC), Tourism and Marketing executives Kirk Funnell (Capt Hiram's) and Anna Valencia-Tillery (White Glove Moving and Storage), attorney Jennifer Peshke (Law Offices of Jennifer D. Peshke), business owner Nick Bischoff (VB Roofing and Sailfish Brewery), Theo Perry (Cypress Capital Bank & Trust), and Chamber Board Member Nicki Maslin (VP at Marine Bank).  

Other valued council members include former ELC Board Members John Daniels (retired IBM Executive), Rob Tench (Orchid Island General Manager), and Georgie Hutton (Orchid Environmental Committee member). Additional community leaders include Wilfred Hart (Sunrise Rotary member and Community Liaison for School District of Indian River County), Dave Richter (Sea Oaks resident and ELC Boat Captain), Michael Ohler (principal and architect at The Associates Studio), and General Contractor George Ritacco (principal at R+C Architecture).  

 "The history of this organization, founded by a group of environmental pioneers, is a powerful story that needs to be told and re-told," said Executive Director Barbara Schlitt Ford. "Our new Advisory Council members are committed to carrying that torch. They will connect us to the deep well of community knowledge and passion, ensuring our programs and campus continue to evolve while staying true to our core value of immersive, environmental education." Steve Schlitt added, "This organization is an Indian River County treasure. Our collective goal as the Advisory Council is not just to offer support, but to actively champion the ELC's mission, ensuring that this unique center for environmental literacy and connection thrives. We are committed to connecting the ELC's rich past with a vibrant, sustainable future, guaranteeing that this vital resource is here for the next 40 years and beyond." The ELC Staff and Board Members look forward to collaborating with its new Advisory Council to embark on the next chapter of environmental education and stewardship in Indian River County. Individuals and businesses looking to get more involved with the ELC should reach out about the many opportunities to be a part of the work of this multifaceted organization.   

Please see the impressive bios of all ELC Advisory Council Members at https://www.discoverelc.org/staff-board-and-council/

 About the Environmental Learning Center (ELC): Founded in 1988, the Environmental Learning Center is a 64-acre nonprofit nature center located on a barrier island in the Indian River Lagoon in Vero Beach, Florida. The ELC is open seven days a week to provide engaging, hands-on experiences for all ages through educational programs, eco-adventures, camps, aquariums, trails, and exhibits, all designed to educate, inspire, and empower people to be active stewards of the environment and their own well-being. 

Contact: Barbara Schlitt Ford Executive Director   772-589-5050 Barb@DiscoverELC.org