Do Not Miss the South Carolina Fossil Fair on October 25, 2008!

A one of a kind facility in this area, the Ocean Lakes Nature Center focuses on marine life.  Leonard Raker, Curator, travels extensively during our off-season gathering items for exhibit.  The Nature Center offers exhibits and information on shells, fossils, sea life, wildlife and ecology of coastal South Carolina. Our knowledgeable staff is on hand to identify items discovered on our nearly one mile of the Atlantic Ocean beach and answer any questions you may have.    They also know where all the good "shell" spots are located along the Grand Strand.  Join them on a beach walk or for an educational program.  It will be enjoyed by the entire family! 

For our younger guests with upcoming science projects the Ocean Lakes Nature Center is a great place to gather information and get a head start.  Leonard and Billie are thrilled to assist you on ideas and marine life info.  Make sure to follow up with them next summer and let them know how your project turned out!

If you are at Ocean Lakes in the months of September - May, you may want to attend our special nature programs in the Recreation Building at 7 p.m. the first Tuesday of every month.

Hours of Operation:
April-May:  Mon, Tues, Weds, Sat. 10 am - 3 pm
Open March 1st - October -   Hours change in September and October.

Video Presentations -

The Nature Center will offer a series of video presentations  including a variety of topics dealing with ocean life. All ages are welcome.

Beach Interpretation -

An informative presentation describing shells, fossils, and animal life that can be found on our beaches. Meet at the Nature Center.

Ocean Life Demonstrations -

Stop by the Nature Center for a fun and educational demonstration by our experts at the Nature Center.  All ages are welcome.

Annual Fossil Fair

Ocean Lakes Family Campground is proud to host the South Carolina Fossil and Shell Fair presented by the South Carolina Fossil Association.   This is a great opportunity to speak with collectors and learn more about this educational hobby.  Last year we had a great response and are thrilled to host the collectors again at Ocean Lakes Recreation Center on Saturday, October 25, 2008, 9 AM- 3 PM. Regional fossil collections will be on display.  The Nature Center will be featured in guided tours.   Museum Specialists from the Smithsonian Institute's National Museum of Natural History's Department of Paleobiology will be on hand to identify fossil specimens. We look forward to seeing you there!