Gulf Coast Center for Ecotourism & Sustainability
On Alabama's Beaches
A Base for Sustainable Education
Developed in partnership with Jean-Michel Cousteau's Ambassadors of the Environment, the Gulf Coast Center for Ecotourism & Sustainability is a hub for sustainable education and environmental activities for all ages. The Eco Center opened in 2025 and aims to build a more aware and environmentally conscious community through programs, camps, and outdoor adventures.
All About the Eco Center
Sustainability
Sustainability
The Eco Center was developed with sustainability and the local environment in mind. The buildings are water and energy-efficient, strategically using rainwater and natural ventilation throughout. The campus boasts a plethora of native plant life, and precautions were taken to build around the property's original landscape and incorporate natural elements into its design.
The Campus
The Campus
Surrounded by Gulf State Park, the Eco Center offers a vibrant and lush escape into the natural ecosystems of the Gulf Coast. The trailhead entrance has a camp office, lobby area, and camp store. Behind the offices is a bike station with bike stands, pumps, and repair tools for visitors. Participants in the center's programs can utilize the campus' free bikes. Programs are held at the Swift's Nest (Art Hub), where guests can enjoy hands-on classes, and the Potting Shed (Garden Hub), which boasts a vegetable garden, compost station, and native plants. If you look up in the trees, you'll find the challenge course, offering visitors a chance to test their skills and take in the views from above from this multi-level ropes course. Additionally, the center has multiple meeting spaces, including The Palmetto Room and The Lookout.
Experience
Experience
The Eco Center is a hub for nature, education, and adventure, allowing visitors to learn and experience the native environment of Alabama's Beaches. The campus acts as a launching-off point for Gulf State Park, and it's an ideal spot to stop by while walking or biking along the Hugh S. Branyon Backcountry Trail. Guests can visit on Saturdays and sign up for workshops like candle-making, organic gardening, farm-to-table cooking, and microscopic labs. The center has minimal parking. If you plan to visit, we suggest biking or walking from Woodside or The Learning Campus.
Camps
Camps
During the summer, the Eco Center hosts Gulf Camp, an outdoor day camp for students aged 7-13 that focuses on sustainability, nature, and art. Starting in the fall of 2025, Jean-Michel Cousteau is launching the Ambassadors of the Environment Program, where kids can participate in premier multi-day programs all about environmental education.
History of the Eco Center
Jean-Michel Cousteau created Ambassadors of the Environment over 15 years ago on Catalina Island in California and has since branched the program out across the globe. After learning about the program, Gulf Shores Mayor Robert Craft contacted Travis Langen and his Ambassadors of Environment team to craft a community-led facility on Alabama's Beaches. After the Deepwater Horizon oil spill, the state was granted funds through the RESTORE Act, enacted by Congress and the Obama administration, to help with direct recovery and infrastructure. In 2018, the City of Gulf Shores was awarded grants from RESTORE to build the center. The Gulf Coast Center for Ecotourism and Sustainability was created as a nonprofit by Langen and the City of Gulf Shores, and after years of planning and development, the Eco Center opened in April 2025.
Getting to the Eco Center
The center is accessible through the Gulf Shores school campus and is located behind the high school. While parking is available, it is extremely limited, so we encourage you to access the center from Gulf State Park. Guests can park at the public lot at State Park Road 2 near Woodside Restaurant and take the Coyote Crossing Trail to the Eco Trail. If you're already along the trails, you can easily bike or walk to the center using the Coyote Crossing Trail. Bikes can be stored at the Bike Hub while you explore the campus.
