Over the summer, the Coastal Studies Institute welcomed over one hundred school-aged children through its doors for summer camps. Each day of the nine weeks of programming brought both learning and laughter in a fun and engaging environment. During the 2025 season, CSI introduced two new camp themes, CSI All Stars and Coastal Explorers, as well as returning fan favorites such as Legends of the Atlantic and Shapes in Science. With enrolled students from ten states and Washington, D.C., the appeal of CSI camps continues to be far-reaching, proving there is truly a program for everyone at the ECU Outer Banks Campus.
CSI All Stars was the season opener, targeting new campers who wanted a little taste of everything and older campers longing for one last hurrah. Each day of the week featured a different focus, including marine biology, shipwrecks, renewable energy, art and science, and a boat trip. Giving campers a variety of topics to explore was an ideal way for CSI Education and Outreach staff to ease into the busy summer ahead.
In the weeks following, CSI offered programs that dove deeper into the topics covered during CSI All Stars.
Coastal Kingdoms campers enjoyed a fast-paced mix of classroom sessions and field trips around the Outer Banks. They visited a nearby marsh island by boat, Jennette’s Pier, the NC Coastal Federation, and Alligator River National Wildlife Refuge, as well as the Coastal North Carolina National Wildlife Refuges Gateway Visitor Center. Campers seined, kayaked, and explored the unique ecosystems of the Outer Banks.
In the lab and on the docks, the campers gained a better understanding of fish biology, used microscopes to view plankton, and examined oysters housed in floating cages in the Sound. By the end of each of the two weeks of Coastal Kingdoms camps, the students received a comprehensive overview of coastal environments and critters big and small.
Next came Blue Horizons, formerly known as Sustainable Seas, but reimagined with a new focus. During these weeks of camp, students focused on coastal community resilience, sustainability practices and mindsets, and forms of renewable energy including wind, ocean waves, and ocean currents. Faculty members Drs. Eric Wade and Reide Corbett shared about their research in these areas and their experiences working with local communities along the Outer Banks. In one activity, the campers pretended to be “County Commissioners” tasked with planning a future for the Outer Banks while considering development, recreation, and weather events, and more.
While the first half of the week was focused on community planning and human responses to coastal hazards, the latter half contained many hands-on renewable energy related activities. The students created model wind turbines, water current turbines, and wave energy converters, all of which produced small amounts of energy in the classroom! Through these lessons and others, they learned about the large impact that even small-scale renewable energy devices or seemingly small decisions can have when it comes to addressing community needs.
Legends of the Atlantic returned once again for two weeks as well. With as many shipwrecks as there are off the coast of North Carolina, this maritime heritage and archaeology themed camp is always a popular choice. Students attracted to these weeks are first introduced to NC maritime history, including boat building. With a field trip to Harrison Boatworks, the campers learned what it takes to build vessels by hand from start to finish. Many of the campers appreciated the fine details and hard work of the trade, realizing the craft was a science in and of itself! As a fun, complementary activity to the field trip, the students built their own model boats from blocks of foam insulation (hull), skewers (mast), and small vinyl pieces (sails) and then raced them in a 10-foot-long tabletop tank.
Throughout the rest of the week, the campers tried on dive gear, navigated themselves through a “low-visibility” obstacle course on land to simulate near-dark diving conditions, and practiced their archeology skills to determine the identities of mock shipwrecks. They also visited the Graveyard of the Atlantic Museum in Hatteras Village one day and received a special, behind-the-scenes collections tour. Legends of the Atlantic weeks are always filled with a lively mix of fun, analytical thinking, competitions, and expert insights.
Unsurprisingly, spring registration for the one week of Shapes in Science camp in July filled in the blink of an eye. This camp is a bit different from most programs offered at CSI and focuses on the artistic interpretation of the local environment and scientific concepts. The first four days each brought a new topic and a new project, while on Friday, the students tied up loose ends and hosted a Gallery to present all their creations from the week to their family and friends.
This year’s projects included shrimp origami after the students learned about the shrimp species in the Albemarle-Pamlico Estuarine System; carving and stamping bird-inspired prints after enjoying a bird walk at Pea Island National Wildlife Refuge; clay creations influenced by the shapes, patterns, and textures of plant species found around the Outer Banks and seen at the Dare County Arboretum; and nature photography that encouraged students to slow down and see the coastal environment from a new perspective. Creativity is always flowing during Shapes in Science week, and the outcomes are ever-changing.
Finally, last in the summer lineup, but certainly not least, came the inaugural Coastal Explorers– a pilot week of camp offered exclusively to teens and focused on marine science technology and remote sensing. The new program included lessons on the principles of flight, coding, drones, and robotics. The students made and tested model airplanes, flew drones through obstacle courses, and crafted their own remotely operated underwater vehicles outfitted with grabber arms and cameras to help them complete a mission in the CSI wave tank. One team of students even took their ROV for a test run in the Sound for fun on the last day of camp! These activities were coupled with seminars led by ECU faculty members Drs. David Lagomasino and Stu Hamilton who use remote sensing tools every day as a part of their ongoing research projects. Aside from being interesting and entertaining, the interactions with faculty proved helpful to the campers as they considered what remote sensing routes they might pursue in the future.
Though the 2025 camp season only recently ended, plans are already well underway for 2026. As CSI Education and Outreach staff reflect on the summer, they are building upon the successes and lessons learned to refine and expand opportunities for the year ahead.
Coming soon: the 2026 CSI Summer Camp lineup. Stay tuned for more details!
Based at the Coastal Studies Institute (CSI), the North Carolina Renewable Ocean Energy Program (NCROEP) advances inter-disciplinary marine energy solutions across UNC System partner colleges of engineering at NC State University, UNC Charlotte, and NC A&T University. Click on the links below for more information.
ECU's Integrated Coastal Programs (ECU ICP) is a leader in coastal and marine research, education, and engagement. ECU ICP includes the Coastal Studies Institute, ECU's Department of Coastal Studies, and ECU Diving and Water Safety.
The ECU Outer Banks campus is home to the Coastal Studies Institute.
