Family Programs
Family Programs are open to the public and are suitable for elementary school-aged children accompanied by their adult(s), and each program will incorporate fun, hands-on activities for experiential learning. Participants must be at least 5 years old, and all attendees, whether youth or adult, must register ahead of time. The program fee for each class is $10.
All Family Programs will be held at the Coastal Studies Institute located at 850 NC 345, Wanchese, NC 27981. Questions about programs can be directed to Lauren Kerlin at kerlinl22@ecu.edu or 252-475-5451. For more information regarding the registration process and cancellation policy, please scroll toward the bottom of the page.
Fall Programs
Exploring Oyster Ecology
Thursday, October 22, 4- 5:30 PM
Exploring Oyster Ecology is an educational opportunity for families with children ages 5 and older. Instructors will lead the public in a fun, interactive lesson about oysters and their vital role in our estuaries. Participants will get an up–close look at live oysters, investigate the organisms they interact with, and play games, too!
Estuarine Adaptations
Thursday, November 12, 4- 5:30 PM
What does it take to survive in an ever-changing estuary? Families will discover the incredible adaptations that help estuarine animals find food, avoid predators, and thrive in changing conditions. Through hands-on activities and close-up investigations, participants will uncover the ways that local critters are built for life in the estuary.
Link to register coming soon.
Winter Programs
Salt Marsh Superpowers
Wednesday, December 9, 4- 5:30 PM
Discover the hidden superpowers of salt marshes! Participants will learn all about the benefits salt marshes provide before building marsh models and putting them to the test to explore how grasses, roots, and sediments work together to filter water and protect coastal ecosystems. Get ready to build, experiment, and uncover why these coastal habitats are so important!
Link to register coming soon.
Whale Wonders
Thursday, January 14, 4- 5:30 PM
Whales are on the move! During southern migration season, these ocean giants travel through the coastal waters of the Outer Banks on their journey south. Participants will dive into the world of whales through hands-on activities exploring migration, feeding habits, and adaptations that help these massive marine mammals survive life on the move.
Link to register coming soon.
Spring Programs
Dock Discovery
Check back soon for future offerings.
Have you ever wondered what’s swimming beneath the surface? You’re invited to come discover the exciting underwater world of the Croatan Sound right on CSI’s campus. Using a variety of sampling methods, participants will witness the numerous species that make our estuaries so diverse.
This program is suitable for ages 5 & up and costs $10 per person.
Shells & Invertebrates
Check back soon for future offerings.
Meet the fascinating marine creatures without backbones. This program offers hands-on experiences to explore invertebrates and their armor – shells! Participants will learn the vital role invertebrates play in marine and estuarine food webs and maybe even see some up close and personal.
This program is suitable for ages 5 & up and costs $10 per person. Registration forthcoming.
Summer Programs
Evening in the Estuary
Check back soon for future offerings.
Celebrate summer with an evening on the water! The Coastal Studies Institute will once again offer Evening in the Estuary, an on-the-water educational experience for families. Evening in the Estuary programs include a boat ride through the Croatan Sound to a marsh island to wade the shallow waters, survey the sandy shores, and explore the grassy uplands. Participants will learn about estuarine ecology, investigate plant and animal adaptations, seine for critters, and more.
Registration Information
ECU’s Continuing and Professional Education facilitates the registration process for Family Programs and other CSI offerings such as Summer Camps, Soundside Science Scouts, and Tours. Their online registration system requires users to create an account for easy checkout. To expedite the registration process, we recommend that users set up their account before registering for a program or camp. Use the buttons below to explore CPE’s webpage for CSI programs and view a user’s guide to create a new account.
For questions or concerns about the registration process, please contact Continuing and Professional Education at 252-328-9198 or cpe@ecu.edu.
Cancellation Policy
CSI Family Programs follow the policies and guidelines set by Continuing and Professional Education, including the information provided below. For a full explanation of policies, please visit cpe.ecu.edu/registration/policies-procedures/.
If CPE cancels a course, you will receive full reimbursement of the course fee or you may request a tuition transfer to another course within a 12-month period. When selecting a different course, participants will be responsible for any difference in tuition cost at the time of the request or in some cases a participant may receive a credit on file.
Course registration is complete once payment is received. Course fees are payable in advance. Registration is not complete and will not be confirmed until we receive full payment. All registration fees must be paid prior to attending the course. If payment has not been received by the deadline, registrations will be canceled.
To request a refund, participants must submit a course withdrawal request electronically to cpe@ecu.edu at least 10 business days prior to the program start date. Participants may choose to transfer into another course in lieu of a refund, provided space is available in the other course. If the request to transfer is received 2 weeks before the course begins, there will be no charge to complete the transfer. If the request is received less than 2 weeks before the start of a course, there will be a late transfer fee of $50.
If a participant is unable to attend a face-to-face or residential course, they may request a refund or transfer to another course. They may also request a substitution. Unless otherwise noted on the program registration page, the deadline for canceling a registration is 10 business days prior to the course start date. If the Office of Continuing and Professional Education receives notification by email at cpe@ecu.edu or by mail before the deadline, it will:
- Reschedule the student in a future course, or
- Refund the course fees (minus $25.00 administrative fee).
Requests received beyond the deadline will receive no refund.
Please include the participant’s full name and address, registration details for the course to be canceled (i.e., course code, title, and dates), whether the request is to reschedule or receive a refund, and a daytime phone number where the Office of Continuing and Professional Education can contact the participant or company contact for billing questions.
The ECU Outer Banks campus is home to the Coastal Studies Institute.
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.
