From K to Gray

One need not be enrolled at East Carolina University to take advantage of programs on the ECU Outer Banks Campus. While there are undergraduate and graduate students taking classes and conducting research onsite, the Coastal Studies Institute provides both free and fee-based opportunities for learners of all ages.

Especially for young children, Family Programs provide a great way to first introduce science and the environment to youth. Topics for Family Programs have included birds, shipwrecks, oysters, native plants, estuaries, and more! These 1-to-2-hour programs are typically offered one to two times each month at CSI, always including a short lesson and hands-on activity for parents and kids to do together.

Reflecting on the Maritime Mysteries family program (pictured) held in February 2026, one parent recently wrote, “The program was exceptionally well organized and thoughtfully designed… The combination of hands-on investigation, storytelling, and educational depth made for a truly memorable experience.”

As children age and gain more independence, they will likely enjoy the variety of day camps offered at CSI. Soundside Science Scouts are single day “mini camps” offered during the school year for students ages 7-9. A typical day as a “scout” includes short science lessons and an on or near-campus field trip, as well as games and activities. Soundside Science Scouts programs are built around the ecosystems of coastal North Carolina, and to date, have focused on pocosins and estuaries.

“Mini camps have been a great addition to the suite of programs hosted at CSI in the last couple years. It’s been lots of fun to plan programs for a new audience and engage some of our youngest future leaders and innovators. Inspiring a love for nature and the environment through inquiry-based learning and laughter is at the heart of our Soundside Science Scouts programming,” says camps director Parker Murphy.

Consequently, Soundside Science Scouts has become a sort of feeder program for the annual CSI Summer Camps, now entering its fourteenth season! The wide-ranging summer camps lineup has expanded over the years, and it now includes five different themes and serves students from ages 10-17. These week-long, day camps contain a fun mix of science and environmental education, guest lectures, hands-on activities and field trips. Topics for 2026 include marine and coastal biology and ecology, maritime archaeology and shipwrecks, the intersection of art and science, oceanography and ocean exploration, and remote sensing and marine technology.

When older people learn of CSI Summer Camps, it’s not uncommon to hear them ask if there is also a camp for adults. And while CSI has not ventured into that just yet, there are plenty of ways for folks to stay engaged!

ECU Outer Banks Campus Tours and the Science on the Sound lecture series are two offerings that people can attend almost every month, and both are also family-friendly. Tours are currently held on the mornings of the second and fourth Wednesdays of each month. They highlight ongoing research and education initiatives at CSI and are a great way to learn about the ECU Outer Banks Campus and all that happens there. For those looking for an evening outing, Science on the Sound typically takes place every third Thursday evening from September to May and is always free to the public. To increase access even further, recordings of each lecture can be found on the CSI YouTube Channel.

In addition to on-campus programs, the CSI Education and Outreach team began leading field-based excursions in late 2025, some in partnership with the ECU Lifelong Learners Program and other local organizations. To date, programs such as these have included kayaking at Alligator River National Wildlife Refuge (pictured) and birding at River Park North in Greenville and Lake Mattamuskeet National Wildlife Refuge. Plans for future programs at Pea Island National Wildlife Refuge and Pocosin Arts are currently in the works!

As if all the above were not enough, CSI also provides a range of opportunities for K-12 students visiting with their school, homeschooling cohort, scout group, or club. Visiting groups have come from as close as Manteo to as far away as California, and each group leader pre-selects the program that best fits their curriculum needs and group size. Some groups only stay for one class, while others participate in programs over the course of two or three days.  During the past year, over 2700 students from schools all over North Carolina and beyond visited the Coastal Studies Institute and took part in hands-on, standards-based programs.

“One of the things that makes the ECU Outer Banks Campus so special is that learning happens here at every stage of life. Whether someone is exploring a marsh for the first time as a child, attending a public lecture or lifelong learning program as an adult, or pursuing a university degree, we want everyone who visits campus to feel inspired, welcomed, and connected to the coast.”, states John McCord, Associate Director for Education and Outreach.

Students on the ECU Outer Banks Campus are as varied as the programs CSI offers. Sure, there is some shared level of interest in coastal science, but past that, folks of all ages, abilities, and backgrounds come together to create a blended learning environment. When so much of the world seems to be at odds, it is certainly nice to take a breath of fresh, salty air together and appreciate the local coastal environments for all they offer.

The preceding story first appeared in the Spring 2026 edition of CoastLines, published in June.