Upcoming Events
Visit the ECU Outer Banks Campus!The Coastal Studies Institute and ECU Outer Banks Campus host a variety of monthly, seasonal, and annual events and programs.
Please check back regularly for the most up-to-date list of upcoming events. Last updated May 1, 2025.
2025 Open House
The ECU Outer Banks Campus and Coastal Studies Institute’s annual Open House will be held on May 17, 2025, from 12:30- 4:00 PM.
During this yearly event, visitors have the opportunity to tour the campus, learn about current research and education programs, take part in family-friendly activities, and interact with faculty and staff from ECU, CSI, and partners such as NC Sea Grant, NOAA’s Monitor National Marine Sanctuary and the Outer Banks Center for Dolphin Research.
Monthly Events
GUIDED TOURS are offered on the second and fourth Wednesday of every month at 10 AM. Pre-registration is required.
- May 14 &28
- June 11 & 25
- July 9 & 23
- August 13 & 27
SCIENCE ON THE SOUND occurs at 6 PM every third Thursday of the month, August- May. Pre-registration is not required, unless specifically noted, and the program is free to attend. Upcoming dates and speakers include:
- May 8, 6 PM – Another special edition of Science on the Sound! The students of UNC School of the Arts (UNCSA) will present See/a/Change: Arts, Science, and the Watershed, a program which connects the arts, sciences, and North Carolina watersheds through a variety of media including music, drama, film, dance, design, and production. Please note, this event is on the second Thursday in May. Unlike most Science on the Sound events, this program will NOT be live-streamed. It is in-person only.
- June 19, 6 PM: Finding Balance: The Outer Banks Long-Range Tourism Management Plan presented by Lee Nettles and Jeff Schwartzenberg (Outer Banks Visitors Bureau).
FAMILY PROGRAMS are educational opportunities for elementary school-aged children and their accompanying adult(s). These events are offered 1-2 times per month, and the content changes seasonally. Each program incorporates fun, hands-on activities for experiential learning. These programs will take place from 3:30-5 PM on each occurrence. Pre-registration is required.
Summer Camps
Registration now open!
Our summer camps focus on STEAM (Science, Technology, Engineering, Art, and Math) concepts and utilize hands-on experiences and exploration of the great outdoor spaces of the Outer Banks. Each week of camp features a particular theme and runs Monday-Friday, 9 AM- 3:30 PM. We will accept up to 16 campers between the ages of 10-15 years old each week, June 9- August 8, excluding the week of July 4. New in 2025 we will also have one camp for teens ages 13-17 the week of August 11-15. The registration fee for all camps is $400 per individual.
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.
