GUIDED TOURS are offered on the second and fourth Wednesdays of every month at 10 AM. Pre-registration is required.

• November 12 & 26
• December 10
• January 14 & 28

SCIENCE ON THE SOUND typically occurs every third Thursday of the month, August- May. Pre-registration is not required, unless specifically noted, and the program is free to attend. Check back soon for upcoming dates and speakers.

• November 20, 6 PM – Dr. David Lagomasino, Watching the Tides Roll: How Satellites Inform the Future of Coastal Communities
• December 11, Time TBD– Outer Banks Field Site Capstone Research Presentation
• January 15, 6 PM– Dr. Jim Morley, Topic TBD

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. Pre-registration is required. 

• October 29, 3:30 PM- Exploring Oyster Ecosystems

Take a glimpse into the magical ecosystem that is the estuary! In this day-long mini-camp experience based at the Coastal Studies Institute, students ages 7-9 will discover what makes an estuary special and what critters call it home. Campers will travel by boat to a nearby marsh island in the Croatan Sound and learn about certain animal traits that make them well-suited to their environment. Along the way, participants will play games, make crafts, and create lasting memories with old and new friends alike.

Pre-registration is required, and the cost to attend is $80 per student.

With funding from the North Carolina Renewable Ocean Energy Program and in partnership with KidWind and Jennette’s Pier, the Coastal Studies Institute (CSI) hosts the day-long North Carolina Renewable Energy Challenge annually on the ECU Outer Banks Campus in Wanchese. Competing students must engineer an alternative energy device and compete against each other to create the most efficient design. The challenge strives to increase student interest in green technology and promote innovation, and it fosters 21st-century skills that better prepare students for the growing renewable energy industry.

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. The registration fee for all camps is $425 per individual.

• COASTAL KINGDOMS: June 8-12, June 15-19
• SHAPES IN SCIENCE: June 22-26, July 6-10
• BLUE HORIZONS: July 13-17, July 20-24
• LEGENDS OF THE ATLANTIC: July 27-31, August 3-7
• COASTAL EXPLORERS: August 10-14
• TO BE DETERMINED: August 17-21