This program concerns North Carolina ocean animal rescue efforts including the Sea Biscuit Wildlife Shelter and the Karen Beasley Sea Turtle Rescue and Rehabilitation Center. The program will also include a discussion of the largest marine mammal hospital in the world in California that has rescued over 25,000 sea lions and seals. All of these rescue efforts have a similar purpose: rescue, rehabilitation, and release. The program will detail why an animal needs to be rescued, how it is rescued, and what determines if and when the animal is released. The program will have a brief discussion of how the health of ocean animals is connected to the health of the ocean. The program will include an art activity for children.
Dinosaurs of Antarctica tells the story of a changing environment at the bottom of the world. In ancient times, dinosaurs and other prehistoric creatures roamed freely in a lush landscape. Over millions of years, geologic forces caused massive changes, completely altering the terrain. Today, the continent of Antarctica holds the evidence of that ancient world, frozen beneath its ice and snow. As the climate changes again, melting Antarctic ice is allowing scientists to discover the remains of the past—including the fossils of those distinctive dinosaurs like Cryolophosaurus and Glacialisaurus.
Sea turtles are frequent visitors to the North Carolina coast, with several individuals nesting on beaches from the Outer Banks to our own Ocean Isle Beach. Learn about the life cycle and different species of sea turtles, how volunteers track sea turtle nests, and what we can do to protect sea turtles in this fun, interactive program. The program will include a craft for kids to complete and the reading of a fun children’s story.
Jim McKee will talk about local Pirates and their expeditions along our coast — including the infamous Blackbeard and his ship, The Queen Anne’s Revenge, which ran aground off the Carolina coast and is now on the National Register of Historic Places.
Jim McKee is a life-long student of history and a graduate of Greensboro College. He is the site manager at Brunswick Town/Ft. Anderson State Historic Site. He serves on numerous historic/battlefield boards and participates in numerous living history programs throughout the SE & mid-Atlantic US. From childhood, his passion has been American History. He has worked for the National Park Service and the NC Maritime Museum at Southport.


