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trap on a virtual reality (VR) headset and watch hundreds of sea turtles emerge from sand, heading toward the beach in our newest VR program, Sea Turtle Quest. This exciting program explores the life cycle of sea turtle including digging a nest, laying eggs, and returning to the sea. Through VR technology, explore a virtual science laboratory that brings the real world into the lab and teaches the process of science. Examine eggshells with a microscope, scale, and other common lab tools. Match the sea turtle tracks to the sea turtle who laid them by examining photos of turtle tracks. Learn why not all baby sea turtles survive and what you can do to protect hatchlings.
The Science in 3D program will feature Sea Turtle Quest on Tuesdays and Thursday at 1:00 pm through Labor Day. The Science in 3D program is hosted by Education Managerr Jamie Justice, who will help launch each VR adventure and answer questions about the experience. This program is not recommended for children under 8 or people who experience motion sickness.
Discover the treasures of the tides while learning about shells, shark teeth, and more. This engaging program covers beach friendly shell practices, finding tidal treasures, and how to keep the beach safe for local wildlife, including human visitors. Dig through real sand to see what you can find and review best beach practices. Sand Scavengers includes a fun craft along with ID resources for shells and shark teeth to help with your beach treasure hunts.
Our Education Manager, Jamie Justice will present this fun, interactive program. Jamie received her Bachelor of Science in Marine Biology from Bowling Green State University and her Master of Science in Environmental Science with concentrations in Marine and Coastal Education and Coastal Management from the University of North Carolina, Wilmington.
Enjoy an entertaining and educational presentation at the Museum of Coastal Carolina. The Sandbar Lecture Series brings local experts to speak about topics ranging from our coastal environment to Outer Banks history. Sandbar lectures are free with Museum admission. Join Georgia Busch for an in-depth look at her recent microplastics sampling citizen science program. Due to findings from the Hurricane Florence marine debris recovery project, the Coastal Federation was interested in closely examining the origins and impacts of microplastics on our region’s beaches. Following the EPA’s protocol on microplastic sampling for citizen scientists, the Federation recruited approximately 35 volunteers to sample beaches and analyze sampling data. The data collected from April to October will be used for additional advocacy efforts aiming to prevent microplastics pollution.
Busch is the Coastal Specialist at the Wrightsville Beach office of the North Carolina Coastal Federation, which serves the Southeast region of our coast. She has her Master’s Degree in Coastal and Ocean Policy from University of North Carolina, Wilmington in 2021 and has been enjoying her role to protect and restore the coast since.
You’re invited to get up close with some of the more familiar creatures found in our ocean.
Our touch tank pool allows you to gently touch marine animals such as sea stars, sea urchins, whelks, horseshoe crabs, and hermit crabs. These animals live in a variety of habitats and have developed many ways to survive the waves and predators. Volunteers are on hand to assist and teach you about these incredible animals.
Did you know, when a sea urchin “hugs” your finger if you gently touch its spines, it’s actually checking you out: Are you food or predator? If you’re neither, the animal will just gradually release you.
Learn how to prepare your home and family for storms ahead of hurricane season by building an emergency preparedness kit. This lesson is followed by an exciting virtual reality mobile classroom experience: flying inside Hurricane Maria. Strap on a pair of Oculus Quest virtual reality goggles and become immersed in this unique environment.
Our Science in 3D exhibit uses a virtual reality mobile classroom to bring this exciting experience to you! Through VR technology, explore a virtual science laboratory that brings the real world into the lab and teaches the process of science. The Science in 3D program is hosted by Education Manager Jamie Justice, who will help launch each VR adventure and answer questions about the experience. This program is not recommended for children under 8 or people who experience motion sickness.
Children can test their ocean IQ and learn who really lives in the ocean while being safe. This program is designed to entertain and educate kids about sea life using a fun, interactive format. Kids will learn all about the sea life they are swimming with and the way the animals protect themselves. Safety while at the beach or near water will also be discussed across seven rules such as what to do when swimming alone, how to help someone in the water, etc. Kids will have an opportunity to make sea bottles (plastic bottles that they can fill with shells, crystal sand, and mermaid magic) that they can take home.
Judy Sobota facilitates the All Hands on Deck program. Sobota received her Bachelor’s in Education from Bowling Green State University. She has lived on Ocean Isle Beach for the last 20 years and has been a dependable volunteer maintaining and caring for the fish and sea critters at the Museum of Coastal Carolina.
Join us from 10:00 am to 11:30 am in Town Center Park for a recycled ocean craft and activities about ocean gyres. Ocean focused activities will be available all day in every gallery, Shark Smarts will start at 11:00 am in the Learning Center, a Sea Turtle Virtual Reality program will be offered at 1:00 pm, Sea Turtle Adventures is at 3:00 pm, and live snakes will be featured at 6:00 pm. Admission is free for activities in the park, all inside activities are included with regular museum admission.
On World Ocean Day, people around the planet celebrate and honor the shared ocean that connects us all. World Ocean Day rallies the world for ocean and climate action on June 8 and throughout the year. They work in partnership with youth leaders, zoos, aquariums, museums, and other youth-focused organizations, as well as diverse organizations and businesses to create a global network. They engage the public and inform policymakers with the goal of uniting the world to protect and restore our shared ocean and create a stable climate. You can learn more about World Ocean Day by visiting their website, worldoceanday.org.
Take a look at the amazing world of sharks and what makes them unique to other fish. Learn about these powerful predators’ anatomy and bust myths and misconceptions about sharks. Ever wonder if sharks sleep? Are they really people eaters? How many teeth do they have? We’ll delve into these questions and more in this interactive program. Then we’ll discuss some “shark smarts” that will keep you and others safe while you have fun in the sun. Finish with some fun shark art and make a shark craft to take home.
Our Education Manager, Jamie Justice will present this fun, interactive program. Jamie received her Bachelor of Science in Marine Biology from Bowling Green State University and her Master of Science in Environmental Science with concentrations in Marine and Coastal Education and Coastal Management from the University of North Carolina, Wilmington.
Strap on a virtual reality (VR) headset and watch hundreds of sea turtles emerge from sand, heading toward the beach in our newest VR program, Sea Turtle Quest. This exciting program explores the life cycle of sea turtle including digging a nest, laying eggs, and returning to the sea. Through VR technology, explore a virtual science laboratory that brings the real world into the lab and teaches the process of science. Examine eggshells with a microscope, scale, and other common lab tools. Match the sea turtle tracks to the sea turtle who laid them by examining photos of turtle tracks. Learn why not all baby sea turtles survive and what you can do to protect hatchlings.
The Science in 3D program will feature Sea Turtle Quest on Tuesdays and Thursday at 1:00 pm through Labor Day. The Science in 3D program is hosted by Education Managerr Jamie Justice, who will help launch each VR adventure and answer questions about the experience. This program is not recommended for children under 8 or people who experience motion sickness.
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. Starting June 1, every Thursday at 3:00 pm, learn about the species of sea turtles found on the Carolina coast, how volunteers track sea turtle nests, and what we can do to protect sea turtles in this fun, interactive program. The Sea Turtle Adventures program includes a craft for kids to take home.
Our Education Manager, Jamie Justice will present this fun, interactive program. Jamie received her Bachelor of Science in Marine Biology from Bowling Green State University and her Master of Science in Environmental Science with concentrations in Marine and Coastal Education and Coastal Management from the University of North Carolina, Wilmington.