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.
Fans can’t get enough of the retro vibe of the hit series “Stranger Things”. Take a trip through the upside-down in the safety of the dome. Experience 80’s tunes and soundscapes from the show, reinterpreted in vibrant laser light. Join this sensory experience unlike any other as LIVE lighting and laser effects accompany classic hits heard through the area’s best sound system!
Come to Backyard Explorers! the first Saturday of each month. The program will dive into local species and ways to investigate your backyard through animal tracks, trail cameras, and more. This fun, interactive program is family friendly and will leave you with ways to explore at home.
This show is not recommended for small children.
Fans can’t get enough of the retro vibe of the hit series “Stranger Things”. Take a trip through the upside-down in the safety of the dome. Experience 80’s tunes and soundscapes from the show, reinterpreted in vibrant laser light. Join this sensory experience unlike any other as LIVE lighting and laser effects accompany classic hits heard through the area’s best sound system!
Every second Tuesday evening through Memorial Day, 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.
Join Karly Lohan from the Southeastern Wind Coalition (SEWC) for a presentation on offshore wind in North Carolina, including the history and significance of offshore wind, the status of offshore wind development in North Carolina, challenges and opportunities it presents to our state, and how to get involved.
Lohan leads member communications, social media development and outreach efforts, and grassroots and lawmaker engagement in Southeastern North Carolina. She received her Master’s Degree in Coastal and Ocean Policy from University of North Carolina, Wilmington and a BS in Biology from Salisbury University in Salisbury, MD.
Prior to joining SEWC, Lohan collaborated with environmental grassroots organizations on various issues, including natural resource conservation, water quality research, plastic pollution research and outreach, and climate justice issues. Lohan also coordinates the Ocean Friendly Establishment Program, offering resources to help businesses improve their sustainability practices and earn recognition for their commitment to the environment.
Festival of Trees is an exciting opportunity to see the Museum decorated in beautiful holiday decor, as well as a fundraiser for the Museum of Coastal Carolina, Ingram Planetarium, and individual tree sponsors. The museum raises funds through admission to the festival and selling votes for favorite tree. Sponsors accrue funds through a silent auction for each tree’s lights and decorations.
The Festival of Trees opens on Thursday, Nov 10 and closes on Saturday, Dec 31, 2022. During that time the Festival will be open to the public on Thursday thru Saturday during regular open hours. Additional public hours from 12:00 pm to 4:00 pm will be offered on the following Sundays: Nov 13, 20, and 27 as well as Dec 4, 11, and 18.
HoliDAY at the Museum is on Friday, Nov 25. This is a family friendly event including all day activities for children.
Coyote has a razor sharp wit, but he’s a little confused about what he sees in the sky. Join this amusing character (adapted from Native American oral traditions) in a fast-paced and fun show that explores lunar phases, eclipses and other puzzles.
Step into the shoes of working scientists in this family friendly program. Each week, we will feature a different type of scientist, describe the research they conduct, and dive into their world with hands-on activities.
Dates:
Sep 8 Become a marine biologist by studying the life cycles of sharks, dolphins, and whales.
Sep 15 What’s the weather today? Learn how weather works and storms form by becoming a meteorologist.
Sep 22 We’ll use microscopes to identify waterborne organisms as we try our hand at being microbiologists.
Sep 29 Take a closer look at how an ecosystem works. Local ecologists study the marsh ecosystems, such as the Green Swamp.
Oct 6 Astronomer – Study what’s up in the night sky and talk about the influence of light pollution on the night sky.
Oct 13 Aquaculturist – Also known as fish farmers, aquaculturists raise fish and shellfish under controlled conditions.
Oct 20 Paleontologist – Dig deep into the world of dinosaurs! We will unearth field techniques and make a few discoveries of our own.
Oct 27 Herpetologist – Turtles, frogs, and snakes, oh my! Hop on over this week to learn about local reptiles and amphibians.
Nov 3 Wildlife Biologist – Use tracks, trail cameras, and other findings to solve a mystery in the Green Swamp.
Nov 10 Chemist – Put on your safety glasses and make a density potion to learn about different types of chemical reactions.
Nov 17 Oceanographer – Learn about the four sections of oceanography with a fun interactive activity from each section.
Dec 1 Zoologist – Animals come in all shapes and sizes. Learn all about the different types of animals and all that goes into properly maintaining them in captivity as we talk about zoologists.
Dec 8 Botanist – Dive into the world of plants and learn what it is like to be a botanist! We will focus on plants for pollinators and explore pollination through hands-on activities.
Dec 15 Ornithologist – This week is all about birds! Learn how scientists identify and track birds through fun, interactive activities as we take flight as ornithologists.
Dec 22 Naturalist – Take a walk out in nature and become a naturalist. Piece together animal evidence commonly found near trails to solve a mystery in this fun, educational program.
Dec 29 Geologist – Rocks rock! Explore the different types of rock as we dig for treasures in this fun, interactive program experiencing the world of geologists.
Jamie Justice is the creator of Spotlight Science. Justice is the Education Manager for the Museum of Coastal Carolina and Ingram Planetarium. She 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.
Experience a rocket launch from inside the body of an astronaut. Explore the amazing worlds of inner and outer space, from floating around the International Space Station to maneuvering through microscopic regions of the human body. Discover the perils that lurk in space as ‘Chad’, our test astronaut, is subjected to everything that space has to throw at him.