Watch Museum docents feed the animals in the Museum’s Touch Tank.
This program takes a look at the composition of sea water, the various microscopic plankton (plants and animals) that live in the water, and the effects of man-made pollution on the quality of ocean water and the marine animals that inhabit it. Informational handouts will be available to take home for further study. There will also be some surprises from other various local water samples and what you will see in the water! This program is presented by Allison Smith.
Allison Smith is a science educator with more than 20 years of experience. She taught Science Education in both the public and private sectors. She has a BS in Deaf Education and a MAED in Science Education. She and her husband are published authors and local paranormal historians. They own and operate the seasonal OIB Ghost Walk, which is in the top ten list of things to do at Ocean Isle Beach. She enjoys volunteering at the museum and in the local community and raising her two boys at the beach.
Watch Museum docents feed the animals in the Museum’s Touch Tank.
Learn about air pollution — what it is, how to read an air quality index, and what we can do to reduce it. Interactive demonstrations and discussions will be included to determine what air pollution is, where it comes from, and how to measure air pollution.
This program is presented by Jamie Justice, the Education Coordinator 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. Jamie is originally from Portsmouth, Ohio and moved to Wilmington, North Carolina for graduate school in 2017. Before coming to the Museum, she has worked in a variety of educational positions at summer camps and schools.
Watch Museum docents feed the animals in the Museum’s Touch Tank.
Did you know that the Museum of Coastal Carolina is an ecoEXPLORE hotspot? ecoEXPLORE (Experiences Promoting Learning Outdoors for Research and Education) is an incentive-based citizen science program for children in grades K-8 developed by the NC Arboretum. ecoEXPLORE combines science exploration with kid-friendly technology to foster a fun learning environment and encourages children to explore the outdoors and participate in citizen science. You can sign up for a free account at ecoexplore.net and collect data while you visit the museum. You do not have to have an ecoEXPLORE account prior to visiting, although it is recommended; you can collect data to upload at a later date. Relevant exhibits will be labeled with an ecoEXPLORE logo for guidance. To learn more, check out https://www.ecoexplore.net/
Watch Museum docents feed the animals in the Museum’s Touch Tank.
Weather permitting, many Family Day activities will be held outside. In case of inclement weather, Family Day activities will take place inside the museum.
Entry to the museum is FREE for members and Brunswick County residents with valid IDs. The special Family Day admission to the museum for non-residents is only $3 per person.
Family Day activities include shark tooth necklaces, sea globes, coin toss, ring toss, and games with the Ocean Isle Beach Sea Turtle Protection Organization. Families have the option of completing craft projects on site or taking the crafts home to complete. Home Depot is providing kits that are take-home only. Tickets to participate in craft activities will be sold for fifty cents per ticket; most craft activities require 2 to 4 tickets to participate.
In addition to craft activities, Matthew Bookout will be on hand with live snakes and other reptiles. Ingram Planetarium’s booth will feature an activity about exploration of Mars. The OIB Fire & Rescue and Police Departments will be represented. The Volunteer Association plans to raise funds with a Boston Butt sale (pre-orders required) and a treat walk. Food vendors include Tasty T’s Food Truck, Sunset Slush, and more.
Watch Museum docents feed the animals in the Museum’s Touch Tank.
Judy Sobota will give you an exclusive ‘behind the scenes’ look at our aquariums, facility operations, and Touch Tank animals. The tour will include the museum’s animal holding tank facilities that are normally closed to the public. Learn what it takes to keep our animals healthy and happy, discover the unique features of the variety of fish in our tanks, and see first hand how the aquariums are managed and operated. This program is part of our involvement with the annual NCSciFest events taking place around the state from April 1-30.
Judy was our past Volunteer Coordinator and is presently a volunteer trainer for Touch Tank responsibilities. She is an expert in many facets of the operation of our Touch Tank and aquariums as well as marine animal care. She is happy to share her knowledge about the many species of animals in the museum.