
Discover the treasures of the tides while learning about shells, shark teeth, and more. This engaging program will talk about beach friendly shell practices, finding tidal treasures, and how to keep the beach safe for animals and us. Sand Scavengers includes a sea shell activity along with ID resources for shells and shark teeth to help with your beach treasure hunts.
Our Education Coordinator, 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.

Our newest exhibit uses a virtual reality mobile classroom to bring you an exciting experience: flying inside Hurricane Maria. Strap on a pair of virtual reality headsets and become immersed in this unique environment.
The Science in 3D program will feature Hurricane Maria on Tuesday and Thursday at 1:00 pm through Labor Day.

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.

What is a Snorkel Bunny? Join the Museum of Coastal Carolina, Tuesday, May 31 at 6:00 pm, when author Dawn Calisto will discuss the inspiration behind her book “The Snorkel Bunnies! Sea Turtle Adventure!” and present a reading of the book.
This delightful children’s book takes the reader on a fabulous adventure to discover the wonder of the mysterious, cute, cuddly, sweet and thoughtful “Snorkel Bunny.” Calisto uses adorable creatures called “Snorkel Bunnies” to teach children the importance of respecting our waterways. The “Snorkel Bunnies” are used as instruments to clean up trash by the sea, respect habitats and endangered species as well as educating children along with adults about endangered sea turtles and how to protect them. The “Snorkel Bunnies” also encourage the importance of protecting our beaches.
The Sandbar Lecture Series at the Museum of Coastal Carolina brings local experts to speak about topics ranging from our coastal environment to Outer Banks history. For more information on the Sandbar Lecture Series contact Jamie Justice, Education Coordinator.

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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 Monday, Wednesday, and Friday at 1:00 pm through Labor Day. The Science in 3D program is hosted by Education Coordinator 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 Soboda facilitates the All Hands on Deck program. Judy 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.

Come to the steps of the Museum of Coastal Carolina to meet up for Safe Beach Outreach, a partnership between the Museum, the Town of Ocean Isle Beach, and the OIB Fire Department. Kids attending this free program will learn how to safely enjoy our amazing local environment.
Firefighters will explain tips to ensure everyone’s time at Ocean Isle Beach is full of fun, while we all remain safe in the sun. Learn about safety around sea life, protection from the sun, pedestrian and bike travel on the island, riptides, and more! Members of the OIB Recreation Department and staff at the Museum of Coastal Carolina will have fun activities, visuals, and a snack for everyone before heading out to explore the fire truck. Admission to the museum is not required for this program.
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 Coordinator, 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.

Our newest exhibit uses a virtual reality mobile classroom to bring you an exciting experience: flying inside Hurricane Maria. Strap on a pair of virtual reality headsets and become immersed in this unique environment.
The Science in 3D program will feature Hurricane Maria on Tuesday and Thursday at 1:00 pm through Labor Day.

Learn about the diversity of life in the Green Swamp in this CSI program. Solve the mystery of a mysterious animal sighting by uncovering clues about animal tracks, habitat, and more!
Our Education Coordinator, 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.