Education
The North Carolina Coastal Reserve and National Estuarine Research Reserve offers a variety of educational programs for K-12 school groups, the general public, special interest groups, teachers, and coastal decision makers. Components of our education program include public and school field trips, summer camps, outreach presentations, teacher training programs, exhibits, and the production of curricular, informational and technical materials. All Reserve education, training, and outreach activities are designed to enhance public awareness of the importance of estuarine systems and provide opportunities for public education and interpretation.
The K-12 student education program provides students with hands-on, inquiry-based learning opportunities where the content is focused on estuarine habitats, organisms or coastal issues. Teachers can bring their classes to the Reserve for a two-hour interpretive nature hike. We also provide hands-on learning activities for school groups such as seining for fish, conducting shore profiles, or testing the water quality. The Reserve’s school field trips and field studies are primarily held at the Rachel Carson Reserve in Beaufort, N.C. A small number of educational programs are offered at the other Reserve locations.
For those schools that cannot travel, we offer a variety of classroom-based programs that are led by Reserve education staff on estuarine-related topics
We also provide K-12 teachers with estuarine-based, curricular material for both classroom and field-based activities. All Reserve K-12 programs and materials are aligned with the North Carolina Standard Course of Study and the National Science Standards. National Ocean Literacy Essential Principles are also incorporated into all programs.
Fall Programs
Sept 24th - Sept 30th - Take A Child Outside Week
In celebration of Take A Child Outside Week and National Estuaries Day, the North Carolina Coastal Reserve is offering boat trips around the Rachel Carson Reserve on September 24, 25, 25, 29 and 30. Trips will be offered from 3:30-5:15pm each day and will leave from the Reserve facility located on Pivers Island in Beaufort. After leaving the dock, participatns will have a waterside view of the Rachel Carson Reserve and the Town of Beaufort before stopping at the boardwalk located on Carrot Island for a change to observe some of the unique estuarine habitats, plants and animals. Each trip will be led by Reserve education staff and are free of charge. Reservations are required. To reserve a spot or for more information, please contact Lori Davis at 252-838-0883 or lori.c.davis@ncmail.net.
Tuesday, September 30th - Coastal Birds
Coastal North Carlina is a major route for migratory birds. These birds winter in Central and South America, and travel our coast on their way to and from these areas. The N.C. Wildlife Resources Commission and the N.C. National Estuarine Research Reserve will offer a program on Tuesday, September 30 from 9:00am - 1:00pm where we will identify birds by sight and sound, as well as learn about the biology, habitat requirements and life cycles of these well traveled birds. This workshop will be held at the NOAA/NCNERR Administration Building located on Pivers Island in Beaufort. There is no charge for this workshop, and it is open to the general public ages 16 and above. For more information or to register, please contact Lori Davis at 252-838-0883 or lori.c.davis@ncmail.net
Thursday, October 2nd - Coastal Mammals
North Carolina's barrier islands and other coastal areas are home to many species of mammals, both native and introduced. The N.C. Wildlife Resources Commission and the N.C. National Estuarine Research Reserve is sponsoring a program that will offer a glimpse of these common but seldom seen animals. After a short indoor session that will cover species identification and habitat requirements, participants will walk the grounds of the Rachel Carson Reserve to observe wildlife in the field, and also search for their tracks and sign. This workshop will be held in the NOAA/NCNERR Administration Building located on Pivers Island in Beaufort. There is no charge for this workshop, and it is open to the general public ages 16 and above. For more information or to register, please contact Lori Davis at 252-838-0883 or lori.c.davis@ncmail.net.
Thursday, Oct 9th - Friday Oct 10th - Coastal Explorations
North Carolina has 2.9 million acres of estuarine and marine waters which together comprise the largest estuarine system on the Atlantic coast. Coastal Explorations, through classroom and field-based activities, introduces teachers and educators to the different estuarine and coastal habitats, reviews general ecological concepts, and discusses various coastal and man-made processes that impact the estuary. This two-day (10 hour) educator workshop will be held from 9am-5pm on Thursday, October 9th and 9am-noon on Friday, October 10th and carries 1.0 CEUs and is a Criteria I N.C. Environmental Education approved workshop. This workshop will be held at the NOAA/NCNERR Administration Building located on Pivers Island in Beaufort. For more information or to register please contact Dr. Jill Fegley at 252-838-0885 or jill.fegley@ncmail.net. There is a $25 registration fee which is refundable up to 1 week prior to the event.