Whether it’s hands-on in a classroom, on an informational cruise, presenting to a community group or mentoring an intern our educators are in the field helping bring the science of the coast to life. Here are just a few of the ways we are helping to develop knowledge of our coastal environment and an appreciation for the need to preserve these vital habitats.
Our hands-on classroom programs are designed to support your school district’s science curriculum. Whether you’re studying coastal habitats, water quality or wildlife, our presentations will enrich learning and inspire stewardship.
Our current curriculum features lessons on:
Touch Tank Tuesday takes place every Tuesday in June and July, from 9 – 12 p.m., at the North Carolina Coastal Federation’s Wrightsville Beach Fred & Alice Stanback Coastal Education Center. Pre-registration is required.
Touch Tank Tuesday provides everyone in the community, whether they’ve lived on the coast or are just experiencing it for the first time, an opportunity to learn about the marine life and habitats that are unique to the North Carolina coast.
Visitors of all ages can drop in and interact with different plants and animals that are found in the waters surrounding Wrightsville Beach. Marine creatures range from sea urchins and crabs to algae and whelks. During the event, visitors can learn about how they contribute to the coastal environment. Additionally, guests can use microscopes to view coastal organisms and create arts and crafts related to the coast.
While the event is free, donations are encouraged and will benefit the federation’s important education programs and restoration work.
For more information or for help registering for Touch Tank Tuesday, please contact Coastal Education Coordinator, Bonnie Mitchell, bonniem@nccoast.org or 910-509-2838 ext. 204.
This small community farm started by the federation is dedicated to helping people learn how to grow food while protecting the coastal waters.
The YouthBuild program is run by River City Community Development Corporation and provides economically disadvantaged youth with education and employment skills through opportunities for meaningful work in their communities.
The federation provides training to YouthBuild participants on low-impact development techniques and enhancements to their campus rain garden.
Our educators occasionally conduct professional development trainings for formal K-12 classroom teachers. Public school teacher training programs serve as opportunities for enriched learning and reinforcement of crucial lessons. The federation’s educators are experts in teaching about watersheds and the importance of the estuary through hands-on techniques.
Each year, we host several workshops, summits or trainings geared toward adults. Many of these workshops focus on better educating the community about coastal resources and how to protect them. Some are geared toward community members, while others offer specific information and training useful to engineers, contractors, land surveyors and other professions. Each summer, the Fred and Alice Stanback Coastal Education Center hosts a speaker series, and in the past, Coastal Review Online has hosted a training session for journalists covering coastal issues.
The federation welcomes many high school students and college groups each year. They help us with our restoration, education and other projects and we help them with community service credits, senior projects and alternative spring breaks. The net result makes the coast a better place.
Join the Coastal Advocacy Institute this summer!
This is a hands-on, fully immersive program. You will dive headfirst into local, state and national policy, restoration and education issues in which the federation engages.
Bonnie, once a volunteer for the federation, joined the staff in 2019 and coordinates the education and outreach programs in the southeast region while managing the region’s volunteers, interns, events,…
Rachel, from Pine Level, North Carolina, joined the federation in 2013 after volunteering for several years. She holds a Master of Science in coastal marine and wetland studies from Coastal…
Before joining the federation in 2008, Sara worked as a special activities instructor at the North Carolina Aquarium on Roanoke Island. She holds a Bachelor of Science in biology along…
