Carolina Ocean Studies

Carolina Ocean Studies Discover the Wonder of the Carolina coast on a field trip with Carolina Ocean Studies! The places we visit are part of our nation's natural treasures.

Founded in 1992, Carolina Ocean Studies has shared the wonder of the Carolina coast with thousands of children and adults. We take groups to magnificent barrier islands and ocean reefs for thrilling environmental education. The sea's wonders are revealed when participants go fishing, crabbing, clamming and exploring remote beaches. Shackleford Banks has one of the largest populations of wild hors

es in the Eastern United States. The Cape Lookout Lighthouse has been warning ships of North Carolina's infamous shoals for over 150 years. The pristine and secluded beaches of Masonboro Island bring both awe and solace to its visitors. Our school programs are curriculum-based and are conducted by experienced instructors, many of whom have years of classroom experience. Each year we take over 25,000 students on educational programs. Teachers have been recommending our cruises for 20 years. While our organization primarily caters to school groups, we also work with scout, senior, church, and 4-H groups. We will adapt our cruises to your group's specific needs. All of our programs take place on vessels that are regularly inspected and certified by the United States Coast Guard. Most of our boats range in size from 60 to 85 feet.

During a field trip with Carolina Ocean Studies, students head out onto Kure Beach Pier to learn the science behind fish...
09/10/2026

During a field trip with Carolina Ocean Studies, students head out onto Kure Beach Pier to learn the science behind fishing while exploring the incredible marine life found just off our coast. From identifying fish and learning how different species are adapted to their environment to discussing food webs, habitats, and the role of fishing in our coastal communities, students turn a day of fishing into a real-world science lesson. Students aren’t just learning about marine ecosystems; they’re observing, asking questions, collecting data, and experiencing coastal science firsthand. It’s an exciting way to connect classroom concepts to North Carolina’s coastal environment!

Homeschool families: come explore Shackleford Banks with Carolina Ocean Studies! Families will explore the barrier isla...
09/08/2026

Homeschool families: come explore Shackleford Banks with Carolina Ocean Studies! Families will explore the barrier island, hand-line crab, search for marine life, investigate coastal habitats, learn about the forces that shape our shoreline, and meet the famous wild Banker horses! Along the way, our instructors turn every discovery into a hands-on science lesson. From tidal flats and dunes to salt marshes and the beach, families get to experience marine biology, ecology, geology, and coastal science firsthand. Click the link below to learn more!
https://tickets.carolinaoceanstudies.com/event/shackleford-banks-adventure-homeschool-and-family-day-october-10-1115am-205pm

There’s a lot more happening beyond the end of the fishing line! Students heading out of Little River Inlet with Carolin...
09/04/2026

There’s a lot more happening beyond the end of the fishing line! Students heading out of Little River Inlet with Carolina Ocean Studies experience the excitement of heading offshore while discovering what makes our coastal ocean ecosystem so productive. From the estuary to the open Atlantic, students see how changing habitats support different marine communities, and there’s no better classroom than the one moving beneath the boat! Every catch becomes a science lesson. Students can examine fish adaptations, anatomy, feeding strategies, predator-prey relationships, and marine food webs while connecting what they see on the boat to concepts they’ve learned in the classroom.

What happens when you take your students to one of North Carolina’s most unique barrier islands? You turn the coastline ...
08/31/2026

What happens when you take your students to one of North Carolina’s most unique barrier islands? You turn the coastline into a living laboratory! A field trip to Shackleford Banks with Carolina Ocean Studies gives students the opportunity to experience coastal science firsthand. As they hike across the island and search for wild Banker horses, they’re also investigating the incredible ecosystem that surrounds them. Students discover how wild horses have adapted to life on a barrier island while exploring dunes, maritime vegetation, tidal zones, beaches, and the organisms that call these habitats home. Along the way, they learn how wind, waves, storms, and sea-level changes constantly reshape the island. Let's go exploring!

What happens when a barrier island exposes layers of peat along the shoreline? Students get a firsthand look at the dyna...
08/28/2026

What happens when a barrier island exposes layers of peat along the shoreline? Students get a firsthand look at the dynamic history of our coastal environment! Peat forms when partially decomposed plant material accumulates in wet, oxygen-poor environments such as marshes. When it becomes exposed along a barrier island shoreline, it can provide evidence of past marshes, changing sea levels, and the migration of barrier islands over time. On a field trip with Carolina Ocean Studies, students don't just learn about coastal geology: they get to see it, touch it, and investigate it in the field!

North Carolina’s coast is one of the best classrooms in the state, and Carolina Ocean Studies brings students directly i...
08/25/2026

North Carolina’s coast is one of the best classrooms in the state, and Carolina Ocean Studies brings students directly into it! From barrier islands and salt marshes to tidal creeks and ocean piers, our educational field trips give students the opportunity to experience coastal science firsthand. Students don’t just learn about ecosystems; they touch, observe, investigate, and ask questions in the environments they’re studying. Our programs can include fish anatomy, hands-on crabbing, natural history, squid dissections, and so much more! All lessons are hands-on investigations that align with NGSS and North Carolina science standards. Let us show your class the wonders of the Carolina coast!

Students gathered around our instructor to explore the natural history and science of North Carolina’s beaches. Students...
08/15/2026

Students gathered around our instructor to explore the natural history and science of North Carolina’s beaches. Students learned how waves, tides, wind, and storms shape the shoreline, how sand is transported along the coast, and how dunes and barrier islands change over time. They also examined the connections between geology, plants, animals, and coastal habitats. Field experiences like this allow students to observe coastal processes firsthand, ask scientific questions, and connect classroom concepts to a dynamic ecosystem. Almost field trip season!

Nothing beats the excitement of a first catch! Last week, our students hit the shoreline and tried their hand at surf fi...
07/29/2026

Nothing beats the excitement of a first catch! Last week, our students hit the shoreline and tried their hand at surf fishing, and it didn’t take long before they reeled in a feisty pinfish! These small but mighty fish are a perfect introduction to coastal ecosystems, helping students learn about bait, feeding habits, and life along the surf zone. These fun rod-bending fish get their name from the sharp spines on their dorsal fins, great for defense against predators!

Getting lost in the curiosity of the marsh! This young scientist set out to build her very own ecosystem, carefully sele...
07/25/2026

Getting lost in the curiosity of the marsh! This young scientist set out to build her very own ecosystem, carefully selecting shells, marsh grasses, tidal water, and tiny organisms to recreate the delicate balance of a coastal habitat. Hands-on experiences like this help elementary students connect classroom lessons to the real world while encouraging curiosity, teamwork, and a love for science!

What a monster in the marsh! On a recent field trip to Masonboro Island, students got hands-on with one of the most impo...
07/22/2026

What a monster in the marsh! On a recent field trip to Masonboro Island, students got hands-on with one of the most important species in our estuaries: the male blue crab (aka a “jimmy,” recognized by his bright blue claws and a carapace over 6 inches!). Students learned about food webs, predator-prey relationships, estuarine ecosystems, adaptations️, and real-world connections to NC coastal fisheries. Let's go explore the beauty of our state's magnificent barrier islands!

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100 Carl Winner Drive
Carolina Beach, NC
28428

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(910) 458-7302

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