Carolina Ocean Studies

Name: Carolina Ocean Studies
Address: 100 Carl Winner Drive, Carolina Beach, NC, 28428, US
Telephone: (910) 458-7302
Price range: $

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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.

04/06/2026

Join us for an unforgettable family ecotour to Masonboro Island this Saturday, April 11th, where families explore pristine barrier island habitats, discover coastal wildlife, and experience hands-on learning in one of North Carolina’s most beautiful natural environments! With sunny skies and mild temperatures in the forecast, conditions are shaping up to be perfect for a day of exploration, discovery, and fresh coastal air! Reserve your field trip today and give your family an outdoor learning experience they’ll never forget. Click the link below to buy tickets!
https://tickets.carolinaoceanstudies.com/event/island--sound-exploration-family-ecotour-april-11th-from-1pm-4pm

03/12/2026

During a recent trip to the Kure Beach Pier, students had the exciting opportunity to catch a dogfish shark. Moments like this turn the pier into a real-life science classroom, giving students a chance to see marine biology up close.

Dogfish sharks are small, slender sharks commonly found along the North Carolina coast. One of their coolest features is the two sharp spines located in front of their dorsal fins—a built-in defense that helps protect them from predators. Despite their intimidating name, dogfish are generally harmless to people and are an important part of the ocean food web.

Students also learned that dogfish sharks are known for their incredible migrations, traveling hundreds to even thousands of miles along the Atlantic coast as water temperatures change. Another surprising fact is that female dogfish have one of the longest gestation periods of any vertebrate—nearly two years!

03/10/2026

On our Pier into the Ocean field trip, students explore the beach while discovering an interesting coastal feature called shell hash. Shell hash is made up of broken pieces of shells that have been crushed by waves and currents over time. These fragments often collect along the shoreline, creating small layers that tell a story about the organisms that once lived in the ocean.

Students examine the different shell pieces and discuss the animals they came from—like clams, oysters, and scallops—and how waves, tides, and storms break shells down into smaller fragments. Shell hash also plays an important role in coastal ecosystems by adding calcium to the sand and providing tiny hiding places for small marine life.

With spring around the corner and the coast coming alive again, it’s the perfect season for hands-on science and outdoor learning. There’s nothing like turning the beach into a classroom!

03/05/2026

All smiles on Shackleford Banks! During our "Island Hopping the Outer Banks" field trip, students not only visit 1 but 2 islands! While on Shackleford Banks, students analyze how sea oats anchor shifting sands, crab with a block and line, discuss how wild horses have adapted to a harsh coastal environment, and identify evidence of erosion and deposition along the shoreline. Beyond science, the trip naturally integrated social studies and history. As we depart the island and head toward Cape Lookout, conversations shift to maritime navigation, lighthouse technology, and North Carolina’s coastal heritage. Let's go exploring!

03/03/2026

Getting muddy in the marsh on Masonboro Island! Out in the salt marsh, students explored one of the most productive ecosystems along the North Carolina coast and quickly noticed something interesting — that strong “sulfur” smell!

So what causes it?

As students dug into the muddy sediment, they learned that the marsh is full of decomposers like bacteria. These tiny organisms break down dead plants and animals in the oxygen-poor mud. During this process, they release hydrogen sulfide gas, which smells a lot like rotten eggs! That smell is actually a sign that decomposition is actively recycling nutrients back into the ecosystem.

02/15/2026

FISH ON AND EXCITEMENT HIGH! Catching a sea perch gave our group the perfect opportunity to explore coastal ecology in real time. We discussed how these fish often travel in schools, feed on small crustaceans and shrimp, and thrive around structures like piers where food is plentiful. The pier creates an artificial reef environment, attracting baitfish, which in turn attract predators like sea perch. Students practiced measuring their catch, identifying key features like dorsal fins and lateral lines, and learning about North Carolina fishing regulations. This fish was released after capturing this fun moment.

02/11/2026

During our ocean ecology cruise program out of Calabash, a middle school student reeled in an exciting surprise — a white-bone porgy! Moments like this turn the ocean into a living classroom and help students connect what they learn in school to the real world around them. White-bone porgies are bottom-dwelling fish that use their strong, flat teeth to crush hard-shelled prey like crabs, clams, and snails. Students learned how this special adaptation helps the porgy survive and how it fits into the coastal food web. We also talked about habitat, camouflage, and why healthy oceans are important for fish like this to thrive. The fish also has the nickname "chocolate chip porgy" because of the brown spots throughout its body!

02/09/2026

It's not just students having fun on our field trips, teachers do too! This excited teacher caught a pinfish! Pinfish get their name from the sharp spines on their dorsal fin, use strong teeth to crunch shells and plants, and are one of the most common fish students encounter in coastal waters—making them an ideal species for hands-on learning. Juvenile pinfish rely on seagrass beds and marshes as nurseries, making them great indicators of healthy coastal habitats. They change their diet as they grow, starting omnivorous and becoming more plant-focused as adults.

02/08/2026

Anticipation is part of the learning! Before the net even hit the water, this student was already forming predictions about what we might catch in the marsh on Masonboro Island. Moments like this create natural opportunities to practice scientific skills—observation, hypothesis-making, and discussion, all while exploring the blue crab’s role in the estuarine ecosystem!

02/05/2026

Mummichog madness! This student caught and released this little fish at the the tidal creek station on Masonboro Island. Mummichogs live in shallow tidal creeks and marsh pools where water temperature, salinity, and oxygen levels change daily. They are specially adapted to survive these extreme conditions, even tolerating low oxygen levels that many other fish cannot. Students learned how mummichogs feed on small invertebrates and mosquito larvae, helping keep marsh ecosystems balanced, while also serving as a key food source for birds and larger fish. Observing species like the mummichog helps students understand food webs, adaptations, and why healthy marshes are critical to coastal ecosystems.

02/02/2026

During our "Pier into the Ocean" field trip, middle school students took part in a real-world marine science lesson as our instructor, Richard, safely demonstrated how to handle a cownose stingray! Students examined the ray’s flattened body shape and large pectoral fins, learning how these adaptations allow stingrays to move efficiently along the ocean floor and through the water column.

The lesson focused on stingray anatomy, including their cartilaginous skeleton (made of cartilage instead of bone), sensory systems that help them detect prey buried in the sand, and the role their crushing tooth plates play in feeding on shellfish. Students also learned why proper handling and catch-and-release techniques are essential for both human safety and the health of the animal.

By observing a live stingray up close, students were able to connect classroom topics like adaptations, food webs, and human impact on marine ecosystems to an authentic coastal experience! FISH ON!

Address

100 Carl Winner Drive
Carolina Beach, NC
28428

Telephone

(910) 458-7302

Website

http://www.carolinaoceanstudies.com/

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