Coastal Studies Institute: Family and Community Programs

Campus and Building Tours

Come learn more abut the Coastal Studies Institute and ECU’s Outer Banks Campus.  On this 1.5-2 hour tour, participants will see and hear about all of the fascinating research taking place here on the coast.  The cost to tour is $5 per person. Click here to register.

On-the-Water Boat Program

Explore the estuary in our on-the-water boat program.  You and your students will board the USCG certified Discovery for a two hour program in which students will learn about the estuarine habitats and their importance first hand.  Students will visit a nearby island where they will collect marine organisms and explore diverse estuarine habitats while learning about water quality and ways to protect these valuable nurseries. The cost is $20 per student.

Meet the Scientist

“Meet the Scientist” is a monthly, live-streamed video series that allows viewers to get to know some of the world-class coastal scientist at ECU and among our partner institutions, in each segment, Integrated Coastal Programs Dean Reide Corbett sits down with ECU and Coastal Studies Institute (CSI) scientists to discuss their latest work.  Subscribe to the  CSI YouTube Channel to view the program and to be notified when new videos are available.  Audience members are encouraged to ask questions via the chat box while the interview is in progress.  “Meet the Scientist” is appropriate for all ages, and a recording is always available when each live stream is complete.

Science on the Sound

Science on the Sound is an in-person lecture series that highlights information on coastal topics and issues in northeast North Carolina.  The series is held monthly from September-May* at the Coastal Studies Institute on the ECU Outer Banks Campus.  Each lecture is also live streamed to the CSI YouTube Channel where it also recorded for later viewing.  Past topics have included larval fish development, National Wildlife Refuges, beachcombing, coastal development, coastal landscaping and gardening, shipwrecks and maritime history, and climate impacts.  All presentations are free, and the public is both welcome and encouraged to attend.

Evenings in the Estuary

Help us celebrate the start of summer with an evening on the water! The Coastal Studies Institute will once again offer Evening in the Estuary, an on-the-water educational experience for families. Evening in the Estuary programs include a boat ride through the Croatan Sound to a marsh island to wade the shallow waters, survey the sandy shores, and explore the grassy uplands. Participants will learn about estuarine ecology, investigate plant and animal adaptations, seine for critters, and more. Evening in the Estuary programs will be offered from 4-6 PM. These programs are open to the public and are suitable for elementary and middle school-aged children accompanied by their adult(s). Click here to register.

Evening in the Estuary programs will be offered on June 23rd (weather date June 24th), July 21st (weather date July 22nd), and August 18th (weather date August 19th).