Sound to Sea Program Offerings
The staff of our Sound to Sea Environmental Education program is available to lead a variety of programs including Low Ropes Challenge Courses or educational classes relating to the habitats, animals, people and cultures of a barrier island. Trinity Center offers either 3-hour or 6-hour programs. You may choose a number of classes to fill your schedule.
Low Ropes Challenge Course (1 ½ – 3 hour class)
Explore group dynamics, leadership, trust and team-building. Available for grades 4 and above.
Barrier Island Ecology (1 ½ – 3 hour class)
Stroll from the sound to the ocean with an instructor, as you visit five dramatically different habitats and we highlight the island’s geologic past.
Beach Walk and Turtle Talk (1 ½ hour class)
Join your instructor for a discussion of North Carolina’s endangered sea turtles. Take a walk on the beach and learn about the nesting strategies of this amazing animal.
Birds of Prey (1 ½ hour class)
Showcases our live birds of prey with added lessons covering properties of air, mechanics of flight, and bird adaptations.
Maritime Forest Exploration (1 ½ hour class)
Focusing on the flora and fauna of this unique ecosystem, students will learn about their adaptations for survival.
Sound Exploration (1 ½ hour class)
1 ½ hour class. We’ll use dip nets to discover what lives in our Sound and get wet in the process. Water quality tests will tell us the health of this important waterway.
Beach Exploration (1 ½ hour class)
Learn about the beach habitat, the animals and plants that live in it, and some of the issues that are challenging the beach today.
Pond Exploration (1 ½ hour class)
Use dip nets to explore and learn about the plants, animals and insects that live in the freshwater pond. Explore the water cycle and the importance of clean fresh water.
Pirate Program (1 ½ hour class)
Learn about Pirate lore, tools and flags in a scavenger hunt around our property. Gather clues to the underwater archeology project off our coast.
Coastal Native Americans (1 ½ hour class)
From hide tanning and natural fiber rope making to hunting and fire starting, we’ll demonstrate the life skills of the earliest North Carolinians.
Whales and Whalers (1 ½ hour class)
1 ½ hour class. Hands-on activities and incredible stories illustrate topics from whale biology to ship- and shore-based whaling.
Barrier Island Ecology:
Students are introduced to the five habitats (beach/ocean, maritime forest, freshwater pond, salt marsh, and sound/estuary), geological history, basic ecological concepts and general habitat study skills that are reinforced throughout the entire program.
Sound to Sea instructors encourage exploration and present various ecological concepts (such as habitats, cycles, communities, populations, species, food webs, decomposition, etc.) as students discover concrete evidence that relates to that concept. Barrier Island Ecology demonstrates Sound to Sea’s habitat-based curricula, allowing students to analyze conditions within each habitat and compare them.
Sound/Salt Marsh:
By getting into the sound and using dip nets, cast nets and/ or seine nets students will focus on the concept of the sound and salt marsh as the nursery of the ocean. They will learn about the adaptations of fish, crabs, and various plants that live in the salt marsh. They will find out about the importance of water quality to the sound and salt marsh and learn to do a simple water quality test.
Beach/Ocean:
Students will learn about barrier island formation and movement and that beach erosion is a natural part of that process. They will learn about the adaptations of various animals that live in the subtidal, intertidal and supratidal zones of the beach.
Freshwater Pond:
Students will learn about the importance and rarity of clean, fresh water. They will learn about pond succession and the amazing qualities of the plants and animals that live in and around the pond.
Maritime Forest:
Students will learn about the importance of the maritime forest to the various animals that live there. They will learn about the anatomy and adaptations of a maritime forest tree. They will learn about medicinal plants, and perhaps have the chance to sample some wild edibles.
Dissection:
Students will focus on the anatomy and physiology of one of our Bogue Sound residents by dissecting either a squid or a fish. In addition we also offer Comparative Anatomy Dissection which compares plant and animal anatomy and physiology.
Challenge Course:
The environmental study becomes complete by exploring the human community with our professionally-designed Challenge Course. With trained staff as facilitators, students discover how to function as a group by employing creative problem-solving techniques. Groups meet unforgettable physical challenges by working together, by depending on each other, and by recognizing each group member’s unique contributions. These group-building skills travel back to school to strengthen the classroom community.
Choose from four different themes and explore all of our barrier island habitats each week in new and exciting ways. Campers may join us for up to three weeks every summer. Weekly themes are listed after the dates below.
- Icky Creatures: Investigate the unique characteristics of “icky” creatures native to our island while dispelling myths about them.
- We Will Survive: Find out how plants, animals and people survive the harsh conditions of the barrier islands.
- Water Wonders: Take a closer look at the water habitats of our barrier island.
- Science Explorers: Come use your senses to explore our barrier island; smell the marsh, taste the salt spray in the air, touch a squid!
Rising 1st through 6th graders
June 8-12 Science Explorers
June 15-19 We Will Survive
June 22-26 Icky Creatures
June 29 – July 3 Water Wonders
July 6-10 Science Explorers
July 13-17 We Will Survive
July 20-24 Icky Creatures
July 27-31 Water Wonders
August 3-7 Science Explorers
Rising Kindergarteners
June 3-5
June 29 – July 1
Junior Counselor Program for rising 7 – 9th graders any week.
Please call 252-247-5600 and speak to Trinity Center Education Director, Meghan Dinneen to reserve a space. You can also email Meghan at [email protected]. You can click here to register for Summer Sound to Sea.
