Education Philosophy
Museum education programs are developed for a multicultural, multilevel audience to represent a diverse perspective of educational and social backgrounds. Programs are designed to include the greatest number and broadest representation of visitors while including minority perspectives. All programs are grounded in the local maritime history and traditions but reflect national and universal maritime and marine issues.

The Maritime Museum conducts more than 300 public programs per year. These programs are mission-driven and sensitive to multicultural experiences in maritime and marine history. All groups and individuals are offered an orientation to the museum followed by guided or self-guided tours. Printed guides are available to all visitors. Guided tours are custom designed to ensure the group's special emphasis. Special in-depth tours are offered for school groups, the elderly, and the physically challenged.

Programs
Public Programs are offered annually in maritime history, coastal sea life, underwater archaeology, dolphin and turtle behavior, coastal birding, canoe trips, trawl and dredge trips, lectures on by-catch, pollution, TEDs, and aquaculture.

Teacher Workshops in maritime history, coastal ecology, and underwater archaeology are offered for teacher certification credits.

Senior Programs include bus tours, lectures, guided tours, cruise ship programs, and museum luncheons. The museum works cooperatively with a local Elderhostel sponsor on special programs.

The Marine Science Occupation Program is offered to encourage interest in the marine sciences as a career. The program is conducted in tandem with local offices of the NOAA, the National Marine Fisheries, and the Duke University Marine Laboratory. It involves behind-the-scenes tours of each of the facilities and one-on-one discussions with marine science professionals.

Intern Programs employ college-level interns for summer programs. Interns are selected through a statewide program that matches students and their study interests with appropriate institutions. Interns teach, give tours, conduct research, and learn museum administration.

Education Outreach is a program where all senior curators and the director give lectures for, consult with, and participate in programs offered by the community and schools. Regular visits are made to local schools working in cooperation with school curricula. Museum programs are conducted at marine conferences and workshops throughout the state.

The Summer Science Program for the first through tenth graders is conducted annually. Annual courses include oportunities to study underwater archaeology, coastal ecology, maritime history, and fishing. Courses are taught by school teachers and marine science professionals. Scholarships are available for disadvantaged students.

The Junior Sailing Program, another summer program, for students between eight and fifteen years old, offers two-week classes to certify students in sailing Optimist prams while building character and confidence. Scholarships are available to disadvantaged students.

In Community Programs several special events are designed to highlight community culture and appeal to community participation. Programs are designed for youngsters, and family involvement is emphasized. The museum also participates in local and statewide decoy and seafood festivals, marine awareness conferences, and school special events.

In Cooperative Programming the museum conducts underwater archaeology with East Carolina University, shares workshops in marine biology and ecology with the Duke University Marine Laboratory and the NOAA, and conducts programs with North Carolina Sea Grant and North Carolina Marine Fisheries.

Evaluations are conducted for all museum programs and exhibits by the general public and by museum peers through written and oral questionnaires conducted by the staff and volunteers. Written surveys are distributed at all workshops and conferences. Community activists (teachers, environmentalists, black leaders, and commercial fishermen) are routinely queried for their assessment of museum programs and for their recommendations for future programs.

Volunteer Enhancement is a priority at the museum. Programs on maritime cultural history, coastal environment, traditional boatbuilding, marine biology, waterfowl, endangered species, dolphin behavior, and turtle nesting are made available to the museum's supplementary staff.

Museum Educational Programs are developed with input from community teachers, educators, and environmental leaders. The museum's educational curators meet with these peers for their suggestions on museum programs. Many of the museum's programs are taught by these same educators. Its "Summer Science Programs" are all taught by local educators. Others act as advisors and lecturers. Programs are then developed by the Education Section using ideas and suggestions put forth by their community peers. All museum programs are evaluated by the museum staff, museum peers, and the general public through oral and written questionnaires conducted by the staff and volunteers. Written surveys are distributed at all workshops and conferences. Community leaders are routinely queried for their assessments of museum programs and for their recommendations for future programs. The evaluations are analyzed by the education staff and senior curators and discussed in program planning.

The museum offers some of the most innovative programming in North Carolina, and people travel from across the state to participate in its many field trips. Special three-day programs are held twice each year for Elderhostel groups from across the country; a series of summer science programs draws young students from many communities; and weekend boatbuilding classes, fossil and birding field trips, and field trips to Cape Lookout are made available for the working population who can only attend at that time.

The museum is open year-round, seven days a week, closing only for Christmas and New Year's Day. It is handicapped-accessible and encourages visitation by physically and mentally challenged groups.