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N.C. Maritime Museum
Educational Services Guide
Educational services of the North Carolina Maritime Museum are designed to interpret all aspects of the state's diverse coastal natural history and rich maritime heritage. Educational services are offered to school, civic, and special needs groups. They are designed for specific grade or age levels and are correlated with state science and social studies curricula guidelines. See details below, or jump directly to: HOW TO SCHEDULE GROUP VISITS AND PROGRAMS: (2) SELECT THE DESIRED PROGRAM(S) (3) CONTACT THE MUSEUM. Reservations should be made at least two weeks before the planned visit. Call between 8 AM and 5 PM Monday through Friday. To e-mail, fax, or send a reservation request, include name, group name, mailing address, phone, fax, e-mail address, desired date and time for a visit and/or program. When e-mailing the museum please include the following information:
(1) REVIEW THE EDUCATIONAL SERVICES
Education branch
North Carolina Maritime Museum
315 Front Street
Beaufort, NC 28516
Tel: 252-728-7317
Fax: 252-728-2108
Email maritime@ncdcr.gov
*School or Organization
*Mailing address and zip code
*Telephone number and area code
MORE INFORMATION FOR VISITING GROUPS:
GROUP SIZE
Up to 60 students with chaperones may tour the exhibit area at one time. Larger groups (up to 120 students) are divided and rotated between the exhibit area, an auditorium program, and the museum's Watercraft Center.
CONFIRMATION
After a group is scheduled, a confirmation form, bus parking information, and other requested materials are sent to the teacher/leader. ** You are not confirmed for a museum visit unless you receive a signed form. **
CANCELLATION OF VISIT OR CHANGE OF SCHEDULE
If a change or cancellation is necessary or if the group is delayed, the museum must be notified as soon as possible. Groups arriving before or after scheduled times are accommodated as the museum schedule for other groups allows.
FEES
There is no admission charge for tours and programs in the museum. Field trip and outreach program fees are due the day of the trip/program. Checks are made payable to the North Carolina Maritime Museum.
CHAPERONE REQUIREMENTS
All student groups must have one teacher or chaperone per 10 students. The chaperone is responsible for student behavior and discipline while in the museum. Unsupervised students and unruly groups may be asked to leave.
ARRIVAL AT THE MUSEUM
Upon arrival, the teacher checks in at the museum reception desk while the students wait outside. Buses may unload and load in the five-minute parking zone in front of the museum, but may not remain there. Bus parking maps are sent with confirmation of visit.
THE MUSEUM...
HAS RESTROOMS
HAS A MUSEUM STORE
DOES NOT HAVE A PICNIC AREA
EDUCATIONAL SERVICES:
SELF-GUIDED OR TEACHER-LED TOURS of the exhibit area may be scheduled to begin weekdays from 9 AM to 4 PM, Saturdays from 10 AM to 4 PM weekdays, and Sunday from 1 PM to 4 PM.
A Guide to the Museum is available at the reception desk for group leaders to use for self-guided tours.
THE MUSEUM TREASURE HUNTS help students learn in the museum. The Sea Hunt, a one-page hand-out, has pictures the group leaders use to help grades K-3 look for exhibit items (20 minutes). Group leaders for grades 4 through high school use the questions listed on the Museum Treasure Hunt to help students learn about history and natural history featured in the exhibits (45 minutes).
GUIDED TOURS are led by a museum guide and are tailored for each grade level. (45 minutes; 20 students maximum). Monday-Friday 9 AM - 3 PM.
TEACHER RESOURCE PACKAGES are available free of charge upon request after confirmation of scheduled group. Please contact Allison Besch for more information at (252) 728-7317 or via e-mail allison.besch@ncdcr.gov
A/V is shown in the museum auditorium to supplement a study topic during a museum visit. The museum can seat up to 60 students. Monday-Friday, 9 AM - 4 PM. Please contact the Education Department for available videos.
|
Grade |
Ages (approx) |
Maritime history/culture lesson |
topic addressed |
|
pre-K |
3,4 |
Pirate Parade |
pirate life |
|
K |
5, 6 |
Maritime Mural |
maritime topics |
|
1 |
6,7 |
A Pirate's Flag for Me |
pirate life |
|
2 |
7,8 |
Maritime Themes |
maritime topics |
|
3 |
8,9 |
Map the Museum |
compass and map skills |
|
4 |
9,10 |
Pirates of NC |
pirate life |
|
5 |
10,11 |
Pirate's Table |
pirate foods and health |
|
6 |
11,12 |
Beaufort: A History of Fish Towne |
local history |
|
7 |
12,13 |
Traditional Watercraft of NC |
local maritime trades |
|
8 |
13,14 |
Life at Sea: Artifacts |
life at sea |
|
9 |
14,15 |
Blackbeard and the QAR |
pirate life; shipwrecks |
|
10 |
15, 16 |
Lighthouses of NC |
maritime topics |
|
11 |
16,17 |
Commercial Fisheries in NC |
local history; trades |
|
12 |
17,18 |
21st Century Pirates |
current international events |
|
Grade |
Ages (approx) |
Science lesson |
topic addressed |
|
pre-K |
3,4 |
Skulls and Bones |
seashore life |
|
K |
5, 6 |
The Weather Outside |
weather and climate |
|
1 |
6,7 |
Boats Float |
buoyancy and boat design |
|
2 |
7,8 |
Marine Animals mural |
aquatic life |
|
3 |
8,9 |
Marsh Metaphors |
marsh plants/adaptations |
|
4 |
9,10 |
NC fossils |
local geology |
|
5 |
10,11 |
Estuaries: Waters of Life |
ecology |
|
6 |
11,12 |
NC hurricanes |
|
|
7 |
12,13 |
Water's Incredible Journey |
physical/life science |
|
8 |
13,14 |
By Rack of Eye |
math and engineering |
|
9 |
14,15 |
Ecological Address |
earth/environmental |
|
10 |
15, 16 |
Water Quality testing |
chemistry |
|
11 |
16,17 |
ROV and the |
engineering/oceanography |
|
12 |
17,18 |
Ocean Literacy |
oceanography |
|
|
|
Design your own Research Cruise |
|
|
8-adult |
13+ |
|
marine mammals |
|
|
|
Sea Turtles |
sea turtles |
|
|
|
Coastal Whales |
marine mammals |
|
|
|
|
local ecology |
|
|
|
The Bonehenge Project |
marine mammals |
Environmental education field trips are designed for classes studying coastal ecology or related science topics and are led by certified environmental educators. (Monday-Friday, 9 AM-3 PM, March to November)
Class size is limited for each trip and one chaperone for every 10 students is required.
Tidal flat, salt marsh, and Rachel Carson Reserve trips are scheduled to coincide with a low tide and require walking in shallow water and mud.
1. Tidal Flat and Salt Marsh (preschool-adult, $30 fee)
Investigate a sand flat and adjacent salt marsh to study intertidal organisms and their adaptations, food chains, productivity, and the estuarine nursery area. A seine net is pulled in shallow water to view a sample of marine animals.
(1-1/2 hours; maximum of 30 participants)
2. Beaufort Walk (4th grade - adult, $5 fee/adult, $2 fee/student)
Begin at the museum observation deck and take a walking tour of Beaufort to hear stories and view gardens and historic points of interest. (2 hours; maximum of 10 participants)
3. Rachel Carson Reserve (5th grade-adult, 30 participants maximum, $60 fee plus cost of the ferry)
This island component of the N.C. National Estuarine Research Reserves provides opportunities to study dune plants, feral horses, and organisms of intertidal mud flats and sounds. Participants cross Beaufort's harbor by boat, wade in shallow water, and walk 1/2 mile across a mud flat to the beach. (2-1/2 -3 hours)
4. Marine Life Collecting Cruise (6th grade-adult; inquire for current fees)
After an orientation in the museum participants board a research vessel equipped with sampling-sized commercial fishing gear to collect and observe estuarine and ocean organisms. Discussion focuses on species identification and natural history. (2-1/2 hours; maximum of 20 participants)
5. Kayaking the Estuaries (7th grade - adult, $35 fee/ person)
Suitable for beginning to advanced kayakers. Groups kayak through and study estuaries and learn about currents and tides, and navigation. The program includes on hour of preparation/instruction; two hours of paddling; and 30 minutes of clean up. (3 1/2 hours; maximum of 10 participants, 4 person minimum).
(8th grade-adult)
The Cape Lookout Studies Program offers opportunities for groups of up to 16 people to study barrier islands and estuarine environments while staying at the museum field station on Cape Lookout National Seashore. Detailed information and a fee schedule are detailed on the website or available upon request.
These classes, programs, and events are activities of the Beaufort facility of North Carolina Maritime Museum. Contact the museum at (252) 728-7317 between 8AM and 4PM weekdays for information or reservations. Note: Reservations must be made by phone or in person (no reservations by email), due to limits on group sizes.
BRANCH FACILITIES
Visitors to the southern coasts of North Carolina should put the branch museum of the North Carolina Maritime Museum on their itinerary. For information, contact:
| North Carolina Maritime Museum at Southport (910) 457-0003 |
| Graveyard of the Atlantic Museum (252) 986-2995 |