Booking

School Groups

Create a unique and exciting experience for your students or group, as you dive into the world of wonder and water with the Aquarium’s education programs. Journey from “North Carolina’s Mountains to the Sea” to be immersed in fun and learning with the Aquarium’s most interesting animals. There are a variety of engaging learning opportunities for your group. Students can explore the Aquarium on a teacher-led tour, participate in a live animal program in the Big Rock Theater, research exhibits and species with interactive scavenger hunts, or become scientists through hands-on classroom activities or outdoor field experiences.

 

 

Chaperone Policy Change 

“Starting this fall, all chaperones will have to be paid for by the school, upon arrival or in advance. This change to the policy for School Group chaperones will begin September 1, 2024. NC School students and school staff will still be offered one free admission annually to the NC Aquarium Pine Knoll Shores and the fee for chaperones will remain at $8 per person.  Only chaperones included in the group reservation will receive the discounted admission rate of $8.  If other parents, siblings, or grandparents visit the aquarium at the same time as the school group they will need to pay the general admission rate or use their membership benefit. Only those chaperones paid for by the school will be considered official chaperones and given a chaperone sticker.  They will be expected to stay with school group for the entire visit.”

 


 

PINE KNOLL SHORES

School Programs for PINE KNOLL SHORES near Atlantic Beach. Please check the location to make sure it is the Aquarium you intend to visit.

Teacher Led Tours

NC Schools - Teacher-Led Tour

Welcome to the North Carolina Aquarium at Pine Knoll Shores! Plan an unforgettable field trip to the Aquarium, 

where students dive into the world of wonder and water with a wide array of educational exhibits and programs.
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Education Programs

Different Places, Different Faces

 

Different Places, Different Faces
Some animals have the same name, but because they live in different places, they have different faces! Explore the different features it takes to survive in different habitats. Students will have the opportunity to meet a live ambassador animal at the program. Live animal may be a box turtle, pond turtle, terrapin, or sea turtle. Specific ambassador animals cannot be promised, and requests will be considered, but may not be possible to accommodate on the program date.
$2 per student. Maximum 150, Program length 45 minutes
Program is designed to meet K-1st grade standards.
LS.K.1.1, LS.K.1.2, LS.K.2.1, LS.1.1.1, LS.1.1.2, ESS.1.3.2
Programs are designed to meet specific grade level standards but can be booked for any age group with the understanding that grade-specific standards may not be met outside the suggested range.
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Wild Life

 

Wild Life
Animals all go through life cycles but do it in different ways. Let’s dive deeper into the life cycles of different animals, like reptiles and amphibians, and how they differ from one another. Students will have the opportunity to meet a live ambassador animal at the program. Live animal may be a turtle, snake, sea turtle, or salamander. Specific ambassador animals cannot be promised and requests will be considered, but may not be possible to accommodate on the program date.
$2 per student. Maximum 150, Program length 45 minutes
Program is designed to meet K-2nd + 4th-5th grade standards.
LS.K.1.1, LS.K.1.2, LS.1.1.1, LS.1.1.2, ESS.1.3.2, LS.2.1.1, LS.2.1.2, LS.2.2.1, LS.2.2.2, LS.4.1.1, LS.4.1.2, LS.4.1.3, ESS.4.3.1, ESS.4.3.2, ESS.4.3.3, LS.5.3.1, LS.5.3.2
Programs are designed to meet specific grade level standards but can be booked for any age group with the understanding that grade-specific standards may not be met outside the suggested range.

 

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Ecosystems: Energized-Marine

Ecosystems: Energized
(Formerly Predator and Prey)
How does energy move through an ecosystem? Follow the food chain to find out, and we’ll make connections to build our own food web in the process. Students will have the opportunity to meet a live ambassador animal at the program. Live animal may be a turtle, snake, salamander, or sea turtle. Specific ambassador animals cannot be promised and requests will be considered, but may not be possible to accommodate on the program date.
The program may focus on a marine or terrestrial food web. When booking, please state which food web you would like to focus on.
$2 per student. Maximum 150, Program length 50 minutes
Program is designed to meet 4th-8th grade standards.
LS.4.1.1, LS.4.1.2, ESS.4.3.1, ESS.4.3.2, ESS.4.3.3, LS.5.2.1, LS.5.2.2, LS.5.2.3, LS.6.2.1, LS.6.2.2, ESS.6.3.2, LS.8.2.1, LS.8.2.2
Programs are designed to meet specific grade level standards but can be booked for any age group with the understanding that grade-specific standards may not be met outside the suggested range.

 

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Ecosystems: Energized-Terrestrial

Ecosystems: Energized
(Formerly Predator and Prey)
How does energy move through an ecosystem? Follow the food chain to find out, and we’ll make connections to build our own food web in the process. Students will have the opportunity to meet a live ambassador animal at the program. Live animal may be a turtle, snake, salamander, or sea turtle. Specific ambassador animals cannot be promised and requests will be considered, but may not be possible to accommodate on the program date.
The program may focus on a marine or terrestrial food web. When booking, please state which food web you would like to focus on.
$2 per student. Maximum 150, Program length 50 minutes
Program is designed to meet 4th-8th grade standards.
LS.4.1.1, LS.4.1.2, ESS.4.3.1, ESS.4.3.2, ESS.4.3.3, LS.5.2.1, LS.5.2.2, LS.5.2.3, LS.6.2.1, LS.6.2.2, ESS.6.3.2, LS.8.2.1, LS.8.2.2
Programs are designed to meet specific grade level standards but can be booked for any age group with the understanding that grade-specific standards may not be met outside the suggested range.

 

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Cycles under Pressure

Cycles Under Pressure
Animals go through different life cycles, but all can be affected by environmental factors. Discover how things like temperature and pollution can affect an animal’s life cycle, and what we can do to help. Students will have the opportunity to meet a live ambassador animal at the program. Live animal may be a turtle, snake, or salamander. Specific ambassador animals cannot be promised and requests will be considered, but may not be possible to accommodate on the program date.
$2 per student, Maximum 150. Program length: 1 hr
Program is designed to meet 6th grade and above standards.
LS.6.2.2, LS.7.2.2, LS.8.2.1, ESS.8.3.2, LS.Bio.5.2, LS.Bio.7.3, LS.Bio.10.1
Programs are designed to meet specific grade level standards but can be booked for any age group with the understanding that grade-specific standards may not be met outside the suggested range.

 

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Shore to Sound

Shore to Sound
Enter unique coastal world: The Barrier Island. During your program we will "Travel" from the ocean to the sound to uncover what makes this salty habitat so unique, and what we can do to protect it.  Students will have the opportunity to meet a live ambassador animal at the program. Live animal may be a turtle, snake, sea turtle, or salamander. Specific ambassador animals cannot be promised and requests will be considered, but may not be possible to accommodate on the program date.

This program is presented in our Big Rock Theater, not an outside program

$2 per student, Maximum 150. Program length:1 hr
Program is designed to meet 3rd-6th grade standards.
LS.3.2.1, LS.3.3.1, LS.3.3.2, ESS.3.2.1, ESS.3.2.2, LS.4.1.1, ESS.4.3.1, ESS.4.3.2, ESS.4.3.3, LS.5.2.1, LS.5.2.3, LS.6.2.2, ESS.6.3.2
Programs are designed to meet specific grade level standards but can be booked for any age group with the understanding that grade-specific standards may not be met outside the suggested range.
Request

Hunter

 
Hunter
In a world of predators and prey, some animals stay at the top of the food chain. Discover the amazing adaptations of these predators and find out how they hunt! Students will have the opportunity to meet a live ambassador animal at the program. Live animal may be a snake, salamander, turtle, or owl. Specific ambassador animals cannot be promised and requests will be considered, but may not be possible to accommodate on the program date.
$2 per student, Maximum 150. Program length: 45 minutes
Program is designed to meet K-1st and 4th-5th grade standards:
LS.K.1.1, LS.K.1.2, LS.1.1.1, LS.1.1.2, LS.4.1.1, LS.4.1.2, ESS.4.3.1, ESS.4.3.2, ESS.4.3.3, LS.5.2.3, LS.5.3.1
Programs are designed to meet specific grade level standards but can be booked for any age group with the understanding that grade-specific standards may not be met outside the suggested range.
Request

Water Story

  
Water Story
Water is vital to all life on Earth, and just like life on Earth, water also goes through a cycle. From lakes to clouds, explore the way water moves around our world and why it’s important to protect and preserve water. Students will have the opportunity to meet a live ambassador animal at the program. Live animal may be a turtle or salamander. Specific ambassador animals cannot be promised and requests will be considered, but may not be possible to accommodate on the program date.
$2 per student, Maximum 150. Program length: 45 minutes
Program is designed to meet 5th-8th grade standards:
LS.5.2.1, LS.5.2.3, ESS.5.1.4, LS.6.2.2, ESS.7.1.2, ESS.7.2.2, ESS.7.2.3, ESS.8.2.1, ESS.8.3.2
Programs are designed to meet specific grade level standards but can be booked for any age group with the understanding that grade-specific standards may not be met outside the suggested range.
Request

Special Activity Programs - Extra Fees Apply

Behind the Scenes Tour: At a Glance

Participants visit the Aquarium’s food preparation areas, animal holding areas and husbandry laboratories. The program features a spectacular view of the Living Shipwreck from above.

Approximately 45 minutes

Grades 3rd and up, Maximum 20 people including teachers


Price: $5.00
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Wonderful Water

Introduce your group to the wonders of water! Students learn about the water cycle and the importance of clean water through hands-on water testing and animal explorations. Participants test the pH and salinity of several Aquarium exhibits to determine what types of wildlife survive in each environment.

Approximately 1  1/2  hour

Grades 3 and up, maximum 25 participants

 


Price: $6.00
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InsideMollusks - Squid Dissection

What do squid, mussels and snails have in common? They’re all mollusks! Through scientific observations and squid dissection, students discover the special characteristics of the phylum Mollusca.

Approximately 1 1/2 hour 

Grades 3 and up, maximum 25 participants


Price: $6.00
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Barrier Island Exploration

Bring your old shoes and gear up for discovery on a trek through the maritime forest to the salt marsh and shallow waters of Bogue Sound. Explore the creatures that inhabitat this fragile system and why they are so important and need our protection.

March-May

Limited availability due to weather.

Approximately 2 hours

Ages 8 and up, maximum 30 participants


Price: $5.00
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Beachcomber's Biology

Take a hike down the beach to discover the importance of protecting this fragile habitat. Students learn the value of dune management and habitat protection as they discuss seashells, sea turtles and ocean waves.

Approximately 1 hour

Ages 8 and up, maximum 30 participants


Price: $5.00
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