Booking

School Groups

Visiting the aquarium with your school is a great way to bring education alive. We offer many opportunities for your students to learn more about marine environments. You may choose one free program for your group during your visit. Program times vary between 20-30 minutes and are offered Tuesdays, Wednesdays and Thursdays at 10:00 a.m., 12:30 p.m. and 2:30 p.m.thru Memorial Day. We do not offer free programming on Mondays and Fridays. Field programs, dissections, and other interactive activities are also offered for a minimal fee.

Request a Visit

If your are interested in bringing a school group to the North Carolina Aquarium at Roanoke Island, please submit a REQUEST FORM.

Teacher Led Tours

North Carolina Schools

A teacher led tour allows your group to explore the aquarium at your own pace. Groups are scheduled to avoid overcrowding and to make sure your visit is a memorable one.

Request

Out-of-State Schools

A teacher led tour allows your group to explore the aquarium at your own pace. Groups are scheduled to avoid overcrowding and to make sure your visit is a memorable one.

Request

Pre-K thru 1st Grade

School Program PK-1

PROGRAMS:

• All About Sharks – These fascinating predators of the deep are not the man-eaters that many movies and news stories make them out to be. Learn the facts about how they eat, swim, reproduce and survive, and see examples of their skin, teeth, and skeleton.

• Sea Turtles –Sea turtles have survived for millions of years, but all species are protected in the U.S. because of declining populations. Learn about their nesting and early life, the survival challenges they face, and how we can help them.

• Live Animal Encounter - Meet some live animals up close and personal and learn about their adaptations for survival.

Request

2nd thru 4th Grade

School Program 2nd-4th

PROGRAMS:

• Marine Mammals - Investigate the wonders of whales and dolphins with fossils, biofacts, and activities.

• Believe It or Not – With the diversity of life forms found on Earth, there are occasions when some things sound unbelievable! Play our game to see if you will believe it or not about mammals, reptiles, fish, bacteria, and more!

• Tail Spin – Sharks are a popular topic and this game will seriously test what you think you know about them. Everything from their biology, relatives, conservation and different species characteristics will be covered.

• All About Sharks - Learn about sharks inside and out – how can these ancient creatures be so fascinating and frightening at the same time. Biofacts and costume.

• Live Animal Encounter - Meet some live animals up close and personal and learn about their adaptations for survival.

Request

5th thru 7th Grade

School Program 5th-7th

PROGRAMS:

• Marine Mammals - Investigate the wonders of whales and dolphins with fossils, biofacts, and activities.

• Sea Turtles –Sea turtles have survived for millions of years, but all species are protected in the U.S. because of declining populations. Learn about their nesting and early life, the survival challenges they face, and how we can help them.

• Jellies – You may call them jellyfish, but there’s nothing fishy about these animals! Learn about the different kinds of jellies, how they survive with a body made mostly of water, and which kinds may pose a threat to humans.

• Live Animal Encounter - Meet some live animals up close and personal and learn about their adaptations for survival.

• Science on a Sphere Program - See the Earth like never before with an educational program on our sphere in Neptune's Theater. Programs can be created to meet your standards. Program capacity limited to 60 students.

Request

8th Grade and up

School Program 8th Up

PROGRAMS:

• Jellies, All About Sharks, Sea Turtles and any of the games.

• Live Animal Encounter - Live Animal Encounters are a chance to meet some live animals up close and personal and learn about their adaptations for survival.

• Science on a Sphere Program - See the Earth like never before with an educational program on our sphere in Neptune's Theater. Programs can be created to meet your standards. Program capacity limited to 60 students.

Request

Special Activities

Squid Dissection

Students will investigate the external and internal anatomy of a squid in this introductory dissection. Taxonomy, mollusks, and by-catch will be additional topics discussed. A minimum of 10 students is needed to hold a class.

For grades 4 and up.

$10 per Student
No Charge for Teachers

Aqua Tots

Children and teachers are encouraged to take advantage of some toddler time in the Aquarium. Designed for ages 2-5, these exciting interactive sessions will encourage hands on learning through free play, stories, crafts, and open time in the Aquarium. We will look at a different animal topic or ocean theme during each class and incorporate shapes, colors, numbers and sounds.

Ages: 2-5

$7.00 per Child
$4 for Parents
No charge for School Staff

Shark Dissection

Students take an up-close look at a dogfish shark to investigate external and internal shark anatomy. An introduction includes the use of video, biofacts, and other mediums. Students will work in groups of four to dissect a shark specimen. Additional specimens can be provided at an additional cost. A minimum of 10 students is needed to hold a class.

For grades 6 and up.

$11 per Student
No Charge for Teachers

To schedule a Shark Dissection Program for your group, please contact the Special Activities Coordinator at 252-475-2327.

Marine Invertebrate Lab

Students become detectives in this hands-on activity, as they examine animals such as sea stars, horseshoe crabs, hermit crabs, and whelks up close. Moving from one workstation to another, students work in groups to investigate live animal specimens in search of telltale clues that provide answers to a quiz. A minimum of 10 students is required.

For grades 3 and up.

$8 per Student
No Charge for Teachers

Water Qualitity Testing/Behind the Scenes Tour

Venture behind the scenes of some of the exhibits at the aquarium to observe food prep areas, program animals, and filtration systems in action. Students will also have the opportunity to take part in water quality testing of at least two tanks in the aquarium. Water chemistry may include testing for nitrates, nitrites, ammonia, pH, temperature, and salinity.
Limited to 12 participants.
Closed toe shoes are required.

Grades: 9 and up

$20 per Person

Shark Tank Tour for School

Take a short visit behind the 285,000-gallon Graveyard of the Atlantic Exhibit. Peek into the dive locker, learn about an out-of-site holding tank, and get an overhead view of the largest exhibit in the Aquarium.

Closed toe shoes are required.

Ages: 8 and up

$5 per Person

Otter Enrichment Hour

The river otters at the Aquarium love their snacks! Learn about otter behavior, biology, and the importance of enrichment. Students will design an enrichment object to be shared with these playful animals, and get to see the otters enjoy the newly designed "toys" filled with treats.

Grades: K and Up

$10 per Student
No charge for Teachers

School Behind the Scenes Tour

Private Tour. Accompany an Aquarium educator to sneak a peek behind the scenes of different areas in the Aquarium. Visitors will see the exhibits and all the systems that keep them working, from a side normally viewed by staff only.
Closed toe shoes are required.

Ages: 8 and up - Children 12 and under must be accompanied by a paying adult.

$15 for non-members

Wetlands Walk

Join aquarium staff for a fun-filled learning experience in this catch and release program in a nearby salt marsh. We will travel to Oregon Inlet with nets and buckets to search for and collect some of the many animals that inhabit the marsh! Learn about an estuary, the sound, tides, and about the dynamic ecosystem at the marsh. All collected animals will be identified and released back into the sound.
This program must be scheduled around low tide.

Closed toe water shoes are required.

Grades: 3rd and up.

$8 per Person

Beach Exploration

Students will accompany aquarium staff for a hands-on, get wet learning experience on the shore. This program takes place at Coquina Beach in south Nags Head, and groups can meet aquarium staff on site. Students will collect animals in the surf zone (temperatures permitting), participate in a marine debris clean up, and focus on the physical and ecological characteristics of the beach. Topics may include waves, tides, sea turtles, sand dunes, beach vegetation, erosion, and others on request. All collected animals will be identified and released.
Closed toe water shoes are required.

Grades: 3rd and up.

$8 per Person

Night Hike

Meet inside the pavilion at the Nags Head Woods Nature Preserve to talk about nocturnal animals or aspects of astronomy for the first portion of the class. Common themes are the moon, bats, owls, moths and spiders. After the inside portion, we will go outside to hike some of the trails of Nags Head Woods at night.

For all grades.
Children 16 and under must be accompanied by a paying adult.

$7 per Person

Gyotaku

Students will learn some basics about fish and have an opportunity to be creative with their fish prints in this artistic program. The program opens with a lesson on fish anatomy and adaptations, and the history of Gyotaku. Students will then have time to design prints of their own and practice the Japanese art of fish printing. One T-shirt is provided for each participant, or students may bring their own t-shirt for an adjusted price. All other art materials are provided.

Grades: K and Up.

$16 per Participant
$10 per Participant who provides their own shirt.
No Charge for School Faculty

Sleepovers

Sleeping with the Sharks

If you’re looking for a one-of-a-kind experience, join us at the North Carolina Aquarium on Roanoke Island for an overnight program that will have your group “swimming” with excitement for months! Groups can slumber in front of the 285,000-gallon Graveyard of the Atlantic tank, as sharks and other fish swim close by. This program is for private groups and includes two programs for your education and enjoyment.

Participants must be ages 6 and older.

CHOOSE TWO OF THE FOLLOWING PROGRAMS:
Turtles, alligators, snakes, sharks, touch tank talk, Ocean Jeopardy, night hike, and Gyotaku (Fish Printing).

$45.00 per Person
$50 per Person, if there are more than 25 Children
$100 Deposit is required upon making your reservation.

MINIMUM OF 12 PARTICIPANTS OR $540

For more details or to register for an Overnight, please contact our Special Activities Coordinator at
(252)-475-2327.