ArtSea Mini

Junior Programs Ages 4-8 Junior Programs Ages 4-8

Hey all you pint-size Picassos! Pack up your paintbrushes and head to the beach for a week of illustration fun. Explore our coastal marine habitats while reading books and learning how to sketch, paint, sculpt and create coastal critters and other works of art. Discover famous illustrators who use different mediums to illustrate their stories about marine life. Join us at ArtSea Mini and be inspired by one of the best studios that Mother Nature provides - the sea!

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What will students explore and discover?

Enjoy a special read-aloud book by authors like Eric Carl & Leo Lionni connected to the art project of the day.
Explore a variety of marine habitats and play educational field games.
Create environmentally inspired art for your portfolio using different mediums.
Participate in an Undersea Art Gallery showing on Friday.

Program Information, Tuition & Registration

ArtSea Mini Program Dates, Tuition & Registration
Ages	4 - 6 (must be pre-kindergarten ready and 4 by June 1st)
Gender	Co-ed
Staff/Student Ratio	1:6
Schedule	Monday - Friday
Time	8:00 AM - 11:45 AM
Summer Sessions	Week 3: June 23 - 27, 2025 1 SEAT LEFT Week 6: July 14 - 18, 2025 2 SEATS LEFT
Academic Fee	$255
Location	UNCW Campus - TBD
Registration Deadline	You must register two weeks prior to the start of the program.

Junior Program FAQs

What does my child need to bring/wear each day?

Each day students should be prepared to spend the morning outside. They should arrive with sunscreen applied, water bottle, snacks/lunch, backpack, and dressed for the day (you will receive an agenda on Monday as well as further information in the Welcome Packet you will receive upon registering). Students should wear clothing that can get wet, muddy, and messy each day!

In each student's backpack they should have the following:

Water bottle
Snack (half and full-day programs)
Lunch (full-day programs only)
Spray sunscreen
Dry beach towel in a 2-gallon Ziploc bag
Full change of clothes in a 2-gallon Ziploc bag
Closed-toed water shoes
Light jacket - it can get cold in UNCW buildings

These items need to be checked in with an instructor:

Any medications!
Emergency medications such as an Epi-pen or inhaler must be checked in with the instructor.

Optional items to pack:

Bug spray
Waterproof camera
Waterproof watch
A small hand-held fan if you get hot easily

More information regarding what to wear and pack is provided in the Welcome Packet. These are shared with parents upon registering for a program. Each parent will receive an agenda at drop-off on Monday. The agenda lists the materials needed that day.

How are the students transported?

Students are transported on New Hanover County School's (NHCS) activity buses. MarineQuest rents these buses from NHCS for the summer and hires their best bus drivers to join our program.

How are instructors for MarineQuest identified?

Most MarineQuest program educators are marine scientists pursuing or have recently completed their undergraduate or graduate degree in a marine science discipline. Also, we hire teachers who have a passion for marine science education. We search through 100+ staff candidates to identify a summer team with experience working with youth, marine science, and hold safety certifications including first aid, lifeguard, and more.

We are proud to have a team that is highly trained in both safety and marine science. Each staff member passes a criminal background check before hiring, is First Aid certified, passes a DMV check if they are driving, and is lifeguard certified if required by their position.