3 youth standing together in yellow shirts

Coastal Cruisers

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

Take a wild ride with MarineQuest and discover the migratory species that cruise along our coast.

Track the movements of turtles, sharks, whales and dolphins as they travel our shores. Learn how scientists use tagging, telemetry and photo-identification to document different migratory species. Experiment with ocean currents and barrier island movement. By the end of the week, you'll be a certified Coastal Cruiser, too.

Apply Here

What Will Students Explore and Discover?

Learn how scientists track the seasonal movements of vulnerable migratory species and storms.
Examine life cycles of important coastal species using scientific tools.
Investigate physical factors of the ocean, like temperature and salinity, that impact migratory species.
Model how coastal and migratory policy can benefit species.
Search for important coastal habitats such as sea grass beds during a safe, shallow water snorkeling adventure.
Explore the beach, marsh and fouling station while conducting fun hands-on science activities.

Program Dates, Tuition & Registration

Coastal Cruisers Program Dates, Tuition & Registration
Ages	7 - 8 (must complete 1st grade and turn 7 by the start of the program)
Gender	Co-ed
Staff/Student Ratio	1:10
Schedule	Monday - Friday
Time	8:00 AM - 3:45 AM Friday Pick up: 11:45 PM
Summer Sessions	Week 1: June 9 - 13, 2025 FULL Week 4: June 30 - July 3, 2025 4-day week FULL* Week 7: July 21 - 25, 2025 FULL Week 9: August 4 - 8, 2025 FULL
Academic Fee	$385 *$310 for Week 4
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.