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Youth field trip participants wear life vests looking over the river
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Mermaids

Program Dates, Tuition & Registration

Mermaids Program Dates, Tuition & Registration
Ages 5 - 7 (must be enrolled in Kindergarten for Fall and turn 5 by the start of the program.)
Gender Girl-centered
Staff/Student Ratio 1:8
Schedule Monday - Friday
Time 8:00 a.m. - 11:45 a.m.
Summer Sessions

Week 1: June 9 - 13, 2025

Week 3: June 23 - 27, 2025

Week 6: July 14 - 18, 2025

Academic Fee $240 (Cost reflected is from 2024. 2025 cost will be available soon)
Location UNCW Campus - Hamilton Lot
Registration You must register two weeks prior to the start of the program.

*Note that prices, content, dates, and times are subject to change without notice.

Junior Program FAQs

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.

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.  

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.

Contact Us

MarineQuest

Main Office: 626 MacMillan Ave. 
MarineQuest Lab: Center for Marine Science, 5600 Marvin K. Moss Lane 

Registration Office:
Phone: 910.962.2939

Office Hours:
Monday - Friday,
8:00 a.m. - 5:00 p.m.

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