students wearing snorkels and life vests on field trip

Sea Pals

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

Explore and discover different types of relationships found among marine organisms. Learn why the remora is always seen swimming with a buddy and so many more interesting relationships in the sea. In this family-friendly week friends, siblings, and cousins will have fun exploring the marine environment in this program specifically designed to accommodate big and little kids who are pals. Explore ecological relationships while making some MarineQuest memories for your family album!

Apply Here

This program is now full. Any applications submitted from this point forward will be automatically added to the waitlist.

What will students explore and discover?

Learn about the diversity of ecological relationships that exist in nature.
Investigate the impact climate change is having on a very important relationship found on the coral reef.
Discover coastal food chains during a safe, shallow-water snorkeling adventure.
Examine the anatomy and adaptations of organisms to understand their relationships with other organisms.
Explore the beach, marsh, and fouling station to observe and identify different types of relationships in coastal NC habitats.

Program Dates, Tuition & Registration

Sea Pals Program Dates, Tuition & Registration
Ages	5 - 8 (must be enrolled in Kindergarten for Fall and turn 5 by the start of the program) Most students register with a friend or family member.
Gender	Co-ed
Staff/Student Ratio	1:8
Schedule	Monday - Friday
Time	8:00 a.m. - 11:45 a.m.
Summer Sessions	Week 4: June 30 - July 3, 2025 4-day week FULL* Week 8: July 28 - August 1, 2025 FULL
Academic Fee	$250 *$200 for Week 4
Location	UNCW Campus - TBD
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

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.