Youth high fiving teacher during a kayak trip

Small Fry

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

Explore the mucky marsh and salty sea as we discover amazing creatures who call it home. Learn how fish are specially adapted to live in the ocean and why some use our marshes as nurseries. See what fish eat and where they live. Investigate their life cycle and get a hands-on understanding of how a fish grows and develops throughout their life.

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What Will Students Explore and Discover?

Begin each day with a thematic storybook and accompanying activities.
Experience a safe, shallow water “boat float” through the marsh.
Observe fish and other marine organisms up close using magnifying and other scientific sampling tools.
Investigate the fish life cycle and sing a fun song to help you remember their life stages.
Learn how to tell if a fish is the right size to harvest.

Program Dates, Tuition & Registration

Small Fry Program Dates, Tuition & Registration
Ages	4 - 5 (must be pre-kindergarten ready and 4 by June 1st)
Gender	Co-ed
Staff/Student Ratio	1:6
Schedule	Monday - Friday
Time	8:00 a.m. - 11:45 a.m.
Summer Sessions	Week 2: June 16 - 20, 2025 Week 5: July 7 - 11, 2025 1 SEAT LEFT Week 7: July 21 - 25, 2025 Specialty themed week! FULL*
Academic Fee	$255
Location	UNCW Campus - TBD
Registration Deadline	You must register two weeks prior to the start of the program.

*Note that prices, content, and dates 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.