Overview
Experience the importance of wildlife conservation alongside your students on this hands-on adventure along the North Carolina coast. Your students will explore the Piney Ridge Nature Preserve, learn from experts during a hands-on day at MarineQuest UNCW, and take an eco-cruise around Masonboro Island.
Itinerary
Day 1
Travel to Wilmington, NC
Lunch
Piney Ridge Nature Preserve visit
View carnivorous plants in this garden devoted to them. At this protected coastal preserve, you'll observe Venus flytraps, pitcher plants, and sundews devouring live insects. Discover the garden trails, expand your knowledge of these special plants, and learn about the importance of pollinators.
Dinner
Riverwalk Course Leader-led walking tour
Behold the stunning sunset as you walk the 1.75 mile boardwalk along Cape Fear River, an important artery for transportation and industry in historic downtown Wilmington, an area steeped in military history dating back to the Revolutionary War.
Day 2
Breakfast
MarineQuest program at UNCW
Spend a full day at MarineQuest participating in hands-on workshops and lab sessions. Rotate from classroom learning to coastal fieldwork as you investigate tidal outcrops, test water quality, and examine plankton health.
Lunch
MarineQuest program at UNCW
Spend a full day at MarineQuest participating in hands-on workshops and lab sessions. Rotate from classroom learning to coastal fieldwork as you investigate tidal outcrops, test water quality, and examine plankton health.
Dinner
Ghost tour
Explore Willmington’s haunted past on a moonlit stroll through old burial grounds and other historic sites. Hear spooky tales from your guide of restless patriots, haunted houses, and local ghost lore that’s been passed down for generations.
Day 3
Breakfast
Masonboro Island eco-cruise
Set sail aboard an eco-cruise to the largest untouched island on North Carolina's southern coast. Study the marine ecosystem of the marsh and walk the white sand beaches to observe and collect beautiful shells. Get up close with the anatomy of marine invertebrates by participating in a squid dissection lab.
Lunch
Wrightsville Beach free time
Learn firsthand why people love Wrightsville Beach with its stretches of white sand beaches, sparkling crystal-clear Atlantic waters, and quaint island charm. Dive into the ocean, sunbathe, or comb the beach for special keepsakes. You decide how you'd like to enjoy this idyllic setting.
Wrightsville kayak tour
Launch your kayak into the calm waters of the Intracoastal Waterway to explore salt marshes, tidal flats, and maritime forests. Learn from your knowledgeable guide on this tour along Wrightsville Beach through marsh grasses, winding creeks, and small picturesque islands.
Dinner
iFLY STEM experience
Dive into the STEM concepts of aerodynamics, gravity, and air resistance as you learn about the physics behind flight and wind tunnel design. Connect classroom theory to real-world applications by watching demonstrations, performing experiments, and enjoying an indoor flight experience.
Day 4
Breakfast
Cape Fear River Watch program
Learn about the impact of conservation science on communities as you hike through local ecosystems and paddle along Greenfield Lake. Along the way, you'll learn how watersheds, stormwater, and the water cycle impact our environment.
Cape Fear Museum of History and Science visit
Explore the breadth of astronomy and physics through hands-on activities and interactive learning experiences. Leap into space by trying on an astronaut suit, learn about astronomics, and even sidle up next to a 20-foot-tall sloth replica.
Lunch
Battleship North Carolina and Eagle Island experience
Gain in-depth knowledge of the native birds and fish of this protected environment. Participate in hands-on activities, examine historical maps, and learn about island formation. You'll explore the Battleship North Carolina as you encircle the ship on a memorial pathway honoring veterans.
Dinner
Thalian Hall Theatre Show
Watch a live theatrical production at one of the oldest theaters in America, where Oscar Wilde and Buffalo Bill Cody once performed. Take in your surroundings at this beautifully preserved Italianate-style 1858 venue with its ornate auditorium seating and architectural details.
Day 5
Breakfast
Sea Turtle Rescue and Rehabilitation Center tour
Become a sea turtle ally and gain insights into their careful healing process at this sea turtle conservation center. You'll get acquainted with the rehabilitation of various turtle species, learn the environmental threats they face, and their invaluable place in the marine ecosystem.
Sea Turtle Rescue and Rehabilitation Center workshop
Discover how sea turtles have survived and flourished for millions of years in this workshop. Engage with hands-on activities to explore a sea turtle's evolutionary adaptations and learn how their beaks have helped them forage specific, life-giving foods.
Lunch
Depart for home
Dinner
Already Included
Transportation to & from your destination
Hotel accommodations
Meals (unless otherwise noted on your itinerary)
WorldStrides Course Leader - a dynamic destination expert who brings learning to life by leading your group's activities and discussions
Admissions to top attractions (details in itinerary)
WorldAssist staff members available 24/7/365 should your group need extra help
Free high school credit for students who choose to complete WorldStrides free online coursework post-program
Field Research Guide (Discovery Journal)
Scenes from Coastal Carolina
Health & Safety
Additional health and safety measures may be available within your respective destination. Refer to your program-specific materials for complete details.
Financial Assistance
Financial Assistance
WorldStrides provides over $2.5 million in financial assistance each year to thousands of families. Families with annual adjusted gross incomes of less than $85,000 may qualify. One simple call to Customer Service and you’ll know how much may be available for your trip even before signing up. Please note: financial assistance is given on a first-come, first-served basis.
Payment Plans
Advantage Payment Plan
At program sign-up you can opt to pay in full, or break up the cost of your trip with the Advantage Payment Plan. This plan allows you to pay a small initial deposit, then have your remaining payments spread out into affordable monthly amounts.
EZPay
We offer an EZPay option, which is a simple way to pay for your WorldStrides program by scheduling hassle-free, automatic drafts from your checking account. With EZPay, you'll never be late or miss an installment.
Fundraising Tools
Our easy-to-use tools put students in the driver's seat of their own fundraising efforts. Students can send e-cards, share links on social media, and even send out printed letters through WorldStrides' Gift of Education program. In one click friends and family members can make a direct donation to the trip - with 100% of the money raised going to offset their trip price. Thousands of students pay for their entire trip each year through the Gift of Education.
Also, WorldStrides makes program-specific scholarships available as well as other scholarship resources. Ask your Account Manager for more information about scholarships and fundraising tools.