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
Explore Piney Ridge Nature Preserve as students walk a boardwalk through a rare bog to the Stanley Rehder Carnivorous Plant Garden. See Venus flytraps and pitcher plants, then visit Insect Alley and the Butterfly Pavilion to learn about pollinators.
Dinner
Course Leader-led Riverwalk walking tour
Stroll the 1.75-mile Wilmington Riverwalk along the Cape Fear River, enjoying sunset views, public art like the 15-foot Venus Flytrap sculpture, and views of the historic USS North Carolina Battleship across the water.
Day 2
Breakfast
MarineQuest @ UNCW program
Dive into ocean science with MarineQuest at UNCW. Students rotate between university labs and coastal habitats, analyzing water quality and plankton, then exploring salt marshes and tidal outcrops using real marine biology tools.
Lunch
MarineQuest @ UNCW program
Dive into ocean science with MarineQuest at UNCW. Students rotate between university labs and coastal habitats, analyzing water quality and plankton, then exploring salt marshes and tidal outcrops using real marine biology tools.
Dinner
Ghost Tour
Discover Wilmington's haunted past on a captivating walking ghost tour.
Day 3
Breakfast
Masonboro Island eco-cruise
Set sail for Masonboro Island, North Carolina’s largest undisturbed barrier island. Students go crabbing, explore salt marsh wildlife, beachcomb for shells while learning about mollusks, and complete a hands-on squid dissection lab.
Lunch
Free time at Wrightsville Beach
Paddle the Intracoastal Waterway on a guided kayak tour at Wrightsville Beach. Students pass salt marshes, tidal creeks, and maritime forests while spotting wildlife and exploring small coastal islands.
Wrightsville kayak tour
Paddle the Intracoastal Waterway on a guided kayak tour at Wrightsville Beach. Students glide past salt marshes, tidal creeks, and maritime forests while spotting wildlife and exploring small coastal 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
Dive into conservation science with Cape Fear River Watch. Students hike and paddle on Greenfield Lake while conducting water quality tests and learning how watersheds, stormwater, and the water cycle impact the environment.
Cape Fear Museum of History and Science visit
Explore science and history at the Cape Fear Museum. Students meet a 20-foot Giant Ground Sloth, try on astronaut suits to learn space physics, and explore interactive exhibits on local ecology and water systems.
Lunch
Battleship North Carolina - Eagle Island Immersion Experience
Deepen learning with the Eagle Island Immersion at Battleship North Carolina. Students model island formation, identify native species, and use historical maps and primary sources to study changes in the Cape Fear River.
Dinner
Thalian Hall Theatre Show
Experience live theater at historic Thalian Hall, one of America’s oldest theaters. Students enjoy a professional production while exploring storytelling, costume design, and stagecraft in a beautifully preserved 1858 venue.
Day 5
Breakfast
Sea Turtle Rescue and Rehabilitation Center tour
Students explore exhibits in the Great Hall and learn about sea turtles receiving care at the hospital. Through guided interpretation, they discover turtle species, injuries, and the rehabilitation process that helps protect ocean wildlife.
Sea Turtle Rescue and Rehabilitation Center workshop
Dive into the world of sea turtles through a hands-on activity exploring their unique adaptations, with a focus on how their beaks help them eat specific foods. Students learn how these ancient mariners evolved to thrive in ocean habitats.
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.