Summer Camps

STEAM Summer Experiences
Registration for 2024 Camps is now open, however, the process for registering students has changed this year. Please see Registration Information below for more details.

Our summer camps focus on STEAM (Science, Technology, Engineering, Art, and Math) concepts and utilize hands-on experiences and exploration of the great outdoor spaces of the Outer Banks. Each week of camp features a particular theme and runs Monday-Friday, 9 AM- 3:30 PM.  We will accept up to 16 campers between the ages of 10-15 years old each week. 2024 Summer Camps will run the weeks of June 10- August 9, excluding the week of July 4. The registration fee for each week is $375 per individual.

Please note, due to various constraints, we are unable to accept any students not within the stated age range by the beginning of the camp session for which they wish to register.

Contact Parker Murphy or call 252-475-5452 for general camp questions. Contact ECU Continuing and Professional Education or call 252-328-9198 for questions about the registration process.

2024 Camp Themes & Dates

Sustainable Seas
Oceanography + Coastal Engineering Camp

Offered June 10-14 and July 15-19, 2024.

What drives currents and waves off our coast?  What’s happening on the seafloor and in the water column? Why do shorelines transform? How can we protect our coastal communities from stronger storms and rising seas? Find all the answers when you participate in our Sustainable Seas camp! In this week-long daytime program, campers will learn about oceanographic and coastal processes through the lens of technology and interact with scientists who use the tools daily. Each day will begin with the exploration of a basic research technique followed by the introduction of an advanced technology that makes the job both easier and often more fascinating, too! The camp is open to those 10-15 years of age. Each day will begin at CSI at 9 AM and will end at 3:30 PM. 

Shapes in Science
Art + Science Camp

Offered June 17- 21 and July 22- 26, 2024.

Ready to explore the intersection of art and science? Eager to refine your artistic skills while learning about the beauty that exists in our coastal environment? Want to try your hand at something new? Sign up for Shapes in Science to get those creative juices flowing. Through this program, campers will use different mediums such as ceramics, watercolors, and photography, to convey some of the research themes currently present at CSI. At the end of the week, the campers and staff will host a gallery that features the students’ work. The camp is open to those 10-15 years of age. Each day will begin at CSI at 9:00 AM and will end at 3:30 PM. 

Coastal Kingdoms
Coastal Marine Biology + Ecology Camp

Offered June 24-28 and July 29- August 2, 2024.

Have you ever wondered why some organisms live where they do? Or are you curious about what purpose some species serve? If you answered “YES!” to either of these questions, the Coastal Kingdoms camp is for you. During this week-long daytime program, campers will learn about the makeup of coastal habitats and the animals that call them home through hands-on labs and field trips as well as fun sessions with local marine biologists and ecologists. Coastal Marine Biology and Ecology is a great way to experience our beautiful coastal ecosystems and understand why they are so important. The camp is open to those 10-15 years of age. Each day will begin at CSI at 9:00 AM and will end at 3:30 PM. 

Legends of the Atlantic
Maritime Archeology + Ocean Exploration Camp

Offered July 8- 12 and August 5- 9, 2024.

What is the Graveyard of the Atlantic? Why are there so many shipwrecks off the North Carolina coast? Are you curious about the documentation and preservation of maritime relics? If these questions pique your interest, then dive on in with us! During this week-long daytime program, campers will learn about maritime archeology and the processes scientists use to understand and document the history of the Atlantic. Campers explore how shipwrecks contain clues to the past, try on dive gear, talk to maritime experts, and even see a few wrecks up close. Legends of the Atlantic  is a great way to delve into our coast’s rich maritime history and understand why it is so important to preserve.  The camp is open to those 10-15 years of age. Each day will begin at CSI at 9:00 AM and will end at 3:30 PM.  

Registration Information

ECU’s Continuing and Professional Education facilitates the registration process for CSI Summer Camps and other CSI programs such as Family Programs and Tours. Their online registration system requires users to create an account for easy checkout. To expedite the camp registration process, we recommend that users set up their account before registering for a program or camp. Use the buttons below to explore CPE’s new webpage for CSI Summer Camps and view a user’s guide to create a new account.

For questions or concerns about the registration process, please contact Continuing and Professional Education at 252-328-9198 or cpe@ecu.edu.

Cancellation Policy

CSI Camps follow the policies and guidelines set by Continuing and Professional Education, including the information provided below. For a full explanation of policies, please visit cpe.ecu.edu/registration/policies-procedures/.

If CPE cancels a course, you will receive full reimbursement of the course fee or you may request a tuition transfer to another course within a 12-month period. When selecting a different course, participants will be responsible for any difference in tuition cost at the time of the request or in some cases a participant may receive a credit on file.

Course registration is complete once payment is received. Course fees are payable in advance. Registration is not complete and will not be confirmed until we receive full payment. All registration fees must be paid prior to attending the course. If payment has not been received by the deadline, registrations will be canceled.

To request a refund, participants must submit a course withdrawal request electronically to cpe@ecu.edu at least 10 business days prior to the program start date. Participants may choose to transfer into another course in lieu of a refund, provided space is available in the other course. If the request to transfer is received 2 weeks before the course begins, there will be no charge to complete the transfer. If the request is received less than 2 weeks before the start of a course, there will be a late transfer fee of $50.

If a participant is unable to attend a face-to-face or residential course, they may request a refund or transfer to another course. They may also request a substitution. Unless otherwise noted on the program registration page, the deadline for canceling a registration is 10 business days prior to the course start date. If the Office of Continuing and Professional Education receives notification by email at cpe@ecu.edu or by mail before the deadline, it will:

  1. Reschedule the student in a future course, or
  2. Refund the course fees (minus $25.00 administrative fee).

Requests received beyond the deadline will receive no refund.

Please include the participant’s full name and address, registration details for the course to be canceled (i.e., course code, title, and dates), whether the request is to reschedule or receive a refund, and a daytime phone number where the Office of Continuing and Professional Education can contact the participant or company contact for billing questions.

Led by East Carolina University (ECU), The Coastal Studies Institute is a multi-institutional research and educational partnership of the UNC System including North Carolina State University, UNC-Chapel Hill, UNC Wilmington, and Elizabeth City State University.

MORE INFORMATION

CSI BOARD OF DIRECTORS

Based at the Coastal Studies Institute (CSI), the North Carolina Renewable Ocean Energy Program (NCROEP) advances inter-disciplinary marine energy solutions across UNC System partner colleges of engineering at NC State University, UNC Charlotte, and NC A&T University.  Click on the links below for more information.

ABOUT THE PROGRAM

JENNETTE'S PIER WAVE ENERGY TEST CENTER

SMALL-SCALE WAVE TANK

ECU's Integrated Coastal Programs (ECU ICP) is a leader in coastal and marine research, education, and engagement.   ECU ICP includes the Coastal Studies Institute, ECU's Department of Coastal Studies, and ECU Diving and Water Safety.

MORE INFORMATION

The faculty and staff at the Coastal Studies Institute come from a variety of backgrounds and disciplines, as well as departments and organizations including ECU Department of Biology, ECU Department of Coastal Studies, NC Sea Grant, the North Carolina Renewable Energy Program, and the UNC Institute for the Environment.

MEET THE TEAM

Tour the ECU Outer Banks Campus and learn about the research, education, and engagement projects of CSI and ECU Integrated Coastal Programs through our 360 virtual tour.

VIRTUAL TOUR

The ECU Outer Banks campus is home to the Coastal Studies Institute.
Located on Roanoke Island along the banks of the second largest estuary
in the United States, this coastal campus spans 213 acres of marshes, scrub wetlands, forested wetlands, and estuarine ecosystems.

FACILITIES

SUSTAINABLE CAMPUS