December 2023

Thanks to generous private donations to our Aquarium Scholars program, which provides grants to North Carolina Title I eligible schools, hundreds of underserved students have been able to take educational field trips to Jennette’s Pier this year.

 

The program provides financial support for unique aquatic education experiences. Teachers from across the state can take students on a field trip to any of the NC Aquariums or Pier or receive an education outreach program with an Aquarium educator, either in the classroom or virtually. Many of these students have never experienced the ocean or its animals up close. 


Over a dozen Aquarium Scholars field trips have already been booked to the Pier in 2024. The last elementaries to visit were Weeksville, Sheep-Harney and Mattamuskeet. 

 

Watching the students exit the buses you can see they’re excited. They typically shine brightest in our fishing program.

Pier educator Jenna shows how to “flip the clip” and wait for a “tap, tap, tap.” What’s the hardest part of fishing?” she asks. “The waiting!” the kids yell.

The Sheep-Harney fourth graders say amusing things once class gets underway. “It stole your bait!”

 

Across the way, a teacher asks, “Have ya’ll caught anything?” A student answers, “No, I got robbed!”

 

Another angler peers towards the shore: “I’m pretty sure I’ve been to this beach before!” Then, the conversation goes to the birds.

 

“Is that a pigeon?” one asks. “Yes,” a volunteer answers. “What would happen if I touched that crow [grackle]?”

 

“Why are they drinking that [hose] water, not ocean water?” he asks.

 

“That puddle is fresh water, the ocean is saltwater,” the Pier educator explains.

As the session rolls on, catching is slow.

What’s the hardest part of fishing? Waiting, waiting, waiting …

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