Whatever your child’s education looks like this year: homeschool, a hybrid of in-school and online learning, or completely virtual, you will be happy to know that Emerald Isle, North Carolina offers so many opportunities for learning during your beach getaway. Learning doesn’t just happen inside the four walls of a traditional classroom. And now that you have some flexibility for long weekend getaways and shorter trips to the beach, you should really take advantage of them! Here are some of the best educational adventures and ways to keep learning during your Emerald Isle, NC beach vacation. 

The Beaches of Emerald Isle & the Crystal Coast

The beach is an incredible place to learn about so many things. The sand, the tides, the shells, the marine life, the lifecycle of sea turtles, the physics behind building a sandcastle, and how a kite flies, just to name a few. Use the curiosity of your children to delve deeper into these and other beach-related topics. Check out this free Ultimate Guide for Homeschooling at the Beach resource with lessons to help get you started. At the writing of this blog, the NC Aquarium at Pine Knoll Shores is not yet open, but they offer some great online educational resources available 24/7. 

The Atlantic Ocean, Bogue Sound & Intracoastal Waterway

The local waters are another wonderful place to learn. Whether you spend a day fishing, take an ecotour, embark on a sightseeing cruise, paddle your way through the soundside waters, learn how to sail, surf or swim, there are just so many ways to learn something new. Here is a list of local links to some of the best Crystal Coast adventures. A quick Google or Pinterest search on ocean units of study for homeschool will bring up more resources than you’ll ever be able to use, available to you any time you need or want them. 

The History That Happened on the Crystal Coast

The Crystal Coast is rich with noteworthy history and experiences that have happened over the years. From historic Fort Macon State Park, the maritime history of the coastal cities and towns, the military significance of the area and more, there is something for every kind of history lover and learner. The Beaufort Historic Site, Core Sound Waterfowl Museum and Heritage Center, History Museum of Carteret County, and NC Maritime Museum are a few of the wonderful historical local landmarks and resources. Explore their online offerings!

The Geography of North Carolina

Every place you travel to and vacation at is the perfect opportunity for a quick geography lesson. Locate Emerald Isle, NC on a map, plan your route, calculate the distance from your home to your Emerald Isle rental, and investigate the geography and vocabulary of coastal North Carolina. Learn more about barrier islands, since that where Emerald Isle is situated. You can expand your kids’ learning to the entire state geography by reading up on some fast facts about NC, the state capital, the state symbols and so on. Start here with National Geographic Kids North Carolina page! 

The Arts & Culture of the Local Area

Spend some time walking the streets and perusing the shops of our coastal towns for a true sense of the local flavor. You’ll see it reflected in the local businesses. Sometimes taking a few minutes to talk with the local residents and business owners is an education in and of itself. They know the area better than most because they live it every single day. The arts and culture of the area are intertwined in the people, the places, and the experiences found here in Emerald Isle and all along the Crystal Coast. It’s all here for you! (Just don’t forget to bring a face covering/wear a mask when you can’t social distance.)