Planning a Visit

Grades PK-4
One- and two-hour morning programs for primary and elementary groups are available from October – May. Dive Down Deep (PK) and Sea Star (K-4) Programs run Monday – Friday. Aquarium Outreach and CrabEcology programs are scheduled Monday – Friday during school hours.

Grades 5-12, College and Adult
Half-, full- and multi-day programs for secondary and college/adult groups are offered from September – May. Dormitory lodging and cafeteria meals are also available for out of town groups. The minimum number of participants for any of these programs is 15.

The Center’s Scheduling Coordinator is happy to recommend programs that will accommodate any group size for any length of stay requested. The minimum number of participants for any Grade 5-12 or adult group is 15. Larger groups are hosted by splitting into smaller working teams and rotating through several different classes simultaneously.

Overnight groups are limited to 60 participants total (including accompanying adults) and day programs can be arranged groups of up to 100+ students. Group accommodations are based on the availability of educators and space in the dormitory, cafeteria, labs and on boats. The scheduling coordinator works out the programming logistics for groups based on size and length of stay.

Teachers and parents are essential to all education programs and are required to attend and participate in all classes alongside their students. A chaperone is defined by the Center as an accompanying adult (teacher, administrator, parent, etc.).

One chaperone is required for every ten students and participates free of charge. However, additional chaperones beyond the required 1:10 ratio are charged the student rate. Chaperones are ultimately responsible for the safety, behavior and discipline of students in their group and must accompany them at all times.

A dormitory is available for use by overnight groups participating in education programming. The dorm has two floors of rooms that are arranged in suites that sleep up to 8 individuals each.

Restrooms are equipped with a single shower, toilet and sink. Bed and bath linens are not supplied. Two handicap-accessible rooms, each with two single beds and private bath are also available.

The Dorm Manager lives in an apartment on the first floor and additional staff live in studio apartments on the second level. The dormitory is directly adjacent to the cafeteria and recreation field. The Jay Wolf Nature Trail and Saltmarsh Boardwalk are available for group use after classes have ended for the day.

The full service cafeteria serves breakfast, lunch and dinner to groups in residence and on campus for the day. All meals are available for a minimum of 15 people and can accommodate up to 120 individuals in multiple seatings. The cafeteria also provides make-your-own bag lunches for residential groups headed out for a full day in the field.

Set fees are established for program, boat, dormitory and meals. All group fees are dependent upon program type, number of participants, length of stay and any lodging and meals required.

Deposits:

• A Non-Refundable $50 deposit is required for the Dive Down Deep (Pre-K) program to secure the date(s) and is applied toward the final balance due.
• A Non-Refundable $100 deposit is required for the Sea Star (K-4) program to secure the date(s) and is applied toward the final balance due.
• A Non-Refundable $100 deposit is required for half day programs to secure the date(s) and is applied toward the final balance due.
• A Non-Refundable $200 deposit is required for full day programs to secure the date(s) and is applied toward the final balance due.
• A Non-Refundable $500 deposit is required for all overnight programs to secure the dates and is applied toward the final balance due.
• Groups requesting a program that requires activities aboard the R/V Sea Dawg are assessed an additional boat fee.

Current fees as of July 1, 2023:

• One-hour Dive Down Deep program = $7/person school group. || $8/person non-school group.
• Two-hour Sea Star program = $10/person school group. || $11/person non-school group.
• Half-day program = $25/person school group. || $28/person non-school group.
• Full-day program = $50/person school group. || $56/person non-school group.
• Dormitory = $25/person school group. || $30/person non-school group.
• Meals (Breakfast, Lunch and Dinner):
  $12/breakfast school group. || $15/breakfast non-school group.
  $12/lunch school group. || $15/lunch non-school group
  $15/dinner school group. || $20/dinner non-school group
• Trawling Program R/V Sea Dawg Fee = $400/trip school group. || $600/trip non-school group.
• Scientific Sampling Program R/V Sea Dawg Fee = $700/trip school group. || $800/trip non-school group.
• Natural Barrier Island Program R/V Sea Dawg Fee = $700/trip school group. || $800/trip non-school group.

*Note: A Sea Dawg “trip” includes one departure and return to the dock.

Cancellations must be received in writing and signed by the trip leader, and will only be accepted by mail or as an email attachment of the scanned written document. If cancellation is made fewer than 7 days in advance of arrival date, the group will be billed for one-half of the fees assessed for all facility use, boat use, dormitory space and meals.

Please notify the Center ahead of time if there are special needs within your group. All facilities are wheelchair accessible.

Teaching Spaces
– public teaching aquarium
– touch tanks
– science labs
– art lab
– computer lab
– auditorium

Onsite Interpretive Areas
– archaeology exhibits
– salt marsh boardwalk
– wildlife observation platform
– Jay Wolf Nature Trail
– Skidaway Interpretive Cabin
– Skidaway Learning Garden
– natural history museum

Boats and Docks
– R/V Sea Dawg (43 ft. trawler)
– Carolina Skiffs (24 ft. open deck outboards)
– deepwater sampling docks

Residential Amenities
– dormitory
– cafeteria
– enclosed porch
– recreation fields
– picnic area

Additional Field Sites: The Center provides student access to a variety of wilderness field sites that include unique coastal habitats adjacent to the Atlantic Ocean and estuaries. Sandy beaches and dunes, tidal rivers and salt creeks, salt marshes and hammocks, as well as maritime and upland forests are typical field destinations.

Community partnerships and a fleet of research vessels provide opportunities for study in remote areas of Wassaw National Wildlife Refuge, Savannah Coastal Refuges and Ossabaw Island Natural Heritage Preserve. Barrier island study sites include Wassaw, Ossabaw, Tybee, Skidaway and Cabbage islands.