2026 Spring Break Education Programs

Looking for something to do over Spring Break?!  Spend an hour with the Karen Beasley Sea Turtle Rescue and Rehabilitation Center learning about sea turtles! Through stories, crafts, and hands-on activities, discover more about these remarkable creatures.

Monday, March 30 & Monday, April 6th
9:30 am: Sea Turtle Rescue (Beach, grades K-8). Become a sea turtle stranding volunteer and learn how we do an intake of a sea turtle. ($5/child, limit 30) adults free!)

2:30 pm: TEDS  (Classroom, grades K-8). Become a conservation engineer and create a "Turtle Excluder Device" to help minimize the number of sea turtles caught in fishing nets. ($5/child, limit 15, adults free!)

Tuesday, March 31 & April 7th
9:30 am: Sea Turtle Sculptures (Beach, grades K-8). Learn about the different sea turtle species and build life-sized sea turtles out of sand. ($5/child, limit 30 adults free!)

2:30 pm: Sea Turtle CSI (Classroom, grades K-8). Become a sea turtle detective by completing a sea turtle "necropsy" and learning more about sea turtle anatomy. ($5/child, limit 15, adults free!)

Wednesday, April 1 & April 8th
9:30 am: Nest Quest (Beach, grades K-8). Become a "beach walker" volunteer, follow sea turtle tracks, uncover hidden nests, and learn about sea turtle conservation. ($5/child, limit 30 adults free!)

2:30 pm: Sea Turtle EEDs (Classroom, grades K-8). Learn about the importance of Environmental Enrichment Devices, then invent and build a model of an EED for the turtles. ($5/child, limit 15, adults free!)

Thursday, April 3 & April 9th

9:30 am: Shore Stewards (Beach, grades K-8). Become a citizen scientist by doing a beach cleanup and finding out what trash is found most often on our beaches. Finish by inputting data into an international coastal cleanup website. ($5/child, limit 30, adults free!)

2:30 pm: ICE see a Sea Turtle (Classroom, grades K-8).Experience the process of sea turtle cold-stunning. Learn how sudden drops in temperatures impact these cold-blooded reptiles. ($5/child, limit 15, adults free!)

Friday, April 10th

9:30 am: Nest Quest (Beach, grades K-8. Become a "beach walker" volunteer, follow sea turtle tracks, uncover hidden nests, and learn about sea turtle conservation. ($5/child, limit 30, adults free!)

Additional Information:

1. Programs on the beach  @ Beach Access #5 in Surf City (Morning Programs) are limited to 30 children per session
2. Programs at The Karen Beasley Rescue and Rehabilitin Center (Afternoon Programs) are limited to 15 children per session.
3. Programs do NOT include a tour of the Sea Turtle Hospital.
   
4. Children must be accompanied by a parent or guardian.
5. Adults are free.
6. Questions? email education@seaturtlehospital.org

Program Locations:

Outdoor Activities: 9:30 programs- take place at Beach Access #5 located at Broadway Street in Surf City. Parking is available. Please note that the Town of Surf City charges for parking.

Classroom Activities:  2:30 programs are held at the Karen Beasley Sea Turtle Rescue and Rehabilitation Center located at 302 Tortuga Lane, Surf City, NC.

The Karen Beasley Sea Turtle Rescue and Rehabilitation Center is a nonprofit organization dedicated to the conservation and protection of all sea turtles through rescue, rehabilitation, release, nest monitoring, science, and education. You are helping to save sea turtles by purchasing tickets for these programs. Thank you!