Fort Caswell Coastal Education Program

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Fort Caswell Coastal Education Program Fort Caswell Coastal Education Programs offers hands-on experiences that connect people with North Carolina's coast.

Explore local ecosystems, learn from passionate educators, and discover a lifelong appreciation for our coastal environment. As you cross the bridge to Oak Island, you will see one of North Carolina’s most diverse ecosystems: the estuary. Estuaries are areas where the river meets the sea, and they are “nurseries” for many plant and animal species. Fort Caswell is blessed to be surrounded by the salt marsh, Cape Fear River, and Atlantic Ocean. These unique ecosystems make for an amazing outdoor classroom. We lead field trips for K-12th grade school groups, focusing on hands-on experiential learning. We offer customized day trips and overnight trips to public, private, charter, and homeschool groups. Students can explore the shore and the fort, seine in the marsh, catch fish and blue crabs, view plankton under a microscope, and even kayak through a tidal creek! Our curriculum is correlated to state standards. We also offer teacher workshops for both formal and non-formal educators. The Cape Fear Education Building houses coastal education displays, freshwater and saltwater aquariums, and serves as our indoor classroom. Our goal is to increase environmental literacy and inspire people to be stewards of our coastal environment.

10/16/2026
Happy U.S. Coast Guard Day!Today we're giving a big thank you to the amazing crew at the Oak Island Coast Guard for ever...
08/04/2026

Happy U.S. Coast Guard Day!

Today we're giving a big thank you to the amazing crew at the Oak Island Coast Guard for everything they do to keep our waters and our community safe. From helping boaters to responding to emergencies, they're always there when people need them most.

We also want to thank them for welcoming our Coastal Education Programs team to tour the station and take a ride on one of their boats. It was such a fun experience and gave us a whole new appreciation for the work they do every single day. Getting a behind-the-scenes look at their mission was something we'll never forget!

Thank you, Oak Island Coast Guard, for your service, your kindness, and for all you do to protect the North Carolina coast. We're lucky to have you in our community.

Happy International Crab Day!Our coast is home to some pretty incredible crabs, and if you’ve spent time with us, you’ve...
04/26/2026

Happy International Crab Day!

Our coast is home to some pretty incredible crabs, and if you’ve spent time with us, you’ve probably seen a few of our favorites in action!

🦀 Blue crabs are found in our coastal waters and marshes. They’re both predators and prey, which makes them an important part of the food web. They’re also strong swimmers (thanks to their paddle-like back legs called swimmerets) and always keep things interesting when we catch them.
🦀 Fiddler crabs are the tiny but mighty marsh engineers. Their constant burrowing helps bring oxygen into the soil, which supports plant growth and keeps the marsh healthy. Plus, the males and their big claws are always a crowd favorite.
🦀 Ghost crabs live right on the beach and are perfectly adapted for life on land. They’re fast, mostly nocturnal, have 360 degree eyesight, and help clean up organic material along the shoreline.

From the marsh to the ocean to the sandy beach, each of these crabs plays a role in keeping our coastal ecosystems running.

This past week was Environmental Education Week! We wanted to shout out our AMAZING team of educators that we have here ...
04/24/2026

This past week was Environmental Education Week!

We wanted to shout out our AMAZING team of educators that we have here at Fort Caswell!

We get to see every day the energy, patience, and passion they bring to each group that comes through. Whether it’s exploring the marsh, walking the beach, or getting hands-on in a lab, they make every experience meaningful and fun.

Getting to watch them share their love for the coast with others never gets old, and it’s a big part of what makes this place so special. We are so thankful for our entire team💙

04/22/2026
04/22/2026
🌎Happy Earth Day! We are so lucky to spend our days at the coast and even luckier to have educators who are able to shar...
04/22/2026

🌎Happy Earth Day!

We are so lucky to spend our days at the coast and even luckier to have educators who are able to share their love with others. 🐢

Address

100 Caswell Beach Road
Oak Island, NC
28465

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