Topics Related to Coastal Reserve

Sustainable Development 101: Educators Learn Through Interactive Games

The afternoon on the second day of our Teachers on the Estuary workshop involved games and candy money. Our Training Coordinator, Whitney Jenkins, brought out her favorite game to teach folks about watershed management.  

The Marsh’s Sweet Spot: The elevation where marshes are the most productive

Read part 1 here.

Mina Surprenant is the N.C. Coastal Reserve and National Estuarine Research Reserve’s 2024-2026 Margaret A. Davidson fellow. This two-year fellowship funds a graduate student's research that addresses a key reserve management need, helping scientists and communities understand coastal challenges. Mina, a PhD student in the University of North Carolina - Wilmington’s Wetland Ecology Lab, is studying the effects of sea-level rise on our tidal marshes using drones to visualize change. 

Teachers on the Estuary

Playing games? Learning about science? And receiving a stipend for it? That’s what 13 North Carolina teachers got to do for two days in June at the Rachel Carson Reserve in Beaufort, N.C.  

2025 Summer Intern Welcome

Please join us in welcoming our 2025 summer interns!

Visitors advised to keep distance from wild horses

The N.C. Department of Environmental Quality’s Division of Coastal Management is warning the public about how they can help reduce the risk to the most vulnerable residents of Rachel Carson Reserve. On Saturday, May 10, a 6-day-old wild horse, or foal, a resident of the Rachel Carson Reserve in Beaufort, was separated from its mother for hours following disturbance by humans on foot and boats. Several days later, a visitor approached the foal and its social group to coax the foal closer. Visitors are advised that these actions may result in legal consequences. *image available for download

NCDEQ Secretary, local and state representatives tour Masonboro Island Reserve on N.C. Coastal Reserve’s “Discover the N.C. Coastal Reserve” tour

The N.C. Coastal Reserve and National Estuarine Research Reserve, a program of the N.C. Department of Environmental Quality’s Division of Coastal Management, hosted its fourth stop on the “Discover the N.C. Coastal Reserve” Tour on May 16 at the Masonboro Island Reserve in Wilmington.

Rachel Carson Reserve Field Trip - Nature Hike

July 31, 2025, 8:15am - 10:30am
Trip InformationNature hikes occur during low tides. Closed-toed shoes are required, your feet may get wet and muddy, and we suggest bringing sunglasses, hats, binoculars, water, and sunscreen. Children must be at least 4 years-old to participate. The trip leaves from Beaufort on our 27' skiff. All participants are required to wear a provided PFD while on the boat.

Rachel Carson Reserve Field Trip - Nature Hike

July 17, 2025, 8:15am - 10:30am
Trip InformationNature hikes occur during low tides. Closed-toed shoes are required, your feet may get wet and muddy, and we suggest bringing sunglasses, hats, binoculars, water, and sunscreen. Children must be at least 4 years-old to participate. The trip leaves from Beaufort on our 27' skiff. All participants are required to wear a provided PFD while on the boat.

Rachel Carson Reserve Field Trip - Boardwalk

August 7, 2025, 8:15am - 10:30am
Trip InformationBoardwalk trips occur at high tide. You must wear closed-toed shoes and we suggest bringing sunglasses, hats, binoculars, water, and sunscreen. Children must be at least 4 years-old to participate. The trip leaves from Beaufort on our 27' skiff. All participants are required to wear a provided PFD while on the boat.

Rachel Carson Reserve Field Trip - Boardwalk

July 24, 2025, 8:15am - 10:30am
Trip InformationBoardwalk trips occur at high tide. You must wear closed-toed shoes and we suggest bringing sunglasses, hats, binoculars, water, and sunscreen. Children must be at least 4 years-old to participate. The trip leaves from Beaufort on our 27' skiff. All participants are required to wear a provided PFD while on the boat.