Whether you are a local or planning a family trip, North Carolina is a great place to visit during the summer and have fun while learning! It features beautiful shorelines and ecosystems, gorgeous gardens, fascinating historical sites and fun museums.
Your whole family will enjoy venturing through the state as your children expand their learning with real-life experiences. Whether you plan a fun day trip or incorporate some educational activities into a family vacation, there are so many exciting learning opportunities in North Carolina!
Benefits of Educational Activities Outside of School
School is essential for learning, but there is so much to learn outside of school as well. Children learn about history, science, art and culture in school, but educational activities outside of the classroom allow them to truly experience and understand these subjects. Here are some of the most important benefits of educational activities outside of school:
Enhanced Learning
Children learn the essentials in the classroom, but educational activities outside of school can expand upon and enhance their learning. Historical tours and museums often provide fun facts and additional information about history and science that aren’t always covered in textbooks.
Real-Life Experiences
Educational activities outside of school give children the opportunity to truly experience history, science, and art. Though they can learn the dates of the Civil War in a classroom, touring a historical site will truly bring it to life for them. Visiting a World War II battleship allows children to experience what life was like on a ship during the war, and playing with interactive exhibits at a science museum allows them to do some hands-on experimentation.
Greater Appreciation for Learning
Sparking your child’s interests is important for their education, and learning outside of school can incite a greater appreciation for learning. Exploring an ecosystem, climbing the stairs of a lighthouse, or having up-close encounters with wildlife can excite children and ignite curiosity to help them grow.
Experiencing history, science, and culture up close will make children feel connected to the world around them, and encourage students to want to know more. Childhood is an age of curiosity, and nothing boosts interest like a fun educational adventure!
15 Best Educational Activities in North Carolina
Learning comes to life in North Carolina! Give your children the chance to explore ecosystems, interact with science exhibits, marvel at artwork, and witness wildlife species in their natural habitats. The whole family can enjoy picking up fascinating new information about the environment on peaceful nature walks or touring a historic lighthouse after a fun day on the beach. To give your children fun and educational experiences in North Carolina, check out these exciting academic activities:
1. Visit an Aquarium
North Carolina is home to a wide variety of aquatic life. Visit an aquarium to learn about fish, sharks, whales, dolphins, and more. At an aquarium, your kids can observe sea creatures up close and learn all about life under the sea. Some aquariums even feature touch tanks where you can hold various sea creatures such as horseshoe crabs, stingrays, and more! To view ocean life up close, visit any of the following North Carolina aquariums:
- Sea Life Charlotte-Concord Aquarium in Charlotte
- North Carolina Aquarium at Fort Fisher in Kure Beach
- Greensboro Science Center in Greensboro
- Team ECCO Ocean Center Aquarium in Hendersonville
- North Carolina Aquarium at Pine Knoll Shores, Roanoke Island and Nags Head
- Museum of Coastal Carolina at Ocean Isle Beach
2. Explore Space at the Ingram Planetarium
Enable your kids to learn about space, planets, stars, and more with a visit to the Ingram Planetarium in Sunset Beach, North Carolina. Marvel at the wonders of space, science, and wildlife in the planetarium’s Sky Theater, or explore interactive displays and hands-on activities in the Paul Dennis Science Hall.
Your kids can learn about engineering, coding, technology, the solar system, hurricanes, and air and space innovations at various exhibits throughout the planetarium. The Ingram Planetarium also features fun laser light and music shows for the whole family to enjoy!
3. Visit the Airborne and Special Operations Museum
The United States Army Airborne and Special Operations Museum in Fayetteville, North Carolina, features exhibits about heroic soldiers from past to present. Learn about the army’s Airborne and Special Operations Forces from 1940 to the present day by exploring exhibits about World War II, the Cold War, the Korean War, the Vietnam War, and more.
4. Take Water Sports Lessons
Have a child who can’t get enough of the water? Help your children learn a new skill and get some exercise simultaneously! North Carolina is home to many beaches, waterways, marshlands, and more that are perfect for water sports. Sign your child up for a surfing lesson, or take a family kayaking or paddle boarding lesson and explore the water together on an eco-tour. If your child is more adventurous, they can also try kiteboarding or windsurfing!
5. Explore a Nature or Wildlife Reserve
Visit a nature or wildlife reserve to learn about wildlife, habitats, plant life and more. Exploring nature up close gives children a greater appreciation of science, animals, and the outdoors. Some nature and wildlife reserves, such as the Alligator River National Wildlife Refuge and the Pea Island National Wildlife Refuge even offer guided tours and educational sessions.
6. Visit the Carolina Raptor Center
Did you know that North Carolina is home to several different species of birds? Learn about over 20 bird species at the Carolina Raptor Center in Charlotte, North Carolina! Walk on the self-guided trail and take photos, or participate in special encounters and events, and learn all about bird conservation.
7. Tour the Fort Fisher Historic Site
The Fort Fisher historic site in Kure Beach, North Carolina, provides opportunities for both adults and children to learn more about North Carolina’s role in the Civil War. Take a guided tour and let your little ones learn how to perform a drill. Learn about United States infantrymen and Confederate artillerists and tour historic structures.
8. Learn About a Small Beach Town’s History
Take your children to the Wrightsville Beach Museum of History to learn about its interesting background. Learn about topics such as pre-Civil War sailing regattas, the Big Band music of the 1930s, early bathing attire, and water sports. Your children will view early memorabilia, photos, and videos that tell Wrightsville Beach’s chronological history.
9. Enjoy Beautiful Flowers and Plant Life
Visit the North Carolina Arboretum to see indoor and outdoor exhibits on education, science, culture, and art. You can walk with your children through gorgeous gardens and watch as they learn about flowers they’ve never seen before. Your children will enjoy seeing wildflowers, bonsai trees, and plants that support butterflies and other pollinators. The North Carolina Arboretum also offers special events, on-site classes, and over 10 miles of fun hiking trails! It’s the perfect place to learn more about gardening, bird species, and plant biology.
10. Tour Downtown Wilmington
Downtown Wilmington is full of fun and educational activities for families to enjoy. Walk along the Cape Fear River or take a fun guided tour to learn about Wilmington’s history. But you don’t just have to walk, you can also opt for a Segway, boat ,trolley, or carriage tours!
Visit the Cape Fear Museum to view artifacts from the Civil War, Native American history, and the 17th through 21st centuries. Here the opportunities are endless. Students can learn about modern paleontology or the history of Southern musicians, or even engage in some STEM learning as they explore interactive exhibits about Earth and space.
11. Check out the USS North Carolina Battleship
While you’re in Wilmington, you can also visit the USS North Carolina Battleship, a World War II battleship that opened to the public in 1961. Your children will enjoy exploring nine ship levels that include the engine room, mess decks, bridge, berthing areas, and a Combat Information Area. This historic site also features a museum and a memorial of North Carolina service members who lost their lives in World War II.
12. Walk Through the Linville Caverns
The Linville Caverns in Marion, North Carolina, is an exciting place for kids to learn about science and history. Your kids will love getting to be real-like splunkers as they explore the caverns full of weathered limestone rock formations. They can also walk along a freshwater stream that runs through the caverns, see wildlife such as bats and fish, experience a section of total darkness, and learn about the cavern’s history.
13. See the Wright Brothers National Memorial
For students interested in aeronautics, the Wright Brothers National Memorial in Kill Devil Hills, North Carolina, is the perfect place to explore. Let your children discover Orville and Wilbur Wright’s work of inventing, building, and flying the world’s first powered airplane. Your children can visit the site where the Wright brothers flew the first plane, explore the brothers’ living quarters from 1903, touch a sculpture of the first flight, and learn from interactive exhibits in the visitor center!
14. Explore the Cape Hatteras National Seashore
Take your children on an adventure to learn about ecology and history on the Cape Hatteras National Seashore. Take a guided tour with a park ranger and view the beautiful landscape and wildlife, climb historic lighthouses, or take a guided fishing or horseback riding excursion.
15. Admire Stunning Artwork
Immerse your children in art and culture at the North Carolina Museum of Art in Raleigh, North Carolina. Your children will be able to see art pieces from the Italian Renaissance period, the Baroque period, ancient Greece, and 18th- and 20th-century America. The museum also features pop-up exhibits and a 164-acre park that holds monumental artwork and art pieces that incorporate nature.
As you work out your itinerary educational activities, make sure you browse websites and purchase tickets in advance if necessary. Some museums and historical sites require advance reservations. Check out North Carolina national park and nature preserve website calendars to see when they are hosting special educational events and guided tours.
Find the Best School for Your Child With Schola
Immersing your children in educational activities outside of school is important for their development and curiosity, but the school they attend is even more important. Find a school for your child that meets their needs and supports their interests and learning style. Don’t just settle for the closest academic institution. Give your children the education they deserve and help them reach success!
Finding the right school can be difficult, but it doesn’t have to be! Schola can help you determine the best school for your child and effortlessly connect with them to enroll your child. Complete your ScholaMatch™ to discover the best fit for your child based on their interests, needs, learning style, and location.
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