What is the minimum age for participants?

No minimum age is listed; the program is family-focused and suitable for young children when accompanied by an adult.

Where is the meeting point?

The meeting point is Soundside Park Boat Ramp—look for the group near the ramp before the activity begins.

Is equipment provided?

Yes. Organizers supply dip nets, seine nets, and any other gear needed for the hands-on experience.

How much does it cost?

The listed price is $15 per person for the one-hour session.

What is the cancellation policy?

A 30-day cancellation policy applies for refunds to the original card.

Are there accessibility considerations?

The program includes standing in shallow water and walking over soft mud; check with the operator for specific accessibility accommodations.

Father’s Day Marsh Dip: Decapods with Dad at Soundside Park

Soundside Park Boat Ramp sits at the edge of a low-lying coastal marsh, where tidal creeks braid through cordgrass and shallow channels. Decapods with Dad takes place here, a one-hour, family-focused marsh walk and dip-netting session that turns mud and water into a living classroom. Guided naturalists coach parents and kids in using dip nets, seine nets, and cast nets to pull up fiddler crabs, juvenile shrimp, and other ten-legged creatures, then identify what they find and return it safely to the water. This outing is simple but vivid: the smell of salt and mud, the clack of crab claws, and the bright flash of a shrimp slipping through a net. Organizers provide all equipment and limit groups to about twenty people, keeping the setting intimate and hands-on. Closed-toed shoes are required to protect feet from oysters that scab the shoreline; sun protection and a refillable water bottle make the hour more comfortable. The meeting point is Soundside Park Boat Ramp, where families gather before stepping into shallow tidal channels to sweep nets and compare catches. What makes this excursion a standout is its focus on direct experience. Many coastal tours point at birds from a distance; this program invites you to feel the ecosystem. For locals, these marshes are a working landscape—oysters, baitfish, and crustaceans link to a long history of small-scale fishing and stewardship. For visiting families, the trip is a crash course in coastal ecology: discover how cordgrass stabilizes mud, why oyster beds matter, and how juvenile fish use creeks as nurseries. The activity is intentionally accessible: it’s perfect for young children and grandparents who can move at an easy pace, yet it also rewards curious adults with species ID and ecological context. At $15 per person and a 30-day cancellation policy, it’s an affordable way to celebrate a holiday or spend an afternoon outdoors without a steep time commitment. Bring closed-toed shoes, sun protection, and a sense of curiosity. Expect to get a little muddy, learn names like 'decapod,' and leave with photos of tiny claws and grinning faces. Whether you’re making a Father’s Day memory or introducing a child to nature, Decapods with Dad is a short, lively plunge into the tidal world that sustains coastal communities. Guides often point out subtle signs of tidal rhythms and explain how marsh productivity supports local fisheries; they describe how oysters filter water and how storm surge affects habitats. The program accommodates different mobility levels but includes standing in ankle- to knee-deep water and light walking over soft mud. Photographers will find close-up opportunities of small life, while educators appreciate the curriculum-style explanations. Seats for strollers are limited; check accessibility details when booking. Reserve early to secure spots.

About Ecological Marine Adventures

Ecological Marine Adventures is a Surf City, North Carolina business that offers hands-on marine education and outdoor experiences for children and families. Founded to connect kids with local coastal ecosystems, the organization runs a variety of programs including boat tours, single-day themed classes, multi-day camps, homeschool science sessions, toddler Sea School classes, and birthday parties. Programs listed include the Boat Tour: Island Adventure, Guppies Single Day classes such as Totally Tubular! and Sea Turtles 101, Sea Squirt multi-day classes, EMA Homeschool Science Classes, Sea School Program Spoonbill class, seasonal Fall Break and Winter classes, and a free community Story Time.

Activities focus on specimen collection, experiments, animal encounters, coastal exploration, and creative arts. Boat trips cruise the Intracoastal Waterway and emphasize shoreline ecology, with opportunities to spot dolphins, ospreys, and find shark teeth and shells. Toddler and preschool classes are tailored to ages three to five, while homeschool and single-day classes serve children ages five to twelve. Birthday party options include fishing, shark tooth hunting, and aquarium-based celebrations for groups up to thirty guests.

Instructors use hands-on, age-appropriate learning to build curiosity, observational skills, and environmental awareness in a safe, supervised setting. Sessions take place at local marshes, beaches, and a microscope lab when noted. A free Story Time program is offered on select Tuesday mornings at 10am for families with children under eleven. Ecological Marine Adventures emphasizes experiential learning rooted in local coastal ecology, making it a choice for families and educators seeking outdoor science activities in Surf City.

Father’s Day Marsh Dip: Decapods with Dad at Soundside Park

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