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Turn weeknights into a hands-on exploration of salt marshes and fish with Femme in STEM at 106 N Topsail Drive. This weekly program teaches teens real scientific skills through fieldwork, experiments, and poster presentations.
Turn weeknights into a hands-on exploration of salt marshes and fish with Femme in STEM at 106 N Topsail Drive. This weekly program teaches teens real scientific skills through fieldwork, experiments, and poster presentations.
Book with Topsail Aquarium
Verified experiences and guided adventures in the surrounding area.
Operated by Topsail Aquarium · Surf City, North Carolina
Femme in STEM After School Program brings hands-on biology and marine science to Surf City, North Carolina, running weeknight sessions at 106 N Topsail Drive on Topsail Island. The program packs a microcosm of the coast into an energetic weekly camp that turns curious teens into field scientists through experiments, observation, and creative projects. Whether students pore over marsh invertebrates, dissect fish anatomy, or design a habitat-protection poster, the work centers on the local salt marshes, estuaries, and nearshore life that define this seaside community. Hosted at a community-facing classroom and lab near the shore, the program uses real specimens and nearby ecosystems as its classroom. Key scene features include the salt marsh channels and cordgrass edges that teem with fiddler crabs and shorebirds, the shallow estuary where juvenile fish stage, and aquarium tanks and touch displays used for guided lessons. The week-by-week themes—Marsh Madness, Fish 101, and Important Habitats—map directly to local natural history and give participants repeated hands-on exposure to tidal ecology, species adaptations, and conservation science. Femme in STEM is structured for young people to practice the scientific method: generate questions, collect observations, run experiments, and distill results into a poster display. Groups are capped to maintain attention and safety—structured materials note a group size of 20—and coaches guide small-team fieldwork and lab sessions. The program is billed at $150 per camper; booking a Monday slot reserves the full week, an ideal option for families who want continuity and a steady dive into a theme. This offering stands out in Surf City because it couples classroom rigor with coastal fieldwork. Many youth programs describe nature learning; Femme in STEM directs students toward scientific inquiry with curriculum threads rooted in local habitats. It’s particularly valuable for aspiring female scientists and animal lovers who will benefit from repeated, scaffolded practice rather than a single-day outing. Practical details: the stated minimum age is 11 with a maximum of 17; sessions meet Monday–Friday in the evenings—check the booking page for exact daily times. Students should arrive ready for hands-on work: closed-toe shoes, simple notebooks, and an eagerness to get a little muddy during marsh observations. For parents and guardians, the program blends education and stewardship: students leave with concrete skills in observation, data collection, and an original poster that communicates what they learned—an immediate measure of progress. For visitors to Surf City, Femme in STEM provides a chance to see how local ecosystems function and why protecting them matters, all from a practical, experiment-forward point of view. Sign up through the booking link to secure a spot; program meets at 106 N Topsail Drive with a maximum of 20 students per week and offers hands-on labs tailored to coastal ecology today
easy.
3 hours.
Low physical exertion; students should be comfortable standing for short field observations and walking short, uneven boardwalks.
Structured materials list a minimum age of 11 and a maximum age of 17; check the specific session details when booking.
The program runs weeknights Monday–Friday; structured information lists a session duration of 3 hours—confirm exact daily times on the booking page.
The listing shows a rate of $150 per camper; booking for Monday reserves the full week.
Meet at 106 N Topsail Drive in Surf City for check-in and orientation.
Participants complete a creative display poster that communicates their research and findings from the week’s theme.
Groups are capped; the provided materials note a group size of 20 to ensure close supervision and hands-on learning.
Topsail Island’s salt marshes have long supported fisheries and shorebird migrations; the program ties local ecology to that coastal heritage.
The curriculum emphasizes habitat protection and low-impact field techniques to reduce disturbance to marsh and estuary life.
Topsail Aquarium in Surf City, North Carolina, is a community-focused marine education facility that offers hands-on experiences for families and visitors of all ages. The aquarium operates a variety of public programs, including Ghost Crab Hunts, Movie Night, Stingray Snack Time, and private Birthday Parties, plus a Personal experience option. Ghost Crab Hunts invite participants to join a research team for nighttime exploration, data collection, catch-and-release crabbing, and habitat measurement under guided supervision. Movie Night welcomes children ages 7–11 to explore aquarium exhibits before enjoying a family-friendly film with popcorn. Stingray Snack Time runs every Friday as a 15-minute feeding and interaction session designed to introduce guests to stingray behavior and basic facts. Birthday Parties provide a private one-hour celebration with exclusive access, guided tours, live animal encounters, and time for cake and gifts in a themed space. The Personal option is available for tailored visits. Staff and guides at Topsail Aquarium focus on education, safe animal handling, and responsible wildlife interaction; programs include catch-and-release practices and live animal demonstrations. The facility emphasizes hands-on learning, local coastal ecology, and family-friendly programming suitable for visitors looking for interactive ways to learn about marine life on Topsail Island. Located in Surf City, Topsail Aquarium serves residents and tourists seeking accessible marine education, outdoor evening programs, and short interactive experiences that fit a beach visit schedule. Programs are scheduled throughout the year and accommodate small groups, families, school groups, and visitors interested in coastal conservation, field research participation, and hands-on animal education experiences.
Book with Topsail Aquarium