Fort Caswell Coastal Education Program

Fort Caswell Coastal Education Program The Fort Caswell Environmental Stewardship Program offers outdoor educational field trips focused on Our curriculum is correlated to state standards.

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 t

rips 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! 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.

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. 🐢

03/24/2026
We had an amazing time at the Brunswick Community Day! We loved being able to show the public what our education program...
03/21/2026

We had an amazing time at the Brunswick Community Day! We loved being able to show the public what our education program has to offer! Thank you to the Museum of Coastal Carolina for hosting the event and inviting us!

03/20/2026

VERY FEW things in life are free...but THIS SATURDAY's annual Brunswick County Community Day is...for Brunswick County residents with a valid ID!

Join us and discover Brunswick County’s unique environments and learn about the missions of organizations committed to conservation and education efforts in our county, including:

✅ Turtle Biologist, Author, and our Star Society Breakfast speaker, Dr. Christine Figgener
✅ Bald Head Island Conservancy
✅ Town of Ocean Isle Beach Recreation Department
✅ Old Bridge Historical Society
✅ Fort Caswell Coastal Education Program
✅ Brunswick County Library
✅ NC State Extension Master Gardener Volunteers
✅ North Carolina 4-H
✅ USCG Auxiliary Oak Island Flotilla 10-05

Address

100 Caswell Beach Road
Oak Island, NC
28465

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