Family Adventure Programs
Bald Head Island is a true nature lover’s paradise, with miles of unspoiled beaches, hiking trails within the maritime forest and tidal creeks meandering through the salt marshes. Join one of the Conservancy’s island naturalists for an up-close look at these ecosystems and the abundant flora and fauna found throughout the island. Each trip provides a unique experience and a wonderful learning opportunity for all ages. Scroll down to see the diverse program offerings, many offered on a year-round basis or as the seasons permit. We look forward to exploring the island with you and your family! For upcoming education programs, please click on the calendar icon located on the right.
Bald Head After Dark
Call (910) 457-0089 or click to REGISTER NOW!
The island takes on a very different feel as the sun goes down and darkness falls. While many of the island's critters wind down for the night, several others are just gearing up. Join us in the Barrier Island Study Center for a brief presentation on Bald Head's active nightlife - including bats, frogs, toads, alligators, and bioluminescent plankton - before heading out and about on the island to find some of it ourselves! Meet at the Barrier Island Study Center. Participants provide their own transportation. Reservations required.
- • Offered: Mondays and Wednesdays, May-September
- • Hours: 8:00pm-10:00pm
- • Cost: $10 per person for BHI Conservancy Members, Free for BHI Conservancy Life Level Members, $15 per person for non-members
Bald Head Island offers fantastic opportunities for birding at all seasons. During the summer months, we are fortunate to have a large nesting population of the beautiful painted bunting. The island is also home to hundreds of egrets, herons and ibis as well as dozens of other species. Tours last about 2 hours and location is dependent on tides, weather and recent sightings. Bug spray is recommended. Bring binoculars if you have them; we will provide some extra to share. Participants must provide their own transportation. Meet at the Barrier Island Study Center. Reservations required.
- • Offered: Mondays, year-round
- • Hours: 8:30AM-10:30AM April-September
- • Cost: $15 per person for BHI Conservancy Members, Free for BHI Conservancy Lifetime Level Members, $20 per person for non-members
Did you know lurking beneath the surface of the salt marsh is one of the island's most ferocious predators? Join BHIC staff in the hunt for the blue crab! Grab the entire family and prepare to get your hands muddy, as we perfect the art of crabbing and cast netting! Crab lines, bait, dip nets, and cast nets are provided. Days and times vary weekly with the tides. Please note that we practice catch and release. Meet at the Village Creek Access located on Federal Road. Reservations required.
- • Offered: May-September
- • Hours: Tide-dependent
- • Cost: $10 per person for BHI Conservancy Member, Free for BHI Conservancy Lifetime Level Members, $15 per person for non-members
NEW! CSI:BHI - Beachcombing Edition
Call (910) 457-0089 or click to REGISTER NOW!
Put on your detective hats, and swing down to the Bald Head Island Conservancy to become a "Conservancy Shell Investigator!" Embark on the ultimate scavenger hunt. Explore the beach and surf with BHIC naturalists to unearth evidence left behind by beach dwelling animals. Learn how to use investigative tools like seine nets, dip nets, binoculars, and magnifying glasses. Your trip will begin in the Young Hatchling Learning Laboratory. This wet laboratory is located in the Barrier Island Study Center. Sunscreen, hats, and water bottles are recommended. Reservations Required.
- • Offered: Thursdays, April-November
- • Cost: $10 per person for BHI Conservancy Members, Free for BHI Conservancy Lifetime Level Members, $15 per person for non-members
Hands-On Dissections
Call (910) 457-0089 to register now!
Whooo Did Your Owl Eat? An Owl Pellet Dissection
Join Conservancy staff for a hands-on owl pellet dissection! Did your owl eat a rodent, shrew, mole, or bird? Learn how to use basic dissection tools in our Barrier Island Study Center. Introductory lesson great for all ages!! Pellets are masses of bone, teeth, hair, and feathers.
- • Cost: $15 per pellet. Families can work together on one pellet.
- • Dissections scheduled throughout the year- check the calendar located on the right hand side of this page for next program.
Join BHIC staff to learn all about a carnivorous predator in our waters…the SEA STAR! We’ll learn about their biology and predatory tactics. Staff will also lead you in a hands-on sea star dissection. Great for all ages!
- • Cost: $15 per specimen. Families can work together on one sea star. Your program fees completely support our mission of conservation, preservation, and education. Check the calendar on the right hand side of this page for the next scheduled dissection.
Join professional naturalists on a guided tour of the wildlife hotspots of Bald Head Island! This 2 hour guided tour will focus on the best wildlife areas for the particular season you are visiting. Take the opportunity to see birds, mammals, reptiles, and other amazing wildlife by exploring our pristine beach, maritime forest, and salt marsh.
- • $50 per person for off-island guests, includes ferry ticket, 2 hour guided tour, and golf cart transportation for the tour.
- • $20 per person for on-island guests.
Kayaking the Creeks
Call (910) 457-0089 or click to REGISTER NOW!
Explore the unspoiled creeks of Bald Head Island on a guided trip with Conservancy staff to learn about the beauty and importance of this habitat. Each trip offers a unique perspective of BHI and great views of wildlife; this is a must-do experience before you leave the island! Double kayaks are used, and children must be accompanied by an adult. Trips are tide and weather dependent. Meet at the Village Creek Access located on Federal Road. Please bring a water bottle, sunscreen, bug spray, a hat, and clothes that can get muddy and slightly damp. Reservations required.
- • Offered: April-November
- • Hours: Tide dependent, please check the calendar on the right hand side of this page for upcoming trips.
- • Cost: $45 per person for a 2 hour trip
Kids-Only Kayaking
Call (910) 457-0089 or click to REGISTER NOW!
Was your child unable to make it to one of our children's camps? Have they been stuck on the waitlist for camp kayak day? Sign them up for a kids- only trip! Your child can join Conservancy staff and other children to learn about the salt marsh in a relaxed, "camp-style" setting. Double kayaks are used, and children must be between 7 and 14 years of age. Sorry, Mom and Dad, these trips are just for kids! Trips are tide and weather dependent. Meet at the Village Creek Access located on Federal Road. Parents must sign a release form when they drop off their child in order to participate. We suggest bringing sunscreen, bug spray, a water bottle, hat, and clothes that can get muddy and slightly damp. Reservations required (910) 457-0089.
- • Offered: May-September
- • Hours: Tide dependent, Please check calendar on the right hand side of the screen for upcoming trips.
- • Cost: $45 per child for a 2 hour trip
Maritime Forest Hike
Call (910) 457-0089 to register
Take a hike! Through our beautiful maritime forest, that is! Maritime forests are considered a globally imperiled ecosystem, and BHI has one of the best remaining tracts of forest along the southeast coast. Join a Conservancy naturalist for a walk through these woods and learn why this habitat is so crucial to the survival of Bald Head. You will also learn first-hand about the floral and faunal diversity that can be found in the forest, and perhaps catch of glimpse of some of the critters that call the forest home. Perfect for the entire family! Meet at the Barrier Island Study Center. Personal golf cart transportation is required to get to the forest trail. Bug spray and comfortable shoes are recommended.
- • Offered: Year-round. Please check calendar on the right hand side of this page for upcoming trips.
- • Cost: $10 per person for BHI Conservancy Members, Free for BHI Conservancy Lifetime Level Members, $15 per person for non-members
Middle Island/Ibis Pond Sanctuary Hike
Call (910) 457-0089 to register
Explore the quiet solitude of Middle Island while visiting the Ibis Lake Sanctuary, a protected area of land that is private and only accessible with Conservancy staff. This particular spot is popular with several species of herons, egrets and ibis, with hundreds of birds flocking into the area to roost for the evening and early morning. We recommend bringing a camera! This is a spectacular event amidst beautiful scenery that is a must-see on the island. Meet at the Barrier Island Study Center. Reservations required. Personal golf cart transportation is required. Please bring bug spray and wear comfortable shoes. Binoculars and birding scopes will be provided.
- • Offered: Year-round.
- • Hours: Fridays, 9:00am-10:30am
- • Cost: $15 per person for BHI Conservancy Members, Free for BHI Conservancy Lifetime Level Members, $20 per person for non-members
NEW! Reptile Round-Up
Call (910) 457-0089 to register!
Join BHI Conservancy staff members in our Fleming Environmental Center to get up close and personal with our classroom reptiles. Learn about the unique adaptations that help our island reptiles survive! Participants will be able to touch live reptiles, turtle shells, snake sheds, and much more! Following the presentation, participants will also be able assist with feeding the reptiles. This program is great for all ages! $5.00 per person
- •Fridays 1:30pm-2:30pm starting in May 2013
- • Cost: $5.00 per person. Additional donations are always appreciated, as they fully support our mission.
- • Please call (910) 457-0089 to pre register. Reservations required to guarantee seating.
Sea Turtle Movie Screenings
Please join Conservancy staff, in the Barrier Island Study Center, for a screening of "Turtle: the Incredible Journey!" This film follows a loggerhead sea turtle hatchling from her nest, to the Gulf Stream, and back to the beach to lay her own nest! Along the way she faces many obstacles: predators, plastics, and sea level changes. Learn about the fascinating species that nests right here on Bald Head Island! Following the film, Conservancy staff will answer all of your questions about sea turtles. This film was released in 2011 and was directed by Nick Stringer. BHIC would like to thank the Hanover House Distributing Company for granting us permission to share this masterpiece. The film is rated G and is 1 hour and 20 minutes. Please be advised that this is not a cartoon film and some images may be too dramatic for young viewers. There is no charge to attend this film, but donations are always accepted and appreciated. Your monetary contributions aid our mission of conservation, education, and preservation and also assist our renowned Sea Turtle Protection Program. Seating is limited and provided on a first come, first serve basis. Please call (910) 457-0089 with questions
- • Tuesdays and Saturdays 1:00pm-3:00pm
Sea Turtle Patrol Ride Alongs Call (910) 457-0089 or click to REGISTER NOW!
Ride along with Conservancy Staff to get a firsthand look at what it's like to patrol for sea turtles. Participate in our 30th year of sea turtle conservation, and you might have the chance to witness a nesting sea turtle or hatching nest. This program is open for all ages, with children under 8 years old requiring an adult chaperone. Because of transportation restrictions, only two people can participate per night. We reserve the right to reschedule the program, or cancel with full refund, in the event of inclement weather or other circumstances beyond our control. Please note, participants will not be permitted to touch sea turtles during this program.
- • Offered: June 10th -August 8th
- • Hours: 9PM-Midnight
- • Cost: $125 per person for BHI Conservancy Members, $175 per person for non-members
NEW! Tales of Tails
Call (910) 457-0089 to register!
Join the BHI Conservancy in the library, of the Barrier Island Study Center, for an exciting story about island critters! A book- based craft will follow the reading. Special guests may also make an appearance! This program is geared towards children 6 and under, but all ages are invited to attend!
- • Tuesdays 2:00pm-3:00pm starting in May 2013
- • Saturdays 10:00am-11:00am starting in June 2013
- • Cost: $5.00 per child. Additional donations are always appreciated, as they fully support our mission.
- • Please call (910) 457-0089 to pre register. Reservations are appreciated, but not required.
Touch Tank Time
Call (910) 457-0089 to register!
Join Conservancy staff, in the Young Hatchling Learning Laboratory, to meet the creatures that inhabit our local tidal pools! Following the lesson, you’ll have the chance to help Conservancy staff feed the animals in our touch tank and salt water tanks! The Young Hatchling Learning Laboratory is located in our Barrier Island Study Center, behind Turtle Central, in the center of our campus.
• Wednesdays 1:00pm-2:00pm
• Saturdays 10:00am- 11:00am
• Mondays, Wednesdays, and Saturdays, from 1:30pm-2:30pm, starting in May 2013
• Cost: $5.00 per person. Additional donations are always appreciated, as they fully support our mission.
• Please call (910) 457-0089 to pre register. Reservations required to guarantee seating.
