Family Activities

Introductory Nature Tour

(Previously Island Nature Tour)  Join us for a guided tour of wildlife hotspots on breathtaking BHI. Learn to use iNaturalist to record wildlife sightings at BHI’s maritime forest, salt marsh & pristine beaches.  Meet at the Conservancy.  Personal golf cart transportation is required.

$20/person for BHI Conservancy Members  |   $25/person for Non-Members  

OFF-ISLAND PRICES*:
$35/person for BHI Conservancy Members  |   $45/person for Non-Members
(includes ferry ticket and cart transportation*)

 

*Take 8:00AM ferry from Deep Point Marina in Southport, NC.  BHI Conservancy staff will provide ferry tickets at the gate and arrange for island transportation. 

Advanced Nature Tour (Summer)

Led by full-time staff, join us for this in-depth tour of the habitats that serve as the foundation of barrier island habitats.  Activities include learning how to utilize iNaturalist & GIS mapping to understand the coastal dynamics of BHI.   Meet at the Conservancy.  Personal golf cart transportation is required.

$30/person for BHI Conservancy Members  |   $40/person for Non-Members  

OFF-ISLAND PRICES*:
$45/person for BHI Conservancy Members  |   $60/person for Non-Members
(includes ferry ticket and cart transportation*)

 

*Take 8:00AM ferry from Deep Point Marina in Southport, NC.  BHI Conservancy staff will provide ferry tickets at the gate and arrange for island transportation. 

Cosmos & Cocoa

View constellations and planets from Bald Head Island.  Learn how to use sky charts and new technology to enhance your stargazing experience.  Minimal light pollution provides for a breathtaking show. Learn about the impacts of light pollution and how to take part in a global citizen science project.   Meet at the Conservancy. Cocoa will be provided.

$15/person for BHI Conservancy Members  |   $20/person for Non-Members

Kayaking the Creeks

Explore the unspoiled creeks of BHI on a guided trip at high, mid or low tide. Each trip offers a unique perspective of BHI and great views of wildlife; this is a must-do before you leave the island! While on the water take part in citizen science projects to document the many species seen in the marsh and learn about their importance to this ecosystem.

$45/person for BHI Conservancy Members  |   $60/person for Non-Members

  

Introductory Birding

(Previously Birding BHI) Bald Head Island offers fantastic opportunities for bird watching during all seasons. 244 different species have been documented on BHI as of October 2014. On this birding tour, you will learn the basics of bird identification in a welcoming environment for experts and novices alike. Locations are determined by tides, weather, and recent sightings. As we teach you various birdwatching techniques we will be looking for BHI’s favorite songbird the Painted Bunting (in summer months) and Bald Eagles (in winter months).  Binoculars and birding field guides will be provided for the trip.  Meet at the Conservancy. Personal golf cart transportation is required.   

$20/person for BHI Conservancy Members  |   $25/person for Non-Members

OFF-ISLAND PRICES:
$35/person for BHI Conservancy Members  |   $45/person for Non-Members
(includes ferry ticket and cart transportation*)



*Take 8:00AM ferry from Deep Point Marina in Southport, NC.  BHIC staff will provide ferry tickets at the gate and arrange for island transportation.

Advanced Birding (Summer)

Graduates from Introductory Birding will learn to identify various shorebirds. Experience the beach in the morning searching for Royal Terns, Great Black-backed Gulls and Sanderlings to record on eBird. Prerequisite for volunteering with shorebird survey.     Meet at the Conservancy.  Personal golf cart transportation is required.   

$25/person for BHI Conservancy Members  |   $30/person for Non-Members

OFF-ISLAND PRICES* :
$40/person for BHI Conservancy Members  |    $50/person for Non-Members
(includes ferry ticket and cart transportation*)



*Take 8:00AM ferry from Deep Point Marina in Southport, NC.  BHIC staff will provide ferry tickets at the gate and arrange for island transportation.

Special Birding: Middle Island Exploration

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 BHI Conservancy staff. This spectacular roosting amidst beautiful scenery is a must-see on the island. We recommend bringing a camera!  Binoculars are provided for the trip.  Meet at the Conservancy.  Personal golf cart transportation required. 

$20/person for BHI Conservancy Members  |   $25/person for Non-Members

OFF-ISLAND PRICES* (SUMMER ONLY) :
$35/person for BHI Conservancy Members  |    $45/person for Non-Members
(includes ferry ticket and cart transportation*)

Advanced Kid's Fishing

Led by full-time staff, take this hands-on opportunity to learn how to catch fish at night!  Fishing from the surf at night is often more productive than fishing during the daytime. More fish come closer to the shoreline to feed at night and there is less disturbance from swimmers.  
 
Meet at Access 39. Equipment and bait are provided. Children 10 & under must be accompanied by an adult at no additional fee.  Participants 16 & over will need a fishing license.  

$30/kid for BHI Conservancy Members  |   $40/kid for Non-Members
    

Reptile Round-Up

Are there any venomous snakes on BHI? Are alligators good moms? What do box turtles like to eat? Learn the answers to these questions and more, during the BHI Conservancy's Reptile Round Up program. Naturalists will introduce you and your family to the unique adaptations that help island reptiles survive. Participants will be able to touch live reptiles, turtle shells, snake sheds, and much more! Please note that we are not a sea turtle rehabilitation center, and do not have sea turtles in our collection.   

Held at the Conservancy. Children 10 & under must be accompanied by an adult.

$5/person for BHI Conservancy Members and Non-Members

Tidal Exploration

(Previously Touch Tank Time)  Did you know that horseshoe crabs have 10 eyes? Or that sea stars don't have blood? Or that a whelk and conch are different animals? Our naturalists have a wealth of beachcombing knowledge and can't wait to share it with you and your family! Join BHI Conservancy staff, in the Young Hatchling Learning Laboratory, to meet and touch the creatures that inhabit island tidepools- from hermit crabs to anemones. Following the lesson, you and your family will be able to help feed the saltwater animals.

Held at the Conservancy. Children 10 & under must be accompanied by an adult. 

$5/person for BHI Conservancy and Non-Members

Turtle Walks (Summer & Early Fall)

As a special thank you to our members, we invite you to participate in our wildly popular Turtle Walks! We are granted permission to conduct Turtle Walks through a special state permit that restricts us to a small group in order to protect this natural resource. Due to limited space, Turtle Walks fill up very quickly. Reservations and proof of membership are required for this program. Meet at the Conservancy for a brief presentation about the BHI Conservancy's renowned sea turtle protection program and sea turtle biology. Following the presentation, guests will accompany Conservancy staff to potentially view a nesting or hatching sea turtle event.    Personal golf cart transportation is required. 

Members Only - Passes distributed upon Membership purchase
 
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Introductory Nocturnal Naturalists

The island takes on a very different feel as the sun goes down and darkness falls. Join us for a brief presentation about BHI's active nightlife (including bats, frogs, alligators, deer) and how we monitor them before heading out to find some for ourselves. Activities include using radio telemetry, spotlight surveys and much more! Prerequisite for volunteering with deer survey & Advanced Nocturnal Naturalists. Meet at the Conservancy. Personal golf cart transportation is required.  

$20/person for BHI Conservancy Members  |   $25/person for Non-Members

Advanced Nocturnal Naturalists (Summer)

Techniques learned from Introductory Nocturnal Naturalists will be utilized to locate reptiles and amphibians near ponds. Participants will survey for alligators and frogs and learn how to join FrogWatch USA. Prerequisite for volunteering with alligator survey. 

$25/person for BHI Conservancy Members  |   $30/person for Non-Members

History of BHI Sea Turtles

Join Conservancy staff to learn about our over 30 years of sea turtle conservation. Learn who are our super star returning mothers over the years and how our conservation methods are evolving with new research. Takes place at the Conservancy.

$5/person for BHI Conservancy Members and Non-Members  

Beach Patrol Ride Along

SUMMER: Ride along in our beach vehicle to have the chance to witness a nesting sea turtle or hatching nest - with the option of staying until 2AM if you do not see a sea turtle before then. This program is open to all ages, with children under ten years old requiring an adult chaperone. Only 4 people/night can participate due to seating restrictions, 2 per vehicle.    Meet at the Conservancy.

SUMMER: $125/person for BHI Conservancy Members  |   $175/person for Non-Members

FALL:  Take an evening ride along in our beach vehicle to check on the health of our sea turtle nests with our fall interns. These nests have not hatched yet and there is no expectation that a sea turtle hatchling will be visible. This hour and a half program is open to all ages, with children under ten years old requiring an adult chaperone. Only 3 people can participate due to seating restrictions.    Meet at the Conservancy.

FALL:  $75/person for BHI Conservancy Members  |   $100/person for Non-Members

Shadow a Conservation Scientist

Join conservation staff for a full or half day to watch & learn about our current conservation projects. Projects could include monitoring creek, aquifer, and dune vegetation health and much more! View our current  projects here.

$45-65/person for BHI Conservancy Members  |   $60-80/person for Non-Members

  

Special Events

There is always something happening at the Conservancy.  Check our weekly schedules to see what is happening during your stay.  Join us for our Annual Picnic, Intern Research Presentations, and Guest Lecturers.  From September to May, we can schedule private tours for large family groups, photography groups, school groups, and more!