SALISBURY — Hillary Shores’ seventh-grade science class at Sacred Heart School recently enjoyed three days of learning at the North Carolina coast. While there, they visited the North Carolina Aquarium at Pine Knoll Shores for a “behind the scenes” tour.
Students learned how state biologists work to save turtles that nest along the shoreline. Their guide showed them the filtration system and explained how they help clean the Bogue Sound.
Students were able to look closely at an octopus, sea horses, sting rays, jellyfish and other aquatic wildlife. They even had the opportunity to watch sharks get fed.
On their second day, students participated in a five-hour ocean studies tour of Shackleford Banks and Cape Lookout National Seashore.
There, they learned about the ecology and history of all the North Carolina barrier islands and lighthouses. They learned how hurricanes play a vital role in shaping and changing the islands, and were able to observe how Hurricane Florence changed the landscape – especially the pine trees.
Their final stop was Fort Macon before heading back home to Salisbury. The park superintendent gave them a history lesson about the fort and demonstrated how to load and shoot a musket.
They were able to explore the fort and understand the importance of Fort Macon during the 18th and 19th centuries when the North Carolina coast was in danger of being attacked.
— Robin Fisher