School Groups
School groups that would like to visit the Museum of Coastal Carolina and/or Ingram Planetarium receive a discounted school group rate. School groups include:
- University students
- Public school students
- Private school students
- Home school students with adequate proof of home schooling that is required by your state
Here is some information to help you plan your school group’s field trip to Ingram Planetarium or the Museum of Coastal Carolina:
- Group tours, programs, and Planetarium dome shows are available Monday through Friday by appointment only. We recommend contacting us to schedule your trip early in the school year so that we may reserve the dates you want.
- With advance planning, we can schedule visits to both the Museum and Planetarium on the same day. The two facilities are about four miles apart.
- Maximum group size in the Planetarium’s Sky Theater is 84. Larger groups can be split between the Sky Theater and the Paul Dennis Science Hall.
- Nature’s Treasures Gift Shop, Galaxy Gift Shop, and restrooms are included as a tour stop.
- Please arrive on time. We cannot risk having late arrivals delay another group’s appointment or our public hours.
- Chaperones and their assigned group of students are required to stay in the same gallery at all times. Chaperones are responsible for the behavior of their students.
- Full payment for each facility is due upon arrival; please prepare separate payments for each facility.
Lunch sites
- The Ocean Isle Beach Community Center, located three blocks from the Museum, has ocean-front sheltered picnic tables and restrooms. To reserve the Community Center for your group’s lunch, call Ocean Isle Beach Town Hall at 910-579-2166.
- The Ocean Isle Beach Park, located on Old Georgetown Road, may meet your group’s needs. For more information, call 910-253-2670.
- There are many restaurants in the Ocean Isle Beach and Sunset Beach areas that can accommodate your group.
Museum Tour Options
- A self-guided tour with Museum docents available to answer questions – This option includes more time with hands-on exhibits.
- A guided tour with Museum staff and volunteers – This option offers lessons in each of the Museum’s galleries.
Planetarium Options
- A full dome theater film selected in coordination with our professional educators to correspond with your curriculum.
- A completely customizable live star show to focus on additional topics in your curriculum or topics of in-terest to students for projects, written assignments, etc.
- An interactive science demonstration covering a variety of topics including properties of gravity or sea-sons.
- Free exploration time in our Paul Dennis Science Hall
Museum School Group Admission
- $6 per student or $80 minimum, whichever is greater
- 1 free teacher per every 10 students
- $6 per additional teacher
- Minimum: $80 per group
- Additional guests will be charged regular museum admission rates
Nature’s Treasures Gift Shop will be open during your group’s field trip to the Museum. With adequate advanced notice, we can prepare gift bags for your students to purchase.
Click here for a Field Trip Request Form.
Click here for a Field Trip Check List.
Click here for a list of Guide to Pre-Teaching Ideas for Museum of Coastal Carolina.
Click here for an Outline of Museum galleries by grade level based on North Carolina Standards of Learning.
Contact [email protected] for questions, feedback, or comments.
Planetarium School Group Admission
- $6 per student or $80 minimum, whichever is greater
- 1 free teacher per every 10 students
- $6 per additional teacher
- Minimum: $80 per group
- Additional guests will be charged regular planetarium admission rates
Ingram Planetarium’s dome theater seats 84. Large school groups can be split: half of the group can be seated inside the dome theater while the other half explores the Paul Dennis Science Hall. Once the theater show is finished, the groups can exchange places. Including the Science Hall in your visit adds value to your students’ learning experience.
The Galaxy Gift Shop open during your group’s field trip to Ingram Planetarium. With adequate advanced notice, we can prepare gift bags for your students to purchase.
Click here for a Field Trip Request Form.
Click here for a Field Trip Check List.
Contact [email protected] for questions, feedback, or comments.