School Groups

School groups are welcome to visit the Museum of Coastal Carolina or Ingram Planetarium. Reduced admission rates apply. Please complete the form at the bottom of this page to find out availability and options for your group visit!

School groups that receive the discounted rate include:

University students
Public school students
Private school students
Home school students that attend as a group of 15 or more

Printable School Field Trips Brochure (PDF)

Jump to Field Trip Form Below

Helpful Information

Group tours, programs, and Planetarium dome shows are available Monday through Friday and must be booked at least 2 weeks in advance. We recommend contacting us to schedule your trip early in the school year so that we may reserve the dates you want.
Groups have the option to visit the Museum, Planetarium, or both facilities.
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 or between the Museum and Planetarium.
Nature’s Treasures Gift Shop at the Museum and Galaxy Gift Shop at the Planetarium are available upon request.
Please arrive on time. Arriving late may alter your group’s experience so as not to delay another group’s appointment or interfere with our public hours.
Chaperones are responsible for the behavior of their students.
Full payment for each group visit is due upon arrival.

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.
Town Center Park, located adjacent to the Museum, has a large grassy area suitable for a picnic style lunch.
The Ocean Isle Beach Park, located on Old Georgetown Road, may meet your group’s needs. For more information, call 910-253-2670.
Town of Sunset Beach Park, located 10 minutes from the Planetarium, has covered picnic shelters available for use. Call 910-579-6297 for more information.

Museum Tours

A guided tour with Museum staff and volunteers – Museum staff and volunteers will rotate students through the museum galleries and be available to answer questions.
A hands-on STEM program is included with each field trip to the museum. Depending on group size, the program may be presented to the whole group or included as a tour stop.

Planetarium Options

A full dome theater film selected in coordination with our professional educators to correspond with your curriculum.
A live star show focused on additional topics in your curriculum or topics of interest to students for projects, written assignments, etc.
An interactive science demonstration covering a variety of topics including properties of gravity or states of matter.
Free exploration time in our Paul Dennis Science Hall.

Museum and Planetarium Field Trip Option

Includes a guided tour of the Museum with a hands-on STEM program, a dome show in the Planetarium’s Sky Theater, and time to explore the Paul Dennis Science Hall.
Great for groups of 80 or more.
Smaller groups can attend one facility, break for lunch, and travel to the second facility or visit one facility after the other.
Larger groups can split with half the group at the Museum and half at the Planetarium and then switch. Groups have the option to break for lunch between facilities.

VISIT THE MUSEUM / PLANETARIUM

School Group Admission Prices

Museum School Group Rates

Museum of Coastal Carolina
21 E. Second St
Ocean Isle Beach, NC 28469

910-579-1016

Spring Hours:

Monday through Friday 10 am to 4 pm
Second Tuesday 5-7 pm for Sandbar Lecture
Sunday Noon to 4 p.m.

See the events schedule for daily programs.

$6 per student or $80 minimum, whichever is greater
All teachers attend free of charge
$80 deposit due two weeks before the day of the trip
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.

Planetarium School Group Rates

Ingram Planetarium
7625 High Market Street
Sunset Beach, NC 28468

910-575-0033

Spring Hours:

Doors open Thursday-Saturday at 10:30 am
Dome shows start on the hour from 11:00 am to 3:00 pm
Laser shows on Thursday, Friday, and Saturday at 6:00 and 7:00 pm

See the events schedule for daily programs.

$6 per student or $80 minimum, whichever is greater
All teachers attend free of charge
$6 per additional teacher
$80 deposit due two weeks before the day of the trip
Additional guests will be charged regular planetarium admission rates
The Galaxy Gift Shop will be open during your group’s field trip to Ingram Planetarium.

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.

Museum and Planetarium Combo School Group Rates

A trip to both the Museum and Planetarium can be done in one day and makes for a great day-long outing. Larger groups of 80 or more can be more easily accommodated by attending both facilities.

$9 per student
All teachers attend free of charge
$80 deposit per facility or $160 total is due two weeks before the day of the trip
Additional guests will be charged regular museum and planetarium combo ticket rates
The Nature’s Treasures Gift Shop and Galaxy Gift Shop will be open during your group’s field trip.

Fill Out The Form Below To Get Started!

Field Trip Request Form

Your Contact Information

First Name(Required)

Last Name(Required)

Your Phone(Required)

Your Email(Required)

Group Type

Best time of day to contact you:(Required)

Group Information

Group Name(Required)

Phone(Required)

Address(Required)

Street Address City State ZIP Code

Visit Information

Preferred Visit Date

Alternative Visit Date

Number in Group(Required)

Grade Levels/Ages(Required)

Number of Teachers/Chaperones(Required)

Please select the Planetarium show that best fits your group's needs?

Please select the Planetarium science demonstration best fits your group's needs?

Which Museum program best fits your group's needs?

Best time of day to contact the Organizer:

Which facilities would your group like to visit?(Required)

Museum of Coastal Carolina

Ingram Planetarium

Both the Museum and Planetarium

Field Trip Checklist

Gather the following information:

School name, street address, and phone number
Contact teacher’s name, home/cell numbers, and email address
Grade level and number of students
Preferred visit date with one alternative date
Special needs issues
Lunch plans
Adult chaperones 10:1 ratio
Plan arrival and departure times
Bus travel time

Approval:

Get your principal’s approval
Get forms signed
Complete & process your transportation and fuel funding form

Confirmation:

Complete our online Field Trip Request Form on this page
Get verbal confirmation from our Education Coordinator
We will email you a written confirmation after your $80 deposit by credit card or check has been received
Call if your plans change
If you do not cancel at least 24 hours in advance, your group will be charged the minimum amount.

Lunch on your own — Lunch sites:

The Ocean Isle Beach Community Center, located three blocks from the Museum, has 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 Ocean Isle Beach Town Hall at 910-579-2166.

Before Your Visit:

Teach your students about museums and planetariums
Teach museum and planetarium etiquette
Communicate the responsibilities of chaperones and teachers
Pre-teach the curriculum
Call and confirm your visit a week in advance
Make nametags
Review travel route and distribute copies to all drivers and teachers
Collect admission fees for each facility from students & chaperones
Prepare separate payments for each facility

Day of Visit:

Wear name tags
Review Museum and Planetarium etiquette
Review chaperone and teacher responsibilities
Call if you are delayed for any reason
Full payment for each facility is due upon arrival; please prepare separate payments for each facility