School & Youth Programs

Learn the ropes as you come aboard the USS North Carolina as a Bluejacket, or a freshly enlisted sailor.  You'll participate in several hands-on activities as you follow the steps of certain sailors, all while learning to navigate the ship and Navy life.  You must gain proficiency in your assigned rating and work as a team to earn a liberty chit from the Executive Officer.  But don't forget to write a letter home before you depart!

• $4 (3 - 5)
• $7 (6 - 12)
• Includes pre & post visit materials

Grades: 3 - 5 and 6 - 12

Time: 1.25 hour

Group Size: Up to 40 total participants (including teachers & chaperones)

Available Tuesdays & Wednesdays, 10am & 1pm

In this Ship-based guided program, students will analyze the ways North Carolinians, and those onboard USS North Carolina, served in WWII, and how their actions affected other events and communities.  They will explore several unique stories of those in different military branches.  Students will analyze primary sources, engage with individual stories and historical context, and relate this to several spaces on the ship as they are guided through several compartments above, below, and on the main deck.  This program aligns with several North Carolina social studies standards.

• $4 (3 - 5)
• $7 (6 - 12)
• Includes pre & post visit materials

Grades: Versions available for grades 3 - 5 and 6 - 12

Time: 50 minutes for 3 - 5, 1.25 hours for 6 - 12 (not including arrival/check-in time) 

Group Size: Up to 80 students & chaperones (Divided into smaller groups)

Available Tuesdays & Wednesdays, 10am & 1pm

Larger groups (80+) will get a revised version of this program.

On this mostly outdoors guided program, students will learn about the ever-changing environment of Eagles Island in the Cape Fear River (where the Battleship is located) as well as the human role & connections with the historical & modern changes.  Through hands on activities & interpretation, students will engage their senses & critical thinking as they form observations & predictions, identify birds & other species, examine maps & primary sources.  This program aligns with science & social studies curriculum standards.  Stops include the ship's bow, Wardroom, the SECU Walkway and Battleship Park. 

• $4 (3 - 5)
• $7 (6 - 12)
• Includes pre & post visit materials

Grades: Versions available for grades 3 - 5 and 6 - 12

Time: 1 - 1.25 hours for 3 - 5 & 1.5 hours for 6 - 12

Group Size: Up to 100 students & chaperones (Divided into smaller groups)

Distance: .75 miles

Weather: This program will run rain or shine

Available Thursdays at 10am & 1pm

Groups larger than 80+ students will get a revised version of this program.  

All ships have one thing in common--they must float!  In this live, online program, which will explore the principle of buoyancy and more mathematical and scientific concepts which affect ships and their designs.  They will particularly examine the USS North Carolina, the WWII battleship which entered service as a new, state-of-the-art design.  Students will understand mass and displacement before also considering the challenges of wave action, stability, strength, and speed...just like a naval architect.  Groups are encouraged to build simple models of ship hull segments ahead of time from supplied templates, before testing them during this program and modeling the concepts covered.  As a follow-up, the instructor can assign the supplied design challenge to have students perfect their own type of ship.

Guided Program Materials Needed (Not Provided): Cardboard, aluminum foil, paper, scissors, tapes, coins, and a water tub.

This program is limited to 45 people and is $100 per group and/or session.

Typically available on Tuesdays & Wednesdays, 10am & 1pm EST

Throughout American history and especially during WWII, there have been attempts through art and flyers or advertisements to get people to do, believe, or unite around something.  Students will briefly analyze historical examples of recruiting or propaganda posters before closely examining several from WWII.  Through this guided lesson, they will understand facts, fictions, emotional appeals and artistic license, and what these posters and slogans reveal about our history and culture at specific points.  Students will then apply techniques and examples they have learned to create their own recruitment posters, appealing to their generation to perform some task or duty drawn at random.  

Materials Needed: Drawing or writing paper, colored pencils, crayons, & markers.

This class is limited to 45 people and is $100 per group and/or session.

Typically available Tuesdays & Wednesdays, 10am & 1pm EST