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Check out our entire calendar of programs!
Download/ print our Seasonal Activities Flyer
Education Coordinator
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Program Registration Information
Since enrollment is limited for most activities, registration by phone is required. The number to call is (843) 546-6219 extension 0. Business hours are 8:30 AM-4:30 PM Monday-Friday, but calls outside of business hours will be forwarded to a voice message system. Please leave your name and phone number, the program you’re interested in, and the number of spaces you’d prefer. Registrants will be notified of registration confirmation and program specifics. Phone registration also allows us to contact you if a program is cancelled for any reason.
All programs are free unless otherwise noted. For programs with a fee, first register by phone and then mail payment promptly to confirm your registration; please make checks payable to “USC”. You may also pay in person (cash or check) on the date of the program. Please notify us immediately if your plans change. In case of a program cancellation by a participant, a refund of the cost of the program minus a $5.00 processing fee will be made if cancellation is given at least one week prior to the event. A full refund will be issued if a paid program is cancelled by the Reserve.
All programs will begin at the Hobcaw Barony Visitor Center parking area on Highway 17, unless otherwise noted.
The following programs represent a broad spectrum of our program offerings throughout the year. Take a look and explore what the North Inlet-Winyah Bay NERR has to offer. Scheduled programs change seasonally. Please check out our CALENDAR for up-to-date program information.
Learn all about oysters and clams, including the importance of bivalves to the salt marsh, some of the interesting animals that inhabit the reefs and mudflats, rules & regulations for collecting, and how to choose and gather your own. We will start with a visit to a nearby tidal creek (boots or old shoes recommended) and demonstrate collection techniques, then return to the Kimbel Lodge to cook, shuck, and enjoy a tasty treat of freshly prepared oysters and clams. Return to the list of our programs or to the top of the page.
Have a look at ‘life at the beach’ and discover the unique creatures that inhabit the ocean and creek. We will meet at the south parking lot at Pawley’s Island at the designated start time to explore the beach and creek environments on the south end with seine nets and other collection devices. Return to the list of our programs or to the top of the page.
The beach is active at night as well as by day! Join us for a nighttime look at ‘life at the beach’ and discover the creatures most active at night and those which make life in the ocean and creek unique. We will meet at the south parking lot at Pawley’s Island and explore the beach and creek environments on the south end with seine nets and other collection devices. Return to the list of our programs or to the top of the page.
Join us as we travel by bike on dirt roads through the forests of Hobcaw to the Reserve’s salt marsh boardwalk on beautiful North Inlet. We will meet in the Visitor Center parking lot and bike 2.5 miles (each way) to the boardwalk for a leisurely lunch and salt marsh exploration. Upland forest habitats, wildlife, current research projects, and a variety of other topics will be discussed along the way. Bring your own bike (all-terrain tires recommended), a snack, water, and cameras and/or binoculars (if desired). Return to the list of our programs or to the top of the page. EstuaryLiveThe North Inlet-Winyah Bay Reserve hosts a live Internet broadcast from our beautiful salt marsh boardwalk and surrounding laboratory facilities on Hobcaw Barony near Georgetown. As part of an ongoing partnership with NOAA’s National Estuarine Research Reserve Program and the EPA’s National Estuary Program, live estuary tours and programs take place from estuaries around the United States during the two-day Internet broadcast. Anyone with Internet access can be a part of this exciting exploration of our Nation’s estuaries. EstuaryLive provides classrooms and the general public around the world the opportunity to take a “virtual” live tour of some of our most valued estuaries and their unique habitats. Log on to www.estuarylive.org or www.estuaries.gov/ for more information or to find out how to participate. Return to the list of our programs or to the top of the page. The Fishes of North Inlet EstuaryThis program features a long-term biological study of North Inlet Estuary and includes a trip to a nearby creek to observe scientists as they take water measurements and collect a sample of fish, shrimp, and crabs. The catch is carried back to a seawater laboratory where everyone helps sort, identify and measure the sample. Old clothes and sneakers or boots are recommended. Return to the list of our programs or to the top of the page.
This monthly lecture series features a local scientist and highlights their research conducted on Hobcaw Barony, a 17,500-acre wildlife refuge in Georgetown, SC. Hobcaw Barony is owned by the Belle W. Baruch Foundation, which hosts three research facilities: - University of South Carolina’s Belle W. Baruch Institute of Marine and Coastal Sciences: Baruch Marine Field Laboratory (BMFL) - North Inlet - Winyah Bay National Estuarine Research Reserve (NI-WB NERR) - Clemson University’s Belle W. Baruch Institute of Coastal Ecology and Forest Science (BICEFS) Return to the list of our programs or to the top of the page. Learn about oyster reef ecology during this special laboratory-based program. This class features a close look at the many organisms that live among the oyster reefs (and even inside the oysters themselves) and features a visit to an oyster reef at low tide and an indoor laboratory activity using microscopes to view and identify smaller organisms. Return to the list of our programs or to the top of the page.
Learn about the plants and animals of the salt marsh without getting muddy (unless you really want to!) This program takes place from the Reserve’s beautiful salt marsh boardwalk near North Inlet; be prepared for some walking outdoors, biting insects, and heat. Bring cameras and binoculars if desired. Return to the list of our programs or to the top of the page.
Learn about the habits and biology of the blue crab and white shrimp while preparing them for the dinner table. This class features equipment and techniques for catching crabs and shrimp, rules and regulations for harvesting from local waters, and tips for cleaning and preparing these tasty crustaceans. Come prepared to get wet and muddy in the creek (a change of shoes and clothes are recommended) and then travel to Kudzu Bakery for cooking techniques, recipes, and tasty samples. Return to the list of our programs or to the top of the page.
Visit and explore the North Inlet-Winyah Bay National Estuarine Research Reserve (NERR) headquartered at the University of South Carolina’s Baruch Marine Field Laboratory on Hobcaw Barony. The North Inlet-Winyah Bay NERR is one of two sites in the state (and a network of 26 sites nationwide) that is involved in monitoring, research, and education related to estuarine resources. The Open House event will include a walking tour of the Reserve headquarters, a salt marsh boardwalk and meteorological station, and water chemistry laboratories with discussions about current initiatives in monitoring, resource management and education activities. Return to the list of our programs or to the top of the page.
Join the Reserve and Surf the Earth for a naturalist-guided tour through the creeks of North Inlet. The program includes instruction in basic kayaking, a natural history overview, and educational highlights of the North Inlet ecosystem. Bring snack, camera, binoculars and wear sturdy shoes. Weather permitting. Cost - $50/person. Return to the list of our programs or to the top of the page.
Other Programs at Hobcaw Barony Additional educational programs and tours are offered by the Hobcaw Barony Visitor Center and Clemson University’s Belle W. Baruch Institute of Coastal Ecology & Forest Science. Additional information is available from the Hobcaw Visitor Center, located off Highway 17, just north of Georgetown. Please call the Hobcaw Visitor Center at (843) 546-4623 or the Institute of Coastal Ecology & Forest Science at (843) 546-1013 for more information on their tours and programs. Return to the list of our programs or to the top of the page.
Salt Marsh Stroll at High Tide The salt marsh takes on a new and refreshing look during high tide as animals move over the marsh with the incoming waters. Stroll along our marsh boardwalk to observe first-hand some of the unique high tide wonders and learn what Baruch scientists have discovered about the animals that use these productive coastal resources and call them home. Bring binoculars and cameras if desired. Return to the list of our programs or to the top of the page.
As part of the Keep America Beautiful ‘Great American Cleanup’, join Reserve staff for a salt marsh cleanup to help remove trash and debris from the high tide line along the marsh edge. Learn about resource management issues facing the Reserve and salt marsh ecology as we provide areas of North Inlet with a “spring cleaning”. Old shoes or boots (suitable for walking in marsh mud) and old clothes recommended; bring snack and water if desired. Clean up materials will be provided. Return to the list of our programs or to the top of the page.
Visit a tidal salt marsh creek to seine and sieve for a variety of fish, crustaceans and mud-dwelling creatures. Learn about the importance of these nursery grounds, the various animals that make the creeks their home, the impacts we have on them and ways we can help protect tidal creeks in the future. This program takes place at the Baruch Marine Laboratory and a nearby tidal creek; be prepared for walking through marsh mud and biting insects. Old clothes and sneakers are recommended; closed-toe shoes are a must for protection from oysters. Return to the list of our programs or to the top of the page.
The Voices of Spring: Spring SongbirdsThe woods and marshes come alive with song in the spring. Migratory songbirds that breed in the fresh and saltwater wetlands on Hobcaw Barony, including hooded warblers and painted buntings, will be featured during this guided field trip. Bring binoculars and wear comfortable attire for walking; pants and long-sleeved shirts are recommended. Return to the list of our programs or to the top of the page.
Even if you don’t live near a body of water, everyone is part of a watershed. Through presentations and hands-on activities, learn about the watersheds of North Inlet and Winyah Bay. Discover what defines a watershed and simple things you can do to help make watersheds - including your own - healthier. Return to the list of our programs or to the top of the page.
Winter Birds of HobcawThe South Carolina coast is an important wintering area for waterfowl and shorebirds. Join Wendy Allen, Reserve Manager, for a guided birding trip through the forests and marshes of Hobcaw, with emphasis on the shorebirds that congregate on marsh banks at high tide. Dress warmly and bring binoculars, if you have them. Return to the list of our programs or to the top of the page.
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North Inlet-Winyah Bay NERR Mail: PO Box 1630, Georgetown, SC 29442 Ship: Hobcaw Barony, Hwy 17N, Georgetown, SC 29440 T: 843.546.6219 F: 843.546.1632 |