FAQs

MarineQuest is not a swimming program; thus swimming skills are encouraged but not necessary. MarineQuest provides flotation devices and PFDs in required areas and during certain activities with a lifeguard on duty at all times. Your child will never be forced to go into any water against their will. 

Students in day programs ages 4-8 will NOT be swimming at any point during their program. They are allowed to go no deeper than waist-deep in the marsh and knee-deep in the ocean, depending on weather conditions. At most, students will be wading, but not swimming.

Most MarineQuest program educators are scientists and educators who are pursuing or have recently completed their undergraduate or graduate degree in a marine science discipline. 

We also hire teachers passionate about marine science education. We identify a summer team with experience working with youth, knowledge of marine science, and who hold safety certifications including first aid, lifeguard, and more.

Overnight students and parents will meet the residential hall staff at the orientation held at Sunday check-in.  Commuter families will meet their day instructors briefly during Monday morning drop-off. 

If you need to communicate with your child's instructors before the program starts, please email us and a phone call can be coordinated.  

The MarineQuest illness policy states that students who are sick, with or without a fever, are not allowed to attend the program. Students with a fever must be fever-free for 24 hours without a fever reducer in order to attend or rejoin the program.

Overnight students who become sick during their program with a non-communicable disease will be given the option to rest (with supervision) for 24 hrs. If they have not recovered, they must be picked up ASAP. Any student with a fever must be picked up as soon as possible.

The full policy can be found on the Policies and Procedures page.

MarineQuest requests that students attending have all the North Carolina Public Schools' recommended immunizations. Additionally, we collect the latest tetanus immunization data in our confirmation forms. The program does not require, but encourages, that participants be vaccinated against seasonal illnesses to attend. For further vaccination information, please review the UNCW MarineQuest Policies and Procedures, Immunization and Outbreak Policy.  

Through the generosity of area donors, UNCW MarineQuest is able to offer a limited number of partial and full, need-based scholarships. MarineQuest primarily provides scholarships to support commuter attendance to programs.

For more information and to apply for a scholarship, visit our Scholarships page.

Overnight students are housed along with our Overnight staff in UNCW on-campus residential halls equipped with 24-hour surveillance and A/C. Males and females are housed on separate floors and each room has an en-suite bathroom.

MarineQuest has staff on call 24 hours a day in case of emergencies. Most students will be placed in double rooms, with randomly assigned roommates unless specified. Students attending multi-week programs are permitted to occupy single rooms. For more information, please visit MarineQuest’s Summer Overnight page. 

MarineQuest partners with UNCW campus catering for almost all student meals to accommodate a variety of dietary restrictions, including vegan, vegetarian, gluten-free, etc. We ensure that all students eat a balanced and healthy diet throughout the duration of their program.

If you need to speak to someone about your child's dietary restrictions, please contact UNCW Dining Services (dining@uncw.edu) and let them know that your child will be attending a summer program with MarineQuest.

Wilmington International Airport is about 15-20 minutes from UNCW’s main campus. MarineQuest offers airport transportation services where a staff member will pick-up your child from the gate (if an unaccompanied minor) or at the exit to the terminal.

At departure, a staff member will ensure your child makes it through security or will wait with your child until their plane has exited Wilmington airspace (if an unaccompanied minor). If you wish to utilize these services, you will need to fill out the Airport Transportation Request form at least two weeks before your child's flight. For more information, please visit MarineQuest’s Airport Transportation page.

MarineQuest prefers students to meet the grade requirement, but we strongly recommend that they also meet the age requirement. If you still feel this program best meets your student's needs, you can petition for an exception via email to marinequest@uncw.edu. Any exception will be made at the discretion of the director.

No - you have not been accepted until you receive an acceptance email which will be sent once a teacher recommendation has been submitted and reviewed by the MarineQuest team. If you have any questions on the status of an application, please email us at marinequest@uncw.edu. 

Ask an adult individual who has observed your child in a learning or group setting. For example, scout leaders, youth group leaders, etc. Family members or friends will not be accepted. 

If you are unable to find an adult individual to fill out the teacher recommendation, please contact marinequest@uncw.edu.

Due to planning and reservations of summer activities, we require a completed registration and payment to be submitted no later than two weeks prior to the start of the program.