6th Grade Trip from Kyle Rippey on Vimeo.

By Mr. Rippey

Additional images

Additional images from the Aquatic Center

Before We Head Out...

A few of us started our day with a beach run and a view of the sun fighting through the altrostratus clouds to bless us with another beautiful day.

This morning, we visited the Oak Island lighthouse before we got on the road.


Fun Fact: There are 131 steps to the top of the lighthouse. The lighthouse is 169ft. above sea level and the walls are only eight inches thick!

Addition to yesterday's post, when we were on the beach, we saw two dolphins co-mother a calf. "Auntie" dolphins (male or female) will assist a new mother dolphin and her calf...the "auntie" dolphin is the only one the mother dolphin will allow around her new calf.

We also witnessed a loggerhead sea turtle nest on the beach. It was an amazing sight to see.

We are now on the road to Charlotte and should arrive to TES right at dismissal time. See you soon!

Last Night on the Town

We went for a river walk, strolled through downtown Wilmington and watched the sunset over the USS NC Battleship (which is where we started this week's adventures).

After last night, Conrad Pollock said, "I wish I lived here so I could see this every night." 

We're packing up this morning and hoping to get on the road. See you soon!

A Day at the Beach...

We started our day today kayaking and crabbing. Students reflected on their animal books.

We discussed the different types of turtles in North Carolina and brainstormed ways to help protect them. We are currently enjoying a relaxing day on the beach (which is why THIS post will be brief!).

Happy Thursday!

Captain Black Beard & Female Pirates

Wednesday was an action packed day!

We joined Mr. Wood of the Audubon Society for a morning of bird watching and a beach walk on Wrightsville Beach to discuss our role in protecting coastal Carolina and our feathered brothers and sisters.

Fun Fact: When a male Lest Tern (below) has a fish in its mouth, it is his way of attracting a female.

We met a curator of the Maritime Museum and discussed the role of pirates in North Carolina. Students learned about famous captains Gentleman Jack and Blackbeard.

Shocking Fact: Captain Blackbeard never killed anyone. There were also female pirates on the crew of Captain Jack Calico. One of these female pirates was the Captain's lover and she dressed as a man to hide her gender from the rest of the crew.

We ended our day with a team challenge at the Aquatic Center. 

Fact: The octopus does not have bones and it really does squirt out ink!

A little goes a long way

Upon arriving in Oak Island, NC, we realized we do not have internet access...which, in turn, makes updating this blog VERY difficult. Mrs. Masanotti has agreed to update it as I text her the information, so bear with us as we try to give you a glimpse into the wonderful time your students are having.

We had an amazing time touring the USS North Carolina Battleship. Students had a scavenger hunt aboard the ship. This provided an opportunity for students to discuss warfare on the sea and the role North Carolina played in honoring the lives lost during the attack on Pearl Harbor.

Shocking fact: The preservation of the USS NC Battleship was initiated by a penny drive coordinated by elementary school students! (A little does go a LONG way!)

We visited the Cape Fear Museum for another scavenger hunt. Students toured galleries of artifacts dealing with Native American influences, the rise of integrated schools in the South and pirates of the Carolinas.

We also toured a gallery dedicated to the legendary Michael Jordan.

- Dia

Enjoy some photos from our day: