Lighthouse

The lighthouse exhibit allows children to begin to understand the connection between sea and land and the unique geography of our coast.  They will discover and identify a historic career and lifestyle that was an inherent aspect of the past and a precursor to the US Coast Guard of today.    There are opportunities for further learning with older children focusing on the fresnel lens ability to take a dim source of light and refract it into an intense beam.  Older children can also think about how captains and navigators utilized this beacon of light in order to keep their ship safe.  For our smallest visitors they will have a safe opportunity to explore a lighthouse they might otherwise skip because of structural inadequacy of the present lighthouses or not wanting to take young children who might be unable to walk the flight of stairs.                                                        

                                                                      Fishing Boat

 On the edge of the ship wreck reef is a fishing vessel.  Highlighting Carolina flair fishing vessels, a style unique to North Carolina, children will have the opportunity to fish for the same creatures they were swimming among in the aquarium.  Children will cast for fish making sure that they are large enough to keep or if they need to be thrown back utilizing simple measuring tools.  Hand eye coordination will be utilized in order to catch the fish.  In this area they will see how many locals in this area make their living and adults can see the industrial continuity between boat building, fishing and the tourism industry as many fishermen turn from commercial fishing to charter boat captains.

                                            Aviation Exhibit

Discover the history of flight through hands-on exhibits, wall murals, and a airplane to imagine they are flying all focused on why Kitty Hawk was First in Flight.  What about the climate of this area brought the Wright Brothers here and how did man overcome nature to get off the ground and fly like birds.  

Aquarium

Strap on your scuba gear and see what animals live beneath the sea! Children pretend to dive deep into the ocean, braving sharks and jelly fish, and noticing the unique features of sea turtles. Children learn about the unique relationship between the inhabitants of the sea. 

BABY PARK

Even the smallest explorers will have fun at Children at Play!  Crawl, slide and explore at the Baby Park.  Soft cushions especially for crawlers and toys for manipulative play will complement this pint size center!

And that's not all folks!  We hope you will come and see us soon to find out what else is in store at Children at Play!