Visitors and even residents may have never visited the Hatteras Island Ocean Center before, but it’s a Hatteras Village attraction that deserves to be added to any Outer Banks bucket list.
The Ocean Center was taken over by the Hatteras Village Civic Association when its former manager, Hampden-Sydney College in Virginia, did not renew its contract, as the distance between the two locales was too great for the college to effectively manage the site.
During Hampden-Sydney’s tenure, the staff primarily used the Ocean Center as a learning lab for their summer interns, with minimal promotion or advertising. As a result, it never really grew or gathered any traction, and many people, even Hatteras Village residents, had no idea what the Ocean Center was all about.
This all changed once the Hatteras Village Civic Association took over.
“We’ve been working on growing and promoting the center because its mission and purpose are something we believe in, and find as a valuable resource to the village,” said Karla Jarvis of the Hatteras Village Civic Association. “There’s a lot going on, and we are still trying to figure it out, but we are moving forward and expanding what we can.”
The team at the Ocean Center is led by manager Shirley Wicker, who oversees the programming, manages the daily operations and the summer interns, and coordinates volunteers. The summer interns spend 14 weeks each spring and summer running the programs, while Jarvis manages the retail operation. Other volunteers also assist with various aspects of the Ocean Center, such as leading programs or pitching in when help is needed.
When visitors step into the main exhibit hall, they’ll encounter displays and interactive exhibits that highlight the ecology and resources of Hatteras Island’s unique environment.
“One thing that we are working on adding to the exhibit hall is a little local history, because a lot of our history and culture evolved because of the ecology and environment,” said Jarvis. “The ocean, sounds, marshes all played a part in our history and culture. There’s a saltwater tank that holds rotating species that visitors can observe, maybe up close and live for the first time.”
The eco-programming is the crux of the mission, allowing participants to experience the local nature and ecosystems directly.
There are guided kayak trips that go through the winding wetlands and then out into the Pamlico Sound, launching from the boardwalk behind the Ocean Center.
The Turtle Patrol program begins at the center with a brief presentation about the life cycle of Hatteras Island’s local sea turtle species, and afterwards, participants head to the beach to learn how the National Park Service works to assist these endangered species.
At night, the Ocean Center offers a “Campfire, Crabs and Constellations” program where attendees learn about Outer Banks history, legends, and nighttime beach creatures underneath some of the darkest skies along the East Coast.
The revamped gift shop housed in the exhibit hall is also based on items that are nature and conservation-focused, recycled, and environmentally friendly, including products that come from sustainable resources.
Whether a visitor stops by the main exhibit hall on a Hatteras Village exploration, or signs up for one of the summertime programs, the Hatteras Island Ocean Center offers an entirely new way to discover and explore the Outer Banks.
For more information, visit the Ocean Center Website
For a schedule of events, check out the Ocean Center’s Program Info and Online Booking
