BEAUFORT HOMESCHOOL EXPEDITIONS
Overview
FALL 2026: 9 weekly field days
St. Helena Island
Out here, the classroom doesn’t have walls. It has tides. Birdsong. Pluff mud between your toes. We believe children learn best with the sun on their face and a paddle in hand—when they’re given the freedom to get curious, to get messy, to fall in love with the natural world. With our basecamp at the Coastal Expeditions St. Helena campus, and Hunting Island State Park nearby, students get an outdoor education that is unmatched.
With Beaufort area homeschool students, we’re raising the next generation of stewards, scientists, and saltwater explorers. Our homeschool adventures are grounded in place—shaped by the rhythms of barrier islands, saltwater creeks, and the sounds of migrating birds overhead.
Weekly Activities
Rooted in South Carolina’s grade-level science standards, each week explores a new theme—like barrier island ecology, tides and wind, water safety, marine biology, and environmental stewardship.
Our classroom is the coast. Depending on tides and weather, we launch weekly from our St. Helena campus to places like Hunting Island State Park and nearby hammock islands. When the weather keeps us indoors, we shift gears—working on hands-on, nature-based projects in our learning lab.
A few of the weekly adventures:
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Dip netting and marine species identification
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Make your own field guide
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Owl pellet dissection and wildlife biology
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Tree cookies and plant anatomy
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Water quality and pond ecology
- Beach habitats and identification
Why We Love It
When kids grow up knowing the names of birds and how to read tides, they grow up knowing they belong to something bigger. And the research shows that kids who have a connection to the outdoors are calmer, happier and more focused- for their lifetimes.
Rates & Details
$410/semester (9 classes)
or drop in for $50/class!
Grades 1-3
Mondays 10 a.m.- 1 p..m
August 31-October 26
Grades 3-5
Wednesdays 10 a.m.- 1 p.m.
September 2-October28
9 weekly sessions with boat ecotours, beach exploration, nature hikes and more. This program uses SC science curriculum standards.
DEPARTURE POINT
Coastal Expeditions at St. Helena Island
1928 Sea Island Parkway
St. Helena Island, SC 29920
What To Pack & Wear
Kids should be dressed for the weather, including a hat to protect from the sun. Even if it is warm, a windbreaker is recommended for the boat ride. Wear shoes that can get wet and will stay on their feet (Tevas/Chacos/sneakers).
Bring water, snack, towel and sunscreen in a small bag or backpack. Just in case, pack a change of clothes.
Guide Safety & Training
All Coastal Expeditions guides hold certifications in first aid, CPR and lifeguarding. As year-round leaders of day camps and school field trips, our staff is well-trained to keep safety at the forefront. As part of protocol,, children wear PFDs while they are on each daily expedition.
Our captains hold 100-ton master captain licenses from the USCG. Coastal Expeditions boats are custom-built vessels that receive yearly inspections from the U.S. Coast Guard.
Cancellation & Weather Policy
There is a 30-day cancellation policy for summer camps at Coastal Expeditions.
This is a rain-or-shine program, but certain weather conditions (i.e. hurricanes or tropical storms) may cause us to cancel.