2025 Outer Banks, NC (OBX): Day 2
Dear Bullis Parents and Community Members,
This morning, we were greeted with perfect beach weather — warm sunshine, clear skies, and the gentle sound of waves in the distance. The day was filled with immersive, hands-on learning at the Coastal Studies Institute and Jennette's Pier, along with some blissful time spent on the beach.
We invite you to relive today's adventures through the voices of our wonderful 6th grade bloggers—and, of course, plenty of photos!
Sadie C. writes:
Today, we went to Jennette's Pier and the Coastal Studies Institute. At the Coastal Studies Institute, we were split into two groups. One group learned about Maritime Archaeology, while the other learned how to survey a shipwreck and identify it. Both groups switched after one hour. Both classes were very fun and interesting. After the Coastal Studies Institute, we went to Jennette's Pier! At Jennette's Pier, we had free time on the beach before lunch. After lunch, we went to the pier to fish! It was the first time fishing for many of us, and it was super fun. (I only caught seaweed, but it was exciting to try fishing for the first time!)
Jack F. writes:
On our second day, we got up early to eat breakfast. After breakfast, we got ready to hop on the bus. Soon after, we arrived at the Coastal Studies Institute. There, we learned about a shipwreck, and we also found out what types of vehicles people use to identify what lies at the bottom of the ocean. Later, we went to Jennette's Pier and did some fishing. We played football on the beach. We all had a blast! After a long day, we headed back. We had the choice to go to the beach outside the hotel or stay at the hotel. Most people stayed in the hotel and were playing games with friends. For me personally, this is one of the most fun trips I've ever been on. I hope all of the sixth graders who come to Bullis have just as much fun as I did — and as my friends did!
Reef N. writes:
Today, we went to the Coastal Studies Institute. At the Coastal Studies Institute, we split into two groups — one in a small classroom and one in a larger one. In the smaller classroom, we learned about Maritime Archaeology. Maritime Archaeology is the study of human history under the sea. We learned that many shipwrecks were caused by the Battle of the Atlantic! We also did an experiment where we used special materials to make our creations float in the middle of a bowl of water. In the larger classroom, we played measuring games and practiced doing surveys. If we completed the survey correctly, we could locate the shipwreck! The shipwreck we found ended up being the USS Huron.
Gabe C. writes:
Everyone woke up to the hot and beautiful sun as it rose. We then had breakfast, which included omelets, tea, cereal, etc.
We went to the Coastal Studies Institute to learn about how many ships sank and where they were. We also learned about autonomous scanners that can capture images of the shipwrecks. Once they discover the shipwrecks, they sometimes go down to see what they actually look like. Sometimes they go to shallower waters and scuba dive. They explained how they actually go down there — they use big air tanks. We then got to do an activity that challenged us to make a few objects float together.
The next activity we did was measuring the diameter of a ship, and then we would multiply it by ten to determine the actual length.
The group then went to Jennette's Pier to hang out on the beach and fish. About six other people and I tried to dig a huge hole in the sand to see if we could get some water in to clean our feet. We then moved on to fishing, and sadly, none of us caught anything, but it was still a fun experience. After all of that, we got the option to go back to the beach or chill at the hotel. A few of us, including me, went to the beach. We played football and put our feet in the water. We eventually came back and freshened up.
We went to the Jolly Roger and had some delicious pasta and a bunch of fun overall.
Finally, we came back to the hotel and went to bed feeling good and refreshed.
Edmund L. writes:
We went to the Coastal Studies Institute to study shipwrecks. The professor there gave us information about the shipwrecks and diving gear. We learned about the story of a student who did a project trying to discover the mysterious German submarine U-576. The student and his crew spent six years finally finding U-576. Then we did a mini lab, where we had to make something based on the materials we were given to "flink" (flink means the object is neither floating nor sinking). This class was very interesting to me because I've always been interested in shipwrecks, and now we finally got the chance to learn about them.
Ethan S. writes:
When we got up, we ate breakfast at the hotel. There were bagels, waffles, cereal, and muffins for breakfast. After breakfast, we went to the Coastal Studies Institute. The Coastal Studies Institute is run by college students, and they taught us about maritime archaeology and how shipwrecks change over time. We had to measure different parts of a model of a shipwreck and figure out which boat it was in groups of four. We also learned about the different machines and technology used to find shipwrecks, and we did an activity to try to make something neither float to the top of a water cup nor sink to the bottom using everyday materials. Afterward, we went to Jennette's Pier and played football on the beach. After that, we had pizza on the beach and then went to the pier so we could fish. No one caught any fish, but we had a good time and went to the gift shop afterward to buy souvenirs. In conclusion, the day was really fun, and we learned a lot.
Merilyn H. writes:
After lunch, we went to Jennette's Pier and were taught how to fish! We got to pick our own spot and begin fishing. It is really exciting when you are waiting for a fish. One of the men who was fishing hooked a huge shark — everyone rushed over to help him pull it up. We didn't succeed, and the shark got away, but it was so awesome to see such a large shark, and it was super cool to try to help! After that, we went to the gift shop in groups. There were so many things in the gift shop, including stuffed animals, snacks, and all kinds of tiny, shiny things! Afterward, we continued waiting for fish, but we only caught seaweed. Awww. After fishing, we had two choices: go to the beach or stay at the hotel. Today was really fun and exciting! I hope every day will be like that!
Warmly,
The 6th Grade Team
