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Lighthouse Learners
Support Our Mission
Help bring a class to Old Baldy. Through our Lighthouse Learners Adopt a Student program, your gift directly helps North Carolina fourth graders experience Bald Head Island’s history firsthand. Donations support ferry transportation and admission to Old Baldy Lighthouse, making it possible for more students to participate in this unforgettable field trip. Whether you choose to sponsor a single student, an entire classroom, or a full school group, your support ensures that young learners can explore the state’s oldest standing lighthouse and connect with history where it happened.
Lighthouse Learners Scholarship Program
Empowering Future Generations Through Experiential Learning
At the Old Baldy Foundation, education is at the heart of our mission. Through our Lighthouse Learners program, we proudly sponsor hundreds of fourth grade students in Brunswick County to visit the historic Old Baldy Lighthouse for a full day of immersive, experiential learning.
As North Carolina’s oldest standing lighthouse, Old Baldy is more than a landmark — it is a living classroom.
Access for Every Student
We believe every child should have the opportunity to experience Old Baldy — regardless of financial circumstances. That’s why the Old Baldy Foundation fully sponsors this program, covering transportation and educational programming costs so that all Brunswick County students can participate.
For many, this is their first visit to Bald Head Island and their first encounter with a historic structure that has stood for more than 200 years. These experiences foster curiosity, civic pride, and a lifelong appreciation for North Carolina’s rich heritage.
A Unique History Experience
During their visit, students step beyond textbooks and into the stories that shaped our state and nation. Our educators guide them through engaging, age-appropriate lessons focused on:
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North Carolina state history
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The Civil War and the Cape Fear region’s strategic role
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Maritime heritage and coastal life
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Barrier island ecology and conservation
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Historic preservation and stewardship
Students explore the lighthouse grounds, climb the historic tower, and experience firsthand the importance of preserving our coastal treasures. By connecting curriculum to place, Lighthouse Learners makes history meaningful and memorable.
Sustained By Your Generosity
Lighthouse Learners is an important part of our educational mission, and it relies entirely on the generosity of our donors and community partners. Gifts to the Old Baldy Foundation's Lighthouse Learners Program directly support student transportation, curriculum development, and hands-on learning opportunities.
When you support Lighthouse Learners, you are helping us preserve history while inspiring the next generation to value and protect it.
Together, we are lighting the way for Brunswick County’s students — today and for years to come.
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