Assateague Coastal Trust
ACT To Protect Our Coastal Bays
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Frequently Asked Questions


Can a child of any age join?

Yes. The program targets children 4-12 years of age, but children of any age under 18 are welcome. Younger children may require the help of an adult or older child to enjoy the Coast Cards and some of the events.

Can more than one child join under one membership?

Yes, the membership is designed for the whole family. Use our secure on-line form to sign up.

Will there be a fee for the events?

The events are free for Coast Kids members. If you would like to bring a non-member along, we charge a small fee, usually $3 to $5 per child depending on the event.

Do we need to sign up for events in advance?

Some of the events (for example, canoeing) focus on small groups of kids and will require a sign-up prior to the event on a first come, first served basis. Other events will be open to all who wish to attend.

How long does the membership last?

One year. You can sign up at any time in a year. Use our secure on-line form to sign up.

Can I send a membership to a child as a gift?

Absolutely. We can include a birthday (or other) card along with the membership package, with a message of your choosing. Use our secure on-line form to sign up.

Is Coast Kids a fundraising program for Assateague Coastal Trust?

No. The membership fee covers only about 20% of the cost to ACT. We subsidize the program with donations and grants so that we can keep the membership fee as low as possible. If you are interested in making a donation to help us cover our costs and provide more free events for kids, your donation would be put to very good use.

Is membership limited to children in a certain geographic area?

No. Even though the geographic focus of most of the Coast Cards and events is the coastal bays of Worcester County, MD (and adjacent Wicomico County, MD, Sussex County, DE, and Accomack County, VA) the participants need not reside in this relatively small area to benefit from the program. Children from other counties and indeed other states who visit the area during weekends and summer vacations are encouraged to participate.

What are the Critter Cards?

Critter Cards are playing cards designed by local artist Scott M. Oatman, and feature local coastal animals. To purchase Critter Cards, they are available for purchase in our Gift Shop or please call our office at 410-629-1538.

What is the Adventure Map?

The Adventure Map is your ticket to finding fun places to visit on coastal Delmarva---places to go canoeing, hiking, biking, camping, birdwatching, visiting museums, and more. The map is available for purchase in our Gift Shop, or please call our office at 410-629-1538.

What are Look Books?

Look Books are fun-filled activity booklets featuring animals, plants and places in the coastal bays of Delmarva (provided to members during the 2003-2007 years, replaced by monthly Coast Cards). Back-issues of the Look Books are available for purchase. Please call our office at 410-629-1538.

Is Coast Kids a member of the No Child Left Inside coalition?

Yes. Currently over 1900 member organizations are working together to increase children's outdoor time and environmental education.

ACT’s environmental education program, Coast Kids, has joined over 250 other organizations nationwide in support of the No Child Left Inside Coalition, organized by the Chesapeake Bay Foundation. The primary goal of NCLI is to build support for the No Child Left Inside Act, sponsored by Maryland U.S. Representative John Sarbanes to create federal funding and environmental curricula for schools. Such funding is a wise investment given that:

  • Our environment is besieged by unprecedented impacts such as habitat loss, pollution, and global warming.
  • Our children are spending an unprecedented amount of time indoors (both at school and at home), increasingly separated from nature.
  • Data show that children who spend more time outdoors are more likely to excel in school and less likely to suffer from obesity, diabetes, depression, attention deficit and hyperactivity disorder, and other setbacks.
  • Kids who spend more time outdoors are more likely to be good stewards of the environment. Spending more time outdoors is a win-win situation for our kids, our environment, and our future. For more information contact the NCLI Coalition website.

May I volunteer to help the Coast Kids program?

Absolutely. Volunteers can help to make this program a great success. Please call the ACT office.