Exploring

Exploring (Ages 14–20)

The East Carolina Council’s Exploring program connects youth ages 14–20 directly with working professionals in real career settings across 20 counties in Eastern North Carolina. With 6 active posts and 46 volunteer leaders, Exploring is one of ECC’s fastest-growing programs, and one of its most impactful.


Whether a young person wants to protect the environment, serve their community in public safety, or discover a career path they haven’t considered yet, Exploring puts them in the field alongside the professionals who do that work every day.

Our Posts

ECC currently operates 6 Explorer Posts across Eastern North Carolina:

  • 5 public safety posts: in partnership with local sheriff’s offices, police departments, and fire and rescue departments
  • 1 environmental conservation post: in partnership with the NC Coastal Federation, Duke University Marine Lab, and Soil and Water Conservation districts


In our public safety posts, officers and firefighters design and lead the first six months of programming, then hand planning responsibilities to the youth themselves, so Explorers can pursue what interests them most. This youth-led model is a feature of all our posts. Many public safety agencies hand-select youth for their posts directly, and in some cases agencies cover a portion of training costs, treating Explorers as a direct pipeline into their workforce.


Environmental Conservation Post

Our environmental post places youth alongside working conservation professionals in the field. Program highlights include:

  • Hands-on field training at Duke University Marine Lab
  • Shoreline restoration projects in partnership with the NC Coastal Federation and Native Shorelines
  • A pathway to the Industrial Wastewater License, a professional credential attainable at age 18 that opens doors to careers starting at $42,000 annually
  • An emerging apprenticeship pipeline with the City of Jacksonville in water treatment


Featured Story: Eagle Scout Daniel

When Eagle Scout Daniel Mills saw the shoreline at Camp Boddie eroding into the Pamlico Sound, he didn’t wait for someone else to fix it. Drawing on training from Duke University Marine Lab and partnering with the NC Coastal Federation and Native Shorelines, Daniel installed 210 feet of living shoreline using QuickReef Defender sills, coastal structures made from recycled oyster shells and marl limestone that reduce wave impact and support oyster growth. To fund the project, he secured $60,000 in external grants.


The project is one of two Daniel is completing to earn the Distinguished Conservation Service Award, which would make him the first recipient in Eastern Carolina. Read the full story: Winterville Eagle Scout working to protect Pamlico Sound shorelines at Camp Boddie — WITN


Program at a Glance

  • 54 youth enrolled
  • 6 active Explorer Posts
  • 46 volunteer leaders
  • 20 counties served across Eastern NC
  • Partners include: NC Coastal Federation, Duke University Marine Lab, Native Shorelines, Soil and Water Conservation, City of Jacksonville, Onslow County Sheriff, Kinston Police Department, Beaufort County Sheriff, and Williamston Fire and Rescue Department


Start or Join a Post

Are you a young person looking to explore a career? Or are your an organization interested in partnering with us to start a post? We’d love to connect.

 

Contact:


East Carolina Council’s Exploring Posts currently registered. To learn more about our career-specific programs please contact the Explorer Post Advisors below:


Post 0067 – Onslow County Sheriff Office – Brandon Moore

Post 0422 – Scouting Distinguished Conservation Service 

Post 0800 – Jacksonville Public Safety (Law Enforcement Exploring and Fire/EMS Exploring) – Darrell Nash

Post 1033 – Kinston Police Department – Dewayne Craft

Post 1738 – Beaufort County Sheriff – Gary Brown

Post 5907 – Williamston Fire and Rescue Department – Jafon Allah