The Summer School will be hosted by and located at The University of North Carolina at Wilmington. The university features a beautiful, spacious campus, modern facilities and a commitment by the Division for Public Service and Extended Education staff to provide excellent service and an atmosphere conducive to the needs of school participants and faculty.

The port city of Wilmington on the lower Cape Fear River occupies a large portion of New Hanover County. New Hanover has a current population of approximately 155,000 with more new residents relocating to this area every day. The growing population in the area has been attributed to a number of factors including a very favorable climate (summer high temperatures average 87 degrees while the average low in the winter is 37 degrees), scenic beauty, historical ties, business opportunities and a budding film industry.

The city of Wilmington and the Cape Fear area span majestically from Topsail Island in the north to Sunset Beach in the south. This area always has and always will be intimately intertwined with the water. The Cape Fear River courses its way through downtown Wilmington and ultimately empties into the Atlantic Ocean south of Wilmington. Virtually every part of life in the Cape Fear area is in some way tied to these bodies of water. In addition to their geographic relation, Wilmington's history, culture, and economy are directly tied to these local waters.

An estimated 1.7 million visitors vacation along the Wilmington coast and its accompanying beaches every year. Recreational opportunities are abundant. Some of the finest golf courses and tennis facilities in the world can be found here, including courses specially designed by some of the top PGA pros. The beaches such as Wrightsville and Carolina Beach are popular attractions loaded with opportunities for water sports, beach vacations, and both recreational and sport fishing.