Kids Study Environmental Science At Leonardo State Marina

LEONARDO, NJ — On Thursday, the Conserve Wildlife Foundation (CWF) welcomed 20 Monmouth County kids to the Bayshore Adventure Program at the Leonardo State Marina.

This unique program introduced 8-11 year-olds to a variety of science-based careers through exciting, hands-on activities that foster exploration and discovery of the natural world.

Activities included seining and fish identification, birding, creating nature art, exploring the beach for mollusks and crustaceans and cleaning up the shoreline.

And that's not all: The kids also got a chance to identify rare and endangered beach nesting birds with a top New Jersey wildlife biologist, explore a New Jersey Conservation Officer’s police boat and learn about its navigation system, learn about a career in law enforcement from a local K-9 officer and his dog, and explore environmental engineering by finding out how to clean up an oil spill.

The kids also got some first-hand experience helping the environment by cleaning up plastics and other debris from the coastline.

The program occurs along the Raritan Bay, an urban waterway that is one of the most heavily used waterways in the nation.

The Bayshore Adventure Program was held twice, each time with 20 participants, so a total of 40 kids in all took part in it. The OceanFirst Foundation provided 15 scholarships to local kids.

"It is so rewarding to help schoolkids connect with nature and to get excited about the natural world, a world that is often overlooked by a generation more used to screen time than outdoor adventures,” said Stephanie DAlessio, CWF Director of Education.

“It is so important to not only foster a love of nature and wildlife in students, but also to show kids how to help,” said David Wheeler, CWF Executive Director. “By giving children the chance to be a part of the solution, we hope to inspire them to see themselves in a conservation career where they can help build a better future for people and wildlife alike in New Jersey.”