Heal The Bay Gives Local Kids Chance To Explore The Ocean

SANTA MONICA (CBSLA.com) — Hundreds of young school children got an up close and personal tour of the ocean Wednesday as part of Heal the Bay's annual environmental literacy program.

Children of varying ages had the chance to visit Muscle Beach in Venice.

Heal the Bay sponsors the program in tandem with National Geographic.

Kids dug for sand crabs, helped clean the beaches of bottles and cigarette butts and learned about beach habitat.

Some of the children told CBS2 and KCAL9 that this was their first-ever trip to the beach.

Today's event was a precursor to Heal the Bay's 22nd annual Coastal Cleanup Day, occurring this Saturday.

For more about Heal the Bay, click here.