Students explore Sandy Hook beaches

Long Branch Amerigo A. Anastasia Elementary School students Jose Ramirez and Ayana Contreras gear up to collect shells and crustaceans at Sandy Hook.

LONG BRANCH — Amerigo A. Anastasia School students, grades one through five, participated in a special outdoor program last month presented by the Marine Sciences Consortium at Sandy Hook.

Students learned about salt marshes and barrier beaches with hands-on learning activities. While exploring salt marshes, students learned about structure, function and the importance of estuaries.

The students also learned how the marshes were created and about the human impact on the bay and marsh environment. They also took part in a beach hike and collected and identified many shells and crustaceans.