The kids who took part in an Explore the Shore program got a brief education on blue crabs, sea lettuce and other coastal plants and creatures.

Held Friday afternoon, the program was a partnership between the Buzzards Bay Coalition and My Own BackYard (MOBY) initiative. MOBY is a year-long push to get families outside. It’s made possible through a $10,000 grant to tri-town libraries.

Coalition Outdoor Educator Cassie Lawson headed the activity that attracted approximately 15 kids, in grades three to eight.

“We want to increase their awareness of the environment and urge them to become citizen scientists,” Lawson said.

The group received a brief lesson on the different shells littering the beach, and then were encouraged to find a variety of things to share.

Splashing around at low tide, kids collected crabs, barnicles and clams using buckets and nets. Lawson and other Coalition members then examined the group’s findings and offered a few lessons about the captured species' habitats.

The crabs and clams were then released after a brief excursion as teaching aids.

For more information about the Coalition, visit www.savebuzzardsbay.org. To learn more about MOBY materials available for check out at tri-town libraries, call Susan Pizzolato (Mattaposiett) at 508-758-4171, Gail Roberts (Rochester) at 508-763-8600, Libby O’Neill (Marion) at 508-748-1252.