By MADDY VITALE
Whelks, scallop shells, starfish and even a seahorse were just some of the exciting marine life children marveled over during Sea Isle City’s beachcombing excursion at 29th Street beach Tuesday.
Each week, throughout the summer, the city’s Environmental Commission hosts these free events, one at 29th Street on Tuesdays at 10 a.m., and at the same time, on Thursdays at 94th Street in the shadow of the Townsends Inlet Bridge.
Sally Reagle, of Magnolia, N.J., brought her three grandchildren, Mark, 11, Emilia, 8, and 5-year-old Harper, for the fun morning on the beach.
“We’ve been meaning to come all summer. We are so glad we’re here,” Reagle said.
Reagle’s grandchildren quickly made their way to a place closest to the water’s edge, where beachcombing guide Anne Mosenson had examples of marine life laid out on a towel in preparation for her marine life lesson to the attendees.
A decorative turtle, shells and egg cases with rough exteriors called mermaid’s purses, and also a shark’s tooth caught the eye of some of the kids.
“Why are mermaid’s purses so small?” asked Mosenson. “She only needs room for a shellphone.”
To that, the kids and adults giggled at the punchline.
Mosenson, like the other guides, Carol Goldstein and Karen Haugh, entertained and informed the groups about marine life.
“It’s a fun thing for families to do. It’s free and they learn a lot,” Mosenson said. “We get a lot of return customers.”
Abby Powell, an Environmental Commission member who heads the beachcombing program, said they have had a great season so far.
“This has been one of our busiest years yet,” Powell said.
She and Marie Peltier, a fellow volunteer, said each week nearly 100 people have attended one tour or the other.
When the guides finished detailing the marine life and other items on their towels for discussion, they sent the children, with free buckets in hand, off to do a little beachcombing.
“What is this?” Mark Reagle asked Mosenson as he slowly opened his hand.
It was a piece of a jelly fish that he quickly tossed back to the water.
Other children were pretty intrigued by the neat shells they discovered as waters came up to the beach during high tide on a windy morning with air temps in the high 70s.
“Look at these shells we found!” Emilia Reagle exclaimed.
Her cousin, Lily Michielli, of Washington Township, N.J., was equally as thrilled as she pulled her own shell from the sand.
Aaron Gibison, 10, of Haddon Township, N.J., was excited for his discoveries.
Within minutes, he had a bucket filled with shells that he brought to Mosenson to ask what some were.
Then he showed them to his parents, Michele and Tom Gibison
“He likes hearing all of the tidbits and the backstory the tour guides give,” Michele Gibison explained. “This is really a great program.”
Courtney Keane, who has a summer home in Sea Isle City, brought her 3-year-old daughter, Emma, for the beachcombing tour.
Emma seemed entranced by a turtle figurine on the towel.
Her mom laughed, as her daughter held onto the turtle.
“I grew up on these beaches and I used to do this on the beach. Emma is enjoying this,” Keane said.
For more information about Sea Isle City’s beachcombing tours, go to www.visitsicnj.com and click on the “Weekly Summer Events” link.
