The Ocean Notion

“OK, Mr. Crab,” Michael Piastuki warns the elusive animal sitting on the rock just below the surface, “I’m serious.” The 7-year-old stands on the Cabrillo Beach dock as he lowers a bamboo fishing pole--about the width of a pencil and the length of a yardstick--into the water. His hook--a twisted paper clip--is baited with a piece of squid.

As fast as Mr. Crab scampers for the squid and grabs hold, he’s in a bucket and on his way to the Cabrillo Marine Aquarium, where kids ages 6 and 7 will measure him, determine if Mr. Crab is in fact a mister and collect other data before releasing him back into the drink.

Crab fishing is just one of the many activities in the weeklong marine programs held during morning hours at Cabrillo Marine Aquarium. Similar programs are offered at facilities all along the Southern California coastline, mixing marine education and summer fun at the shore.

“It’s a chance for kids to learn about where the animals live, experience things they might not otherwise--like crab fishing--and just to have fun,” said Randi Abrams, an instructor at Cabrillo.

Almost every week from June through early September, ocean cruises, beach walks and environmental explorations are scheduled for children, adults and entire families. Most offer programs year-round; almost all have environmental messages.

“I think we play an important role in exposing people to the diversity beneath the ocean surface,” said Julie Goodson of the Orange County Marine Institute. “This is how you increase awareness of what you do at home and how it affects the ocean. It gets people curious; it gets them looking.”

Here is a sampling of the Southland facilities and some of the summer programs offered.

Cabrillo Marine Aquarium, operated by the Los Angeles city Department of Recreation and Parks, is within walking distance of numerous marine mammal habitats. Its marine exhibits include live sharks, whale skeletons and a touch tank. Although many of the programs are for younger children, there are activities that involve junior high and high school students, including a volunteer tour guide program.

“I try to tell [visitors] the interesting and weird stuff: said tour guide Kim Kelsey, a Long Beach Poly High student. “Like . . . starfish, they take out their stomachs to eat; or the sea cucumber, it spits out its insides when it’s scared.”

Upcoming programs at Cabrillo include an early-morning tide pool walk open to all ages on Aug. 23 and a three-hour Science at the Seashore workshop for fifth and sixth graders, “Ichthyology and Other Slimy Words,” Aug. 26 to 30. Walks are $1; weeklong programs $80. 3720 Stephen White Drive, San Pedro. (310) 548-7562.

The Marine Wildlife Cruise is a popular program at the Orange County Marine Institute in Dana Point. On board the R/V (what is R/V? kg) Sea Explorer, you can set a fishing net or watch a sunset, sort through mud dredged up from the ocean floor or examine the marine life under a microscope.

The Marine Wildlife Cruise goes every Sunday, 1:30 to 4 p.m. ($20; ages 4 to 12, $14). Other excursions include a 1 1/2-hour harbor cruise which involves some collecting, bird and sea lion watches and an emphasis on harbor history ($11; $8 for ages 4 to 12). 24200 Dana Point Harbor Drive, Dana Point. Reservations required for cruises: (714) 496-2274.

The UCLA Ocean Discovery Center provides an “ocean classroom” just beneath the Santa Monica Pier under the carousel. Children and adults alike are learning that critters are indeed thriving in the long-troubled Santa Monica Bay.

“The biggest impact we have is just bringing people to the realization that a lot of amazing creatures live in the bay,” said Chuck Kopczak, director of the center. One of the challenges is to teach children that they make a difference to the ocean, Kopczak said.

There are aquariums, touch tanks, activity boxes and a video. School kids visit on weekday mornings; public hours are Wednesdays through Fridays, 1 to 3 p.m.; Saturdays, 11 a.m. to 6 p.m.; Sundays, 11 a.m. to 5 p.m. Admission is $5; senior citizens and students with identification pay $3; ages 4 and younger are admitted free. 1600 Ocean Front Walk, Santa Monica. (310) 393-6149.

Kids can learn surfing, boogie boarding and snorkeling skills--and how to read and understand waves and rip currents--through the Ocean Adventures Camp at UC San Diego’s Stephen Birch Aquarium at Scripps in La Jolla. Snorkeling programs are offered for adults as well through mid-September, with instruction including information on the natural history of the animals, their habitats and how humans impact them.

Other classes and activities are offered year ‘round at the aquarium, including tide pool excursions, a popular winter activity.

This weekend at Birch is the “Asleep in the Deep” program, a slumber party for families that involves science experiments and tours of the aquarium before and after dark, to see what changes occur. (Kids $40; ages 18 and older, $20.) On Aug. 23, a beach excursion called “Barefoot Detectives” takes ages 6 and up on an exploration of local habitats, finding animals and measuring waves. Stephen Birch Aquarium at Scripps, 2300 Expedition Way, La Jolla. Adults are $12; ages 6 to 18, $8. (619) 534-3474.

Sea World in San Diego offers instructional field trips for children from preschool to high school on topics such as animal behavior and training; ecology and conservation, and husbandry. Cost is $4.10 per student.

Among the programs open to the public is the behind-the-scenes guided tour, which includes the opportunity to pet a shark or touch a penguin. Ages 3-11 and seniors, $5; all others, $6 (in addition to admission to the park, which is $24.95 for ages 3-11 and $32.95 for all others). (800) 380-3202.