Glen Cove Boys and Girls Club summer program participants trekked through sand, dipped nets in the water and came face-to face with various sea creatures at Jones Beach.

Marine field trips to Jones Beach allow kids to explore sea life, walk the shoreline and learn about endangered animals and water safety.

Hundreds of students experience the camp, which is held twice a week, each summer. The camp is thanks to a New York State Parks partnership with New York Sea Grant and Cornell Cooperative Extension.

Students with the Glen Cove Boys and Girls Club attended the camp on Thursday. They learned how to get out of a rip current via a VR simulation, were taught how to properly wear a life vest and were given nets to catch sea life.

The day began at the Boat Basin and moved over to the Energy and Nature Center.

"The wonderful thing about this program is being able to collaborate with our community partners and provide access to people in the community to come to beautiful Jones Beach State Park. Get outside, get offline, learn a little bit and appreciate the beauty of nature," said Annetta Centrella-Vitale, the center's director.

"We try to target those groups that are working with low-income households and at-risk kids, etc.," said Antoinette Clemetson, New York Sea Grant fishery specialist.

Clemetson said they try to give students "some information about how to be better stewards" and how "to take care of all the wonderful resources that we have at our doorstep."