SUN PHOTO BY SUE PAQUIN

The Charlotte Harbor Environmental Center held its Wading Sea-Grass Adventure at Ponce de Leon Park on Thursday to explore the sea-grass beds in Charlotte Harbor and discover a multitude of sea creatures in this aquatic habitat. Children and adults alike were fascinated by the information and hands-on experience provided by CHEC naturalist Chris Salmonsen and volunteers Jan and Frank Walker. Nets and buckets were provided so that all could wade into the water and catch all types of different creatures and shells, which were all returned to the water at the end of the program. Here, 7-year-old Zoey Cahill looks at a map of the waterways as her mom, Kerry, and brothers Chase, 5, and Luke, 9, look on.

SUN PHOTO BY SUE PAQUIN

Chris Salmonsen, a naturalist with Charlotte Harbor Environmental Center, holds up an egg case of a marine snail, specifically one of the snails known as whelks. Small whelks can be found in each segment of the case.

SUN PHOTO BY SUE PAQUIN

Fred Rapp, Rebecca Beall, Ella Beall, 7, and Max Beall, 4, listen to directions given by Chris Salmonsen before entering the water.

SUN PHOTO BY SUE PAQUIN

Chris Foell walks back to shore with his catch during the program.

SUN PHOTO BY SUE PAQUIN

Melinda Ligon of St. Louis waits to see what her friend Anita Frumson of Punta Gorda finds in her net.

SUN PHOTO BY SUE PAQUIN

Chris Foell and his wife, Natalie McNutt, visiting from Knoxsville, Tenn., check out all the living creatures in Chris' bucket.

SUN PHOTO BY SUE PAQUIN

Chase Cahill has a great time watching as three crabs race back to the water.

SUN PHOTO BY SUE PAQUIN

Yvonne Julius, visiting from Kentucky, checks out some of the smaller creatures through a viewer.

SUN PHOTO BY SUE PAQUIN

Groups of waders brave the morning chill for a chance to catch and examine some of the many small sea creatures living in Charlotte Harbor at Ponce de Leon Park in Punta Gorda.