It’s a beautiful day to clean up garbage around the ocean.

Grade Five students from Roncalli Elementary and St. Frances of Assisi headed to Middle Cove Beach to help clean up, learn about local invasive species and the impacts of plastics and marine debris in the ocean.

Parks Canada, the Department of Fisheries and Oceans and divers from Memorial University were there to play games, show kids a touch tank and teach them about the impacts humans have on the environment.

Danielle Nichols, research marketing manager with the Department of Ocean Sciences at Memorial University says that it’s good for children to learn early in life how plastic and other garbage can negatively impact oceans.

She says hands-on learning is more impactful than learning in the classroom.

It’s also great opportunity for kids to learn all about the ocean environment right on the beach.