PORT ANGELES — As classes began to wrap up last week, fourth and fifth graders at Port Angeles School District had a chance to know what life is like under the sea.

A $4,500 grant from the Clallam County Marine Resource Committee provided for the field trip to the Arthur D. Feiro Marine Life Center.

The nonprofit center provides education and experiments for the students to learn about sea creatures which live in the Strait of Juan de Fuca and the Olympic Coast National Marine Sanctuary.

The tour centered around the theme “Let’s Do Lunch,” Deborah Moriarty, spokeswoman for the center, said.

“This is a really fantastic opportunity,” Maria Case, a teacher at Franklin Elementary, said.

“I’m glad the fourth graders are able to experience this marine center.

“I really liked the one theme idea.”

The children learned about what the creatures eat, the food chain and even how to pack their own lunches in an eco-friendly way.

“It is a very hands-on experimental program,” Moriarty said.

“We do this largely with volunteers.”

The program began 27 years ago and was funded by the school system. The district was unable to maintain transportation for field trips after budget cuts were made, Moriarty said.

“So when we heard that they wouldn’t be able to do it anymore, we went to the Marine Resource Committee and asked if they would be able to provide a grant,” Moriarty said.

“We would love to expand this to all of the other districts in the area, and to do a middle school and high school program, but we are still looking for that funding.”

The students learn about the tiny microscopic critters of the ocean by gathering sample water from off of City Pier and then examining it through microscopes.

“This was beautifully organized,” Emily Goodrum, a Dry Creek Elementary School teacher, said.

“From the moment our bus pulled up at the curb, we were greeted and led step-by-step.

“I’m so impressed with the number of staff and volunteers.”

Moriarty said one of the most important aspects of the field trip was giving relevance to what the students see in the classroom every day.

“Most of the time we are looking at pictures of things,” said Nicholas Fritschler, a Roosevelt Elementary School fifth-grader.

“This is really cool because we can really touch and see and feel with our own eyes what we are learning about.”

Elisa Kilmer said her favorite part of the day was catching the plankton from the pier.

“I thought we would be able to see them, but you can’t,” the Roosevelt fifth-grader said.

“We learned a lot about all of the little sea animals.”

For more information on this program or on the marine life center, phone 360-417-6254 or visit the Web page at www.olypen.com/feirolab.