Aberdeen students learn first-hand about beach pollution

Students from the Aberdeen High School Natural Resources class picked up about 400 pounds of trash this past week when they took a field trip to Griffiths-Priday State Park at Copalis.

The students have been learning about solid waste and ocean debris in class this September. The students — from freshmen to seniors, followed up their lesson with a lab looking at random sand samples from Grays Harbor beaches. Every sample they looked at had some type of microplastics in it.

“I had lots of fun, we found tons of garbage and even got to see an otter,” said 10th grader Lynzi Montoure, summing up the day’s activities.

“Late last year as I was teaching about solid waste and ocean debris, the students and I started talking about how great it would be if we did an excursion to the beach to clean up trash and do our part to clean up our local beaches,” said teacher Faith Taylor-Eldred.

She took about 50 students to the beach for the two-hour clean up.

The Grays Harbor Marine Resource Committee and Twin Harbors Water Keepers helped fund the transportation to the beach. The Washington State Parks paid for the debris to be hauled off.

A Washington state Parks Ranger, a staffer from the Surfrider Foundation and the Twin Harbor Water Keepers were all there to assist and talk to the students about different elements of what they might find on the beach.

“I was so heartened to work with Aberdeen High School students … cleaning up plastic and marine debris at Copalis Beach,” said Twin Harbors Water Keepers Lee First. “I hope this is the start of a long relationship with the district, and I look forward to more field trips with these amazing young people.”

Surfriders Foundation staffer Bruce Rittenhouse was impressed.

“Faith, what a wonderful group of students you have,” he said. “It was great seeing our next generation of conservationists taking an interest in keeping our beaches clean for all to enjoy.”

The students clearly enjoyed their time at the beach and learned a real lesson about pollution.

Student quotes:

“You throw away your trash, you are automatically better than those who litter, toss wherever and pollute,” said 11th grader Synae Larkins.

“I was having so much fun, it was sunny out, no clouds and it was a great day to go outside and help the community. My teacher told me we had picked about 400 pounds of garbage in only two hours,” said 11th grader Carmen Chavez-Lopez.

“The day was as beautiful as it could be, then you would see the trash and wonder how truly beautiful it could’ve been,” said 11th grader Floyd Jones.

“I thought it was going to be cold, but it ended up being a nice day to clean up our local beaches. I will do this again,” said 11th grader Khelais Smith.

“Cleaning up garbage at the beach was a fun experience for me and showed me how much and what kinds of garbage wash up on shore,” said 11th grader Nyah Causey.

“I found a type of fish egg on the beach that was under trash. I ended up putting it back in the water,” said 11th grader Leo Garcia Salazar.

“When the beach is clean, it makes everyone happy,” said 11th grader Juan Francisco-Gonzales.

“Feels good after taking care of the planet,” said 10th grader Nataly Barragan-Salazar.

“Sack of garbage was heavy, 55 pounds too heavy,” said 10th grader Erin Mathews

Teacher Taylor-Eldred said the students give her hope for the future.

“They are stronger, more resilient and deeply care about what is happening to Earth and I think if any generation has the strength to make change, it is them,” she said.