Photos by Julia Rosier '18
A.P. Environmental Science students aided the Connecticut Fund for the Environment organization to collect garbage along the beach and grass areas at the Sherwood Island State Park in Westport on Sunday, Oct. 16. The student participants collected a variety of different types of pollution which was eventually weighed for data collection.
The Connecticut Fund for the Environment organization strives to improve the conditions of land, water and air during Connecticut’s legislative session. Connecticut Fund for the Environment protects land and recreational areas throughout Connecticut and organizes events such as coastal cleanups and fundraisers.
Amanda Neckritz ’18 attended the beach cleanup and collected plastic bags, cigarette buds and rope. Neckritz stated that the most common item she discovered was plastic bags.
When students arrived at the event they received a garbage bag and were allowed to travel in small groups around the park. “[The experience] was eye opening. I didn’t realize how much we pollute our environment,” Neckritz said.
Mae Logan ’19 also participated in the cleanup for her class. “My group mainly found plastic and food wrappers along with a couple glass items,” Logan said. “What my group thought was interesting was that there was a lot of trash around areas where trash cans and recycling were.”
Logan was intrigued that people decided to pollute the environment when there is an easy and eco-friendly alternative right in front of them.
“We found over 13 plastic spoons, but nothing out of the ordinary, which is a good sign,” Jessie Parker ’18 said. Parker explained how her group walked around the main beach and discovered tiny scraps such as pieces of wrappers and bottle caps.
“It was nice to work with my friends for a good cause, I enjoyed the opportunity to take things that we learned in the classroom and bring them outside.” -Mae Logan '19
Parker stated that, although she does not typically visit Sherwood Island State Park, she was happy to help protect the wildlife there from plastic and other garbage.
“It was nice to work with my friends for a good cause,” Logan said. “I enjoyed the opportunity to take things that we learned in the classroom and bring them outside.”