Students, parents and teachers from Waimea Country School recently participated in the Ocean Conservancy’s International Coastal Cleanup by picking up trash at Waiala Bay, also known as Beach 69. Students, parents and teachers from Waimea Country School recently participated in
Students, parents and teachers from Waimea Country School recently participated in the Ocean Conservancy’s International Coastal Cleanup by picking up trash at Waiala Bay, also known as Beach 69.
Since it began in 1986, the Ocean Conservancy’s International Coastal Cleanup has become the world’s largest volunteer effort for ocean health. During the annual event, nearly 500,000 people worldwide spend a day picking up trash and cataloging what was found. The cleanup generally yields eight million pounds of trash.
Waimea Country School fourth-graders Kodi Edmonson and Menolly Benedict were unanimous in their feelings about the cleanup effort. Both said they were tired, but they knew the cleanup was important to help protect the environment. They said they hoped to save animals from dying, since animals can sometimes accidentally eat trash.
Third-grader Iwalani Mehau sees a potential impact to people in addition to wildlife.
“If a fish eats a piece of plastic and then we catch the fish and eat it, we are eating the plastic. Gross,” Mehau said.
Founded in 1996, Waimea Country School’s mission is “to provide an outstanding K-6 child-centered, multiage and multicultural learning experience which incorporates the core values of inclusion and respect.”
For more information, call 885-0067, visit waimeacountryschool.org or Facebook.com/waimeacountryschool.
