Photo by Max Lim
Owen Yardley ‘25
CENTER FEATURES EDITOR
Our oceans' health is increasingly threatened by pollution, which hurts marine life and the environment. In response to this urgent problem, the Ocean Cleanup Club, founded by seniors Kai Talbert and Max Lim, has been a catalyst for ocean protection. The club's focus is fundraising and taking action towards cleaning oceans and beaches, helping to reduce pollution and protect marine ecosystems.
As Talbert states, "The ocean cleanup club is a club that raises money to help clean up beaches and the ocean." The primary activity of this club is beach cleanups, where members remove trash from the beach and ensure that waste does not find its way into the ocean. This activity cleans the beaches and prevents pollutants from reaching marine life. Besides these cleanups, the club also works on science projects to inspect the quality of the water itself. For one such project to be done soon, the club has organized a canoe trip to place water testers in the Brandywine River to sample the water's pH and determine its pollution level. The scientific data for this will then be used to inform people about the quality of the water and how it affects the surrounding ecosystems. Fundraising is crucial to the club's success because it enables the club to fund its projects and activities. The club funds its activities and projects in unique ways, such as "Chick-fil-A Day," running the snack shack during sporting events, and other special fundraisers."
These activities engage the community, cause people to act, and provide them with the financial resources for their activities. The club also informs the public about protecting the ocean and avoiding pollution by having these fundraisers.
Another significant aspect of the Ocean Cleanup Club's work is its community development. The club is organizing a large beach trip this summer, bringing over 30 people to Ocean City to clean the beach. As Talbert states, "At the beginning of the summer, we plan to do a large trip to the beach with over 30 people in Ocean City." This is an opportunity for members to meet, directly impact the environment, and have a sense of unity among participants.
Through fundraising campaigns, scientific research, and community cleanups, the Ocean CleanUp Club is actually making a difference in keeping our oceans clean. Their efforts show that with time and collaboration, we can preserve our environment for future generations.
