Camp Cronin hosts a beach clean-up where students volunteer to clean the community beach. PHOTO CREDIT: Erin Brown | Staff Reporter
The University of Rhode Island’s location in the Ocean State has created a University-wide focus on ocean conservation and protection.
The Ocean Recovery Community Alliance, also known as ORCA, partnered with URI’s Center for Career and Experiential Education to host a beach cleanup at Camp Cronin on Saturday.
Camp Cronin and Point Judith are common places for students and the community to go and many URI students live in the area near the beach and the lighthouse. Camp Cronin is just a few minutes walk away from Point Judith and the lighthouse can be seen from the beach.
“People realize just how much trash and debris ends up in our beaches then in our water, which in turn affects marine life and it continues the cycle,” Community Engagement Coordinator Amy Albert said. “I’m excited to be able to offer that as an opportunity for students to kind of jump into some service and kind of facilitate that larger conversation.”
The popularity in the location led to its selection for a beach cleanup because of its personal ties, as well as the amount of trash due to the amount of people that enjoy the beach, according to Albert.
The event gathered a big crowd, despite the frigid temperatures and 25 mph winds, with a turnout of 56 people. Students of all different grades heard about the event and came to get connected with fellow students and their environment.
All of the necessary equipment such as gloves, trash bags and trash grabbers ewere provided by ORCA so all that was needed was a good attitude.
“We’re a part of the URI Saves club so they always tell us what’s happening and it happened to be a beach clean up and we’re interested in that so we decided to do it,” freshman Avery Egan said. “The weather could be better but it’s been really fun.”
Sophomores Maye Sohboff, Abdullah Mousa and Cole Gavin heard about the event through an email and came to meet new people and help the environment. They all became friends as they grouped up to clean the beach together.
“I’ve done a couple things like this before growing up in a coastal town, you see how much trash there is every time you go,” senior Hannah Dunmire said. “Every time I go to the beach, I try to pick up as much trash as I see and bring it away with me.”
Her friend, senior Emily Scheve, added that it was sad to see just how much trash there was to clean up.
Multiple beach clean ups are held throughout the year by the Center for Career and Experience Education as they partner with local organizations such as ORCA.
ORCA itself hosts beach cleanups all throughout the Rhode Island and Connecticut area, with 42 cleanups hosted last year. The cleanup at Camp Cronin was just one of four in the month of February, according to ORCA Project Manager Kevin Carmignani.
“Save the Bay” is another organization that works frequently with the CCEE and will be organizing another beach cleanup later this spring.
The CCEE and Albert’s position works to connect students with their local community and resources.
“[We want] to help students recognize their own voice in advocacy and civic engagement and how to be civically engaged along the way as well,” Albert said.
The center also helped host “Fresh Check Day” in the fall where students got connected to mental health resources at URI. Coming up in the rest of the semester, students have a chance to go on an alternative spring break where they can serve communities and participate in advocacy training.