We are starting a new blog series featuring our amazing Adopt-a-Beach volunteers! Each series post will highlight a different person or group that has adopted a beach from us at Blue Ocean Society.
By adopting a beach, they have committed to clean that beach once a month for one year, and many of our adopters have continued for several consecutive years!
Today’s feature is the highly dedicated Riley Levesque! Riley is a sophomore at Kingswood Regional High School. She loves dancing, surfing, and playing volleyball. Riley plans to study Marine Biology in college. Riley adopted the southern half of Long Sands Beach in York because she loves to surf and walk her dog, Maui.
I asked Riley some questions to get a feel for what her cleanups are like, what she finds on the beach, if adopting a beach has inspired any other changes in her lifestyle, and more. Follow along to hear about Riley’s journey in adopting Long Sands Beach!
Why did you choose to adopt a beach through Blue Ocean Society?
I decided to adopt a beach through Blue Ocean Society to make a difference. I am aware of plastic pollution and want to help as much as possible!
What item(s) do you find the most?
Some common items on the beach are microplastics, cigarettes, bottle caps, rope, and lobster cage debris. These are typical things I see on many other beaches as well.
Have there been items you’ve found that you weren’t expecting?
I wasn’t expecting to find so many hair elastics, army men toys, socks, and dog poop bags.
What is the craziest or most bizarre thing you’ve found?
The craziest and weirdest things I have seen so far are dentures and part of a toilet seat.
Do you have a fun cleanup story to share?
Sometimes my little cousins help me clean up the beach. So, we make a game out of it. Whoever can pick up the most trash gets ice cream!
Has adopting this beach changed your behavior? Is there anything you do differently now?
It makes me more aware of what I use in my day-to-day life. When I go surfing, I make sure I use an elastic that won’t slip out of my hair. I try not to use plastic when possible.
Is there anything else you’d like to share with us?
I traveled to South Carolina this year. On the beaches, there were many marine conservation signs along the shore. I wanted to have something similar at our local beaches. I created a design, and the signs are now located at Harbor beach and Long Sands Beach in York, Maine. I hope to make more signs for our local beaches in the future to help spread marine conservation awareness!
Check out Riley’s marine debris prevention sign design below!
Thank you to Riley for sharing her beach adoption experience and being a fantastic role model and ocean steward, especially at her young age!
Read more about our Adopt-A-Beach program and get involved! View the beaches available for adoption and fill out an application to get started.
While most New Hampshire coastal beaches are currently adopted, we are particularly excited for folks to adopt sites within Great Bay, NH and the state of Maine. Interested in a beach not on the list? Let us know!
If you have any questions about this program, please email Danielle at danielle@blueoceansociety.org.
