This month’s Adopt-a-Beach Feature is an awesome mother/daughter duo, Nicole & Madison, who adopted a section of Short Sands Beach in York in 2021.
Tell me a little about yourself!
My name is Madison, and I recently graduated high school early. I am a huge activist for the health of the ocean, and I’m planning to major in Marine Biology at the University of New England. Growing up, I lived all over Massachusetts and frequently traveled between the upper east coast, but something about the ocean just called me from a young age. No matter what town I lived in, I wanted to be near the ocean, and in a way, I’ve always wanted to help the ocean and the animals that inhabit it. And my mom, Nicole, is just as significant as an activist for preserving wildlife, not just marine life. Since we only live about an hour from the ocean, we decided we should look for ways to make a more significant impact on the health of the environment.
What beach have you adopted? Why did you choose it?
Short Sands Beach in Maine. This beach was accessible from my state, not too far, and just an overall beautiful beach that should be preserved. But my mother and I noticed this area was also a hot spot for trash. There is a playground next to the beach and shops here and there. So, we decided that it was a beach that deserved to be cleaned up and preserved.
Why did you choose to adopt a beach through Blue Ocean Society?
When I searched all the organizations, I felt Blue Ocean aligned with my beliefs and made volunteering a smooth process. Their staff was welcoming and so friendly. I did not feel overwhelmed or scared by the process of any of this. I also loved how good of a community I saw through this organization, with lots of people from different places coming together to help our planet. Blue Ocean Society felt like the perfect pick, and it still does.
What item(s) do you find the most, and is it what you expected?
The item I find the most are cigarette butts. I was definitely expecting to see things like cigarettes and stuff of that nature, but the amount I found was disappointing.
Has anything surprised you at your cleanups?
I found a lot of meat/fish packaging and was really shocked by that. I knew there would be some plastic and chip bags, but the beef and fish packages there were very shocking. I assumed stuff like that had to be handled carefully before being thrown away, but there were many of them.
What is the craziest/weirdest thing you’ve found?
I found a child’s pair of sneakers, and they looked in decent condition, but when I looked around, there weren’t any children anywhere.
Do you have a fun cleanup story to share?
The most fun cleanup story was the one time we had to bring my younger siblings with us, and I taught them about picking up trash, and they helped me do a beach cleanup. We then brought them to the playground, put them on the swing set, and while we pushed them on the swings, we talked about why it’s so important not to litter and why the health of our oceans matters.
Is there anything you do differently now that you have adopted a beach?
I am much more careful about the waste I can produce. I try to replace everyday products made of plastic, like toothbrushes, for example, and use bamboo toothbrushes instead, switching to a metal water bottle, etc. I also make efforts to educate those around me and recycle the trash I do use.
Is there anything else you’d like to share in the blog post?
I want to help create the healthiest planet; as people who live on Earth, we all have a duty to keep her clean, help each other, and create a brighter, cleaner future for those who come after us. And I know we can do it if we all work together.
Thank you, Madison, for your hard work and dedication! I can’t wait to see where the future takes you in your marine science journey!
Get Involved!
Click here to learn more about our Adopt-a-Beach program! You can view which beaches are available for adoption, read our AAB Handbook, and fill out an adoption application. 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 or have any questions about this program? Email Danielle at danielle@blueoceansociety.org.
Are you interested in joining a beach cleanup before you commit to adopting? We have SIX public cleanups coming up, five of which are on Earth Day. Click here to get more info and register for our public cleanups!
