By Jill Taylor, Blue Ocean Society Volunteer
Seventh-grader Max Ronner-Bland has always been amazed by the enormity and vitality of the ocean, but was dismayed one day to find wrappers clinging to seaweed. He told his mom, Kyler. Thus began their monthly clean up of North Beach in Hampton.
Below is an interview that I conducted with Max about his volunteer experience.
What task do you volunteer for?
I volunteer to clean up North Beach (the Wall) in Hampton every month. We go and clean up, record what we have found on data sheets, weigh the trash and record that, too. Then we send that data into the Blue Ocean Society, and throw the trash away. My friends join me when they can. We advertise on Facebook to get the community involved.
Why do you volunteer?
I like to volunteer because I love the water. It has always been amazing to me how it is so huge and amazing and full of life. One day I found some seaweed in the water. It was dotted with wrappers. I ran to my mom and told her what I had seen. I guess I had just disregarded the trash when I was young. So we planned a beach cleanup at Jenness Beach for just Mom and me. Then one day a year later, Mom found Blue Ocean Society’s Adopt-a-Beach website, and I was all for it.
What part do you enjoy?
I love the satisfaction of a job well done. When I do beach cleanup, I sometimes notice people trying to keep trash away from seagulls. And, sometimes people at the beach will come and help us for a few yards. And, they would always end in a high five and ask when we are doing it again. This brings us together after a common enemy: POLLUTION! I also like making flyers and writing about it on our Facebook page, Always in Motion to Save the Ocean.
What part do you dislike?
I dislike using latex gloves because they are always too big for me. I always sweat a lot while I am wearing them. There really isn’t too much of this job that I dislike, except for finding the trash.
I think you are in 7th grade, correct? What other activities do you enjoy?
I am in the seventh grade, and outside of my cleanups, I enjoy reading, acting in musicals and plays, playing guitar, going to the beach, running, taking walks outside, writing, watching shows with my friends in them, and spending time with my family.
Thank you, Max, for all your hard work in keeping our beaches clean and protecting marine life! Check out Always in Motion to Save the Ocean and sign up for a cleanup here!
