Dennis Beach Cleanup
For the past twenty years, Massachusetts volunteers have scoured beaches, riverbanks, marshes and the seafloor to pick up trash and record information about the types of trash being collected. These volunteers are part of COASTSWEEP, the Commonwealth’s annual coastal cleanup program, organized by the Massachusetts Office of Coastal Zone Management and the Urban Harbors Institute of the University of Massachusetts Boston.
In 2007 COASTSWEEP volunteers collected almost nine tons of trash from beaches, marshes, rivers, ponds, and the seafloor.
Some of that was done with the help of Cape Cod Tech's freshman class. They collected 900 lbs of trash and recyclables form the Town of Harwich beaches as a part of the new Community Service Learning Program at Cape Cod Tech.
In October 0f 2008, the entire new freshman student body of 190 students chipped in again, this time in Dennis. COASTSWEEP provided the school with all the supplies and materials for the beach cleanup along with data collection cards that are used for research. Working along side of the students, and in cooperation with the Town of Dennis, were AmeriCorps volunteers and two local organizations from Dennis who have adopted these two beaches, VFW Post in Dennis and the Cape Cod Salties. See Nicole Muller's Wicked Local article Here.
“This program is a wonderful opportunity for these students to give back to their community and help to maintain these tremendous resources that we as residents of Cape Cod are blessed with.”
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“We are proud to have our students engaged in working cooperatively with our district towns and civic organizations for the benefit of the communities. Community Service Learning is a great opportunity for our students to get practical experience while learning about civic responsibility.”
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AmeriCorps has been instrumental in the success of this new program at Cape Cod Regional Technical High School .AmeriCorps has been working in conjunction with the school with all of its 26 volunteers providing the school with instructional aide onsite and in the classroom.
Cape Cod Tech’s Community Service Learning Program will provide our students with an opportunity to enhance their social skills encourage civic engagement and promote community responsibility. Through students working in their communities serving their neighbors and sharing their unique talents and abilities, it will increase their understanding of the significance of a culture of service, citizenship and community responsibility.
You can learn more about AmeriCorps program by visiting the AmeriCorps website: www.americorps.org
You can learn more about the COASTSWEEP program by visiting the COASTSWEEP website: www.coastsweep.umb.edu or by calling the Urban Harbors Institute at 617-287-5570.
You can learn more about the Town of Dennis “Adopt a Beach Program” and Dennis Beaches at www.town.dennis.ma.us.