Beach Clean-up by Melissa Lima Amaro
In the United States billions of pounds of trash enters the ocean each year while globally 11 million metric tons end up in the ocean. Team Voltage beach clean up purpose was to support students growth and learning, personal fulfillment, and it also built a global community among all first robotics teams. “I first thought that the beach clean ups weren’t going to be fun, but when I went it was really because of the community and the satisfaction you get for making a difference.“ Kaya Kerins(10) said. Team Voltage really cared about their community and it showed in the way they run their club, “I’ve been on this team since my freshman year and we half always volunteered. All first robotics teams volunteer and we even have volunteer hours students have to meet to go to competitions.” Carson Devitt said (11).
Beach clean ups allowed robotic teams to demonstrate how they could help their communities and it allowed local organizations to show interest towards the robotics team and have a chance for possible sponsorships. “Robotics teams are very dependent on sponsorships and the beach clean ups give companies an opportunity to see how we help the community.” Devitt said. “While our robotics team does it for the community to see us and notice we are a part of the community, it is also about helping our ecosystem and marine life.” Kerins said. While the sponsorship opportunities were great, Team Voltage really enjoyed helping the ecosystem and helping the beach pollution to go down.
Team Voltage took five gallons of trash this Sunday in Paradise beach and by doing that they saved turtles, birds, and other wildlife around the beach. This was not the first time they cleaned the beach, they have done it before and would be doing another one on February 22. “Our team is honestly always ready to help with the environment, even if it may seem small I’m happy we could make a difference.” Kerins said. “I hope with our beach clean ups we can also increase awareness of how pollution is affecting wildlife.” Devitt said.
Caption: ONE STEP CLOSER. Team Voltage cleans trash in Paradise Beach on February 8th. The Melbourne High School robotics team made many efforts to volunteer around our Melbourne community and the beach clean up was just one of the steps they took to help decrease pollution.”I love that our team is making an effort to help with pollution”, Kaya Kerins a new member of the robotics team said. Photo taken by Daniella Fassman.