Young and Engaged – It’s Shoreline Cleanup Time!
Ever wondered what it was like to organize a Shoreline Cleanup? We spoke with Andrew Shaw, a 5th year Psychology student at Queen’s University who is the co-president of the WWF at Queen’s campus club and is helping organize his second cleanup.
How did you get involved in the Shoreline Cleanup?
Last year our club took the responsibility of cleaning up the old pump-house – located along Kingston’s shoreline near Queen’s campus. We recruited 20 participants for the event and filled five garbage bags worth of litter. The general atmosphere was such a positive one, and since students love competing against each other, we arranged prizes for those who picked up the most garbage. It was a really fun day! This year, our club has been assigned to clean up Kingston’s Pier; a popular location for the student population on sunny weekends, where students can swim and enjoy leisurely relaxation in the sun. We hope to double our numbers this year!
The most daunting task for some people is the idea of asking people to pick up litter. Have you found this difficult?
I think that students are generally motivated toward any activity that is dedicated toward preserving the environment. A lot of the time people just don’t know how to get involved. Participating in the Shoreline Cleanup gives people the satisfaction that active contribution toward a worthy goal can bring. Of course, incentives always help, and we have received great support on campus from some local vendors who have offered discounts and free products for participants.
What do you think the students get out of these cleanups? Why are they important?
I think that the general mentality at Queen’s is very environmentally savvy and informed. A lot of the classes we take are putting more and more emphasis on the importance of sustainability and conservation of resources. Two years ago, Queen’s banned all bottled water distribution on campus, with a lot of support from the student population. I have noticed that there are people who want to get involved but that they simply don’t know how. Events like the Shoreline Cleanup instill a valuable sense of ownership in students toward the Kingston community. We are not just visitors, this is our home away from home.
Thank you Andrew! We look forward to hearing more about your cleanup and you work on campus at Queen’s University.
Want to get involved? Visit ShorelineCleanup.ca to organize a cleanup near you.
