SDCH students clean up the shoreline
Grimsby Park Beach focus of science project
Published on
Oct 01, 2008
About 35 students at Smithville Christian High School put their science studies into practice last week, with their participation in the TD Great Canadian Shoreline Cleanup.
The students from two Grade 10 science classes descended upon Grimsby Park Beach on Friday morning, prepared to get down and dirty and to do some heavy lifting.
By the end of the morning they had gathered, carefully documented and weighed over 270 pounds of plastic bottles, food wrappers, cigarette butts, old tires and construction debris.
In addition to making a short section of shoreline pristine again, the documentation was an important part of the class project, said science teacher Gina VandenDool, because all the data the students collected is sent to the International Coastal Cleanup via the Vancouver Aquarium, where it is analyzed and becomes part of worldwide environmental monitoring for research purposes.
Being involved in a community stewardship activity was a great way to underscore the care for creation that is taught in the school's classrooms every day, said science teacher David Wonder, whose students also participated in the cleanup.
The students also used the experience to observe science concepts in action, VandenDool said, making note of the effects of wave action, erosion and pollution on the Lake Ontario shoreline in Grimsby.
Before leaving the beach, the students sorted the debris into bags of garbage and recycling, to be collected by the Town of Grimsby public works department.