Save the Beaches Educational Program
STUDENT ESSAYS FALL 2006
Save the Beaches
Educational Program
STUDENT ESSAYS FALL 2006
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Bud Maaser from STB was on hand to make the presentations to the 7 finalists.
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JANE O’HANDLEY |
JANE O’HANDLEY – MS ZWERLEIN’S CLASS
Trash left of the beaches or along the seashore affects nature in many ways. One way it affects nature is when it is dangerous and life-threatening to the wildlife, fish, plants, earth, and water bodies like the ocean.
When people leave garbage behind, such as newspapers, ice cream wrappers, and plastic bags and containers, they could blow into the water and harm, strangle and even kill birds, fish and sea life. Those items also pollute the water itself, which could be dangerous to human beings as well as the animals, plants and fish that rely on water to survive.
Since everything in nature has a purpose and is part of the food chain, anything that is killed or dies as a result of trash left on the beaches could affect nature’s lifecycle of many living things, including people. All living things are connected to each other either directly or indirectly and can be damaged by trash if it is not thrown away.
People and animals can also get hurt by stepping on metal or wood or glass that is left on the beaches. When plants die from harmful trash they cannot help the environment and nature because they cannot help keep the air clean. People are nature’s greatest resource because we can help nature stay pure.
People are responsible and some animals are responsible for scattering trash on the beaches that damages nature. People sometimes leave their trash behind; and animals, like deer and raccoons, can get into garbage and scatter it around on beaches and land. People know it is important to be careful to throw trash away; some animals are scavengers and go through the trash to find food. It is important that people do their part to help preserve nature’s resources, especially since the animals cannot.
On the Cedar Beach field trip, I was shocked that there were so many cigarette filters and plastic cups and garbage on the beach. My group found a lot of cigarette filters, newspapers, and ice cream wrappers and sticks. Cigarette smoke isn’t good for the air either. Other groups found pieces of metal, glass, beach chairs and hazardous waste products.
If anyone stepped on the glass or metal they could get very hurt. If deer or any other wildlife ate something harmful, they could die. I was amazed at the amount of trash that was on the beaches, especially since there were so many garbage cans around. I love to go to the beach, especially in the summer, and even though some animals are responsible for getting into garbage cans, it makes me upset to think that people can be careless with their trash also. It was a good thing to look for trash because it made me much more aware of the way trash on the beaches is harmful to all living things, and to our beaches, which I love.
Nature is about harmony and balance. It is everything in the world that is not made by people, such as plants, animals and the weather. Trash is usually made up of man made things. If trash is allowed to pollute the beaches and water, then living things could become extinct, and the food chain could no longer exist.
Animals, plants, fish, wildlife and insects depend on the earth, the sand, the soil and the beaches to survive. Animals need plants and fruit. Trash kills plants, contaminates water, harms animals, fish and insects, all of which need each other to survive.
My hope is that more people will stop littering and start doing things that will help nature, beginning with themselves. If people help preserve the resources nature provides us with, everything living will grow, and everything natural, like the beautiful beaches will remain beautiful.
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SHELBY FREDERICKS |
SHELBY FREDERICKS – MRS. SCHULTHEIS’ CLASS
A CRISIS AT CEDAR BEACH
Today, September 27, 2006 was one of my most spectacular days ever in the Babylon Memorial Grade School history, not only because the sun is out and the birds are singing, but the best part is the 22 students in Mrs. Schultheis’ class are going to one of the most beautiful beaches on Long Island. Yes, this beach is amazing, yes, it makes you want to relax, with the sand between your toes. Ok, ok, the beautiful beach I went to was the one and only Cedar Beach.
There is one thing on the beach that takes the smile off my face, when I arrive on the coast and let the water hit my toes. As I look and observe the beautiful plants and wildlife, I noticed something that I’ve always noticed but never made me have a sick feeling in my stomach. The trash on the ground! When I see tins, I say to myself, “What are these people thinking when they drop a piece of garbage on the ground without dropping it into the trashcan.” I don’t blame people, they don’t know how this hurts the environment what I mean by that is the plants and wildlife, because nobody ever realized they need the community to help the environment. I am going to turn this around…this needs to stop!
Wow, Cedar Beach is a really amazing area. Everything around and on it is amazing, the wonderful and beautiful wildlife, the wonderful habitat for that wildlife. All of that work those volunteers put into that amazing beach is …well it really shows that they have a great personality inside and out. Did you know those great people can’t keep that beautiful beach beautiful on their own. And what I mean by that is there is one specific nature on the beach which we, as a community should, not be proud of.
What I am talking about is the garbage and pollution, certain people throw on the ground not knowing how bad the garbage affects not only the beach but the wonderful wildlife, and not only the beaches and wildlife but the world! I can’t stress enough about garbage on the ground.
We, as a big community, should act like a big family and want everyone of us to want each other to be healthy, so let’s not make our lives harder than they already are by littering. Everyone needs to spread the word, you can make the world a better place to live and to explore.
The animals on Cedar Beach are…amazing, beautiful gorgeous, well there are too many words that I can describe about the animals and nature on Cedar Beach. Wow, when looking at the land, I can tell that the nature on Cedar Beach is not getting the respect they need to live a healthier life style. Did you know that the air we breathe is the same air nature breathes, (what a surprise)? So if you think you’re doing yourself a favor by littering, guess what two words YOU’RE WRONG!!!!!, because you’re not only hurting nature you’re hurting yourself.
Did you know that if you drop what you think is, “Just a small piece of garbage” into the bay or ocean or maybe even a specific area on land, many of the wildlife will mistake that piece of garbage for food. That wildlife will most likely approach it slowly and not just say, “Oh look it’s that piece of garbage again.” They probably will very happily take a bite at that garbage and will not be able to swallow it. That poor animal will then choke and die because of what our community thinks is just “Garbage”.
Wow, I’ve learned a lot about Cedar Beach, and have convinced myself, to keep our community looking beautiful and bright. Let’s keep our world a happy world and heading for a bright future!
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MAXWELL PITAGNO |
MAXWELL PITAGNO – MRS. CHATTERTON’S CLASS
A few days ago I went to Cedar Beach on a class field trip and I realized how much garbage is at a common beach. You probably don’t notice it at first but if you take the time to actually look for it then you’ll see how much junk there actually is. This essay is about how that garbage affect the wildlife in the ocean and the beach.
In the ocean and on the beach it isn’t just the fish that get affected by the garbage, seals, turtles, and seabirds get affected by it also. I’ll start with the fish, the worst threat garbage can give them is beer bottle caps if someone throws a cap off their boat or off the shore it will very likely shine. Many fish in the Great South Bay feed on a fish called spearing, also know as shiners, and you can probably tell from the name shiners, they also shine. Now you’re probably thinking that when you go fishing it takes forever for you to get a bite, if you do get one, but when it’s on the ground it is an easy meal in the eyes of a fluke or a sea robin or a skate.
In the cooler winter months we get seals. Now many people think seals are cute and nobody wants to hurt them but they sure do. Fishermen carelessly discard fishing net. Though seals spend about two thirds of their lives in the water they still have to breathe air, not if they have a heavy net on them.
Turtles are endangered and it’s illegal to hunt or kill them but they are still in danger because of what they eat, jellyfish. How many times have you let a balloon fly away from you? Poets write about it; people do it on purpose and by accident. But did you know that every time you let a balloon fly away you’re putting a threat in front of a turtle? Do notice how after a party or an event with balloons, eventually the balloons stop floating. Well what if they stop floating over the bay and fall in. Jellyfish bodies are 98 percent water and they are very soft but balloons are not, so if a turtle mistakes a balloon for a jellyfish it will suffocate and die.
The piping plover is endangered and is only found here and lays its eggs in the dunes. If the dunes are destroyed it will not only take a lot out of the piping plover population but it will also blow sand all over the beach. Now you may be thinking, but people aren’t allowed on dunes. I thought that too until I found all the garbage in the dunes.
Garbage has a terrible effect on nature. But there are simple ways to help. I hope people realize this and put their thoughts about this into actions.
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HALLIE MERZ |
HALLIE MERZ – MRS. KETCHAM’S CLASS
Do people follow the rules and keep the beaches clean and not litter? No, people don’t obey the law and litter all they want. They may not feel bad about littering but they should. Our beaches are one of the most special things about Long Island and we all should try to keep them clean.
Littering could hurt a lot of animals. If you don’t cut up a six pack soda case the dolphins and sea turtles can get it stuck over their mouths and will not be able to breathe. Also some animals might mistake bags for jellyfish or their prey, and eat the bag and choke. Litter destroys the natural habitat of the shore animals and fish.
If beaches were not kept clean people would not want to go to the beach. Who wants to swim in a dump? Sometimes glass can get on the ground and make a lot of people cut themselves. That makes a dangerous situation for people as well as animals. People would stop going to the beach if it stopped being a place to relax and enjoy themselves. I know I don’t want to go to a dirty beach.
Each person who goes to our beaches needs to realize that they have a responsibility to nature to help preserve our natural resources. We are interfering with the “circle of life” when we alter natural areas with litter.
So please Babylon KEEP OUR BEACHES CLEAN
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COLLIN GODFREY |
COLLIN GODFREY – MR. ROSSI’S CLASS
Trash has a lot of bad effect on our natural beaches and shorelines. Everything that lies along our beaches has a good chance of blowing into the ocean or the bay causing pollution.
Many things like plastic bags, balloons, Styrofoam, and cigarette filters look like food to our fish and sea birds. When this junk gets eaten they can choke the animals or make them very sick.
Stuff like broken glass, sharp pieces of metal, and pointy fish hooks can badly injure sea animals. Things like rope, fishing nets, and fishing lines can get wrapped around sea animals like seagulls and cause them to drown or choked to death.
Some bottles that get left of the beach might have dangerous chemicals in them that can poison sea life.
Since we are lucky enough to live so close to a lot of great beaches, it has to be our job to make sure that we take some time to clean up there, especially after ourselves when we spend our days on the beach in the summer. We should always bag up our food wrappers and drink bottles and throw them in the garbage barrels located on the sand. Our Save the Beaches field trip today taught us how we can do our share.
Spread the word!!!!!
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LYLA DALE |
LYLA DALE - MS MIELENHAUSEN’S CLASS
Garbage Stinks – “Litter-ally”
Where can you find shoes, toys, soda cans, cigarette butts, candy wrappers, dirty diapers, and even a door? At the beach! Because of people’s selfish ways, the beach is filled with garbage. People should make a pact with beaches. They will provide us with fun and relaxation. In return, we will clean up after ourselves. If we don’t, the beaches won’t be here for future generations to enjoy. Can you imagine Long Island without our beaches?
When I went to Cedar Beach with my class, it really opened my eyes. As my group was searching the beach, I noticed how quickly our bag was filling up. When I heard the bull horn and everyone gathered, I couldn’t believe how many bulging bags of garbage we had collected!
The next time you drop a piece of trash at the beach, think of how you are hurting the environment. You are hurting sea life and adding to pollution. If beaches are filled with garbage, do you think the tourists will still want to come?
I love going to the beach. It’s a great place to throw away your problems, but no you garbage.
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GIOVANNA DOMINGO |
GIOVANNA DOMINGO - MRS. GILLESPIE’S CLASS
How Does Litter on Beaches and Shores Affect Nature?
On Wednesday our class went to Cedar Beach. During the time I was there, the most things I saw were trash. I was sad seeing all that trash because the beach is so beautiful. When we went on the scavenger hunt my group didn’t have a hard time finding everything. When we were at the beach some of the things I saw were plastic cups, plates, forks, bags, paper, tin foil, cigarettes, and clothes. Instead of throwing this away in the trash can people would just leave them on the beach.
We went to an activity with a woman named Sallie; she told us about types of birds. One of the birds she mentioned was called a piper. They had gone south for the winter, so I didn’t get a chance to see them. These birds lay their eggs in people’s foot prints. Some people think it is fun to scare them away but I think it is very mean. The egg needs to be protected or the chick will die.
We saw the bay constables also. They told us that 30 or more animals die a year. Dolphins might die because the six packs’ plastic gets stuck on the mouths and they can not breathe. Fishes die because they think plastic bags look like jelly fish and they eat it, then they choke and die.
When we went to John; he told us about how the sand moves. He told us about how all the sand rotates. That day it was windy and I saw a lot of plastic bags, full of papers. Birds, crabs, and other animals might eat the plastic bags and then choke.
Littering is wrong because species that live at the beach can die. Animals have families; animals have lives. So why take away lives by littering. Throw your litter away and keep our beaches clean.
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