More than 180,000 and counting.
That’s how many pounds of plastic and other trash have been removed from the environment since the launch of Scouting for Clean Waterways earlier this year.
Scouting for Clean Waterways is a nationwide movement that encourages Scouts to use less plastic, dispose of trash properly, recycle when possible and help clean up communities.
Let’s just say it’s working.
Since the launch of Scouting for Clean Waterways last April, Scouts have picked up more than 43,000 pounds of plastic and more than 93,500 pounds of other trash. They have spent almost 99,000 hours helping the planet.
On top of all that, an organization called CleanHub, a company focused on collecting and repurposing ocean-bound plastic waste, has pledged to match every pound of plastic collected by Scouts and their families (up to 100,000 pounds) by removing an equal amount from critical global pollution hot spots.
With CleanHub’s full match, we’re looking at more than 180,000 pounds of plastic and other trash being removed from the environment.
Click here for the official Scouting for Clean Waterways website.
Why is Scouting for Clean Waterways important?
No matter how close someone lives to a lake, pond, river, ocean or stream, much of the plastic and other trash that is carelessly discarded ends up in our nation’s waterways.
Anything made by humans can become waterway or marine debris. Car tires, vessels, shoes, toys, aluminum containers, diapers and other common-use items find their way into waterways and oceans each year.
More than 1 million marine animals are killed each year due to plastic marine debris.
Just as important, waterways and marine debris pollute soil. Animals then ingest that pollution, and humans eat those animals.
In addition to all of that, waterway and marine debris negatively impact our economy to the tune of billions of dollars.
As Scouts and Scouting volunteers committed to protecting our planet, understanding our oceans and waterways is essential. With support from the National Marine Sanctuary Foundation, the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) Marine Debris Program provides tools and information to help you explore the problem of litter and marine debris and become a better steward of our environment.
Scouting America is proud to partner with NOAA, CleanHub, Goal: Clean Seas Florida Keys and the National Marine Sanctuary Foundation to help make our waters cleaner.
How do I participate in Scouting for Clean Waterways?
Scouts and their families can participate in a project at any time of the year that’s convenient for them. You don’t even have to live near the water.
The program is open to Cub Scouts, Venturers, Sea Scouts and Scouts BSA members. Scouting units can organize the service project on their own, or they can participate with community organizations that host similar events.
Whether you’ve completed a project or simply want to show support for the initiative, you can order the Scouting for Clean Waterways patch online or pick one up from your local Scout Shop.
You can also grab some exclusive Scouting for Clean Waterways apparel and merchandise at this special Scout Shop link.
CleanHub estimates that every person generates around 114 kilograms of plastic waste every year. Scouts and their families can continue to make an impact beyond their Scouting for Clean Waterways project by supporting CleanHub’s efforts to remove more waste from oceans. Click here to learn more.
Click here to learn more about how you can participate in a Scouting for Clean Waterways project.
How do I record a Scouting for Clean Waterways project?
Recording your Scouting for Clean Waterways project in Scoutbook is beneficial for many reasons.
First, it’s a great way to track service hours for your youth. (And by the way, the same thing applies for Scouting for Food and Messengers of Peace projects.)
Second, it allows CleanHub to double the impact of your hard work.
And finally, it gives us the data we need to show the world that Scouting America is dedicated to making a difference.
Click here to learn how to properly record a Scouting for Clean Waterways project.
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