Ocean pollution
During spring break of the 22-23 school year, ABP conducted a trip to Tararindo, Costa Rica to focus on ocean pollution. Trip participants collaborated with Xylem and Costa Rica Makes Me Happy, cleaning up beaches, teaching children about plastic (pollution), building houses with cinder blocks developed from recycled plastic, and more!
Below is the slideshow presented at the trip informational associated with the trip:
Environmental Conservation
Monroe County Solid Waste Management District
If you’re interested in working on this issue in your own community, consider getting involved with the Monroe County Solid Waste Management District. They offer programs like Environmental Education, Adopt-A-Road, and the Citizens’ Advisory Committee to contribute to environmental conservation efforts.
Lake Monroe Water Fund
The Lake Monroe Water Fund actively supports watershed projects that conserve, protect, and sustain Lake Monroe as a community water resource. You can contribute by donating or checking their Instagram page for volunteer opportunities.
The Center for Sustainable Living
The Center for Sustainable Living manages projects such as Bring Your Bag Bloomington and Discardia to promote sustainability. You can donate or get involved by reaching out to them via their website or email: contact@simplycsl.org.
If you are a local nonprofit interested in being featured here, fill out this form.
“I learned a lot about how plastic isn’t necessarily bad, just misused. It also really put in perspective how lucky I am in my life and how there are really good people in the world working to make it better. ”
“My perspective has changed significantly. Seeing the contrast of Costa Rica first hand was impactful. There were areas that were very poor and there were lavish resorts. This will definitely impact my gratitude going forward. My outlook on plastic has also changed. It was impactful to learn about micro plastics, recycling infrastructure, and the different types of plastics/how they can be recycled/reused or how they can impact the world when they become litter. This will impact my plastic use, especially for single use plastics like grocery bags. ”
“I thoroughly enjoyed working with all the children at the schools and feeding center. Having the opportunity to educate them on a topic I am very passionate about was incredible. I feel like I’ve made a true impact on the kids’ lives through all the personal connections I was able to make. ”