The second annual Kenai River Spring Cleanup gained 400 student participants since last year.
Keith Baxter said over 200 students participated in the first year cleanup and over 600 are helping today and tomorrow.
Baxter: “It was quite a big jump, getting the logistics dialed in for the bus transportation and life jackets and chaperones was really important for that event to be able to grow but we decided that we didn’t want to turn anybody away, if there were classes that were interested in participating then we were going to make that happen.”
Last year’s event collected over 2,500 pounds of trash from students and the public.
Baxter said a big part of the event is the education about the importance of the river and teaching students their part in environmental stewardship.
Baxter: “If they don’t collect thousands of pounds of garbage that would be a good thing, but the fact that they’re making the effort to pick up the trash that is there and that they’re experiencing the recognition for their efforts through the barbecue and the prizes and through the education that happens while they’re out there with the chaperones on the river, we’re hopeful that this will help make that connection between the next generation and the river.”
The spring cleanup has kicked off with student field trips today and tomorrow but lasts until the community barbecue at 10:30 am Saturday, May 16 where the trash collected will be weighed and a variety of prizes are available.
