Lion's Eye Favorite: Girls JV Lacrosse Team Helps Clean Up the Beach

July 29, 2009

The team gathered 64 pounds of debris from nearby Rye Harbor State Park

The 22-strong JV girls lacrosse team recently switched nets for beaches to donate an afternoon's practice time to shore cleanup. They drove to nearby Rye Harbor State Park – a mere 15 miles from Exeter's campus – where they discovered all sorts of trash. 64 pounds of it, to be precise.

"We figured it made sense to give up one afternoon's practice for such a good cause," explains Laura Marshall, math instructor and the team's assistant coach. "The girls enjoyed helping clean up the beach and did some great work." Among other items, the girls pulled a giant, sand-filled oil drum out of the water (not counted in the 64 pounds of weighed rubbish).

The girls were assisted by Blue Ocean Society, a nonprofit organization that "promotes awareness and conservation of the marine environment through education and research in New England." Blue Ocean Society asked the girls to log their finds. "They hope to use the information to better inform the public about the hazards that certain types of trash – fish line, rope from lobster traps, etc. – pose to sea life," explains Marshall.

This beach cleanup effort is one of many sponsored by Exeter Social Service Organization (ESSO). ESSO consists of 70 student clubs, which work with 120 partners in the local community and many international organizations. More than 700 Exonians collaborate on ESSO projects during the year.