give-back-donation-presentation-photo-2016

Pictured in the photo (l to r): Cory Gann, Alex Hatton, Sandy Golding (President of Beaches Watch), Nathan Shellhorn (Fletcher High School teacher), Emily Echavarria, Katie Karnes, Angela Chen, Lynn Komarek, James Gann, Lauren Bass Not pictured: Kevin Brown, Service Club faculty sponsor

The Beaches Watch Board of Directors is pleased to announce the Fletcher High School Coastal Marine Science Service Club has been selected to be the recipient of the 7th Annual Beaches Watch “Give-Back” donation and will be presented a check in the amount of $1,000 at the Beaches Watch meeting on Wednesday, December 7 at 7pm in the Community Room of the Beaches Branch Library, 600 3rd St., Neptune Beach.  Fletcher High School Coastal Marine Science Service Club representatives will be in attendance to receive the donation and to make a presentation about the work being done by the Service Club.  The public is invited to attend.

The Coastal Marine Science Club is a Fletcher High School community service club that researches local environmental issues and the Club’s goal is to educate young adults on being stewards of our Beaches ecosystem. Led by Fletcher High School teacher Kevin Brown, the club members are educated in the classroom and are exposed to local environmental issues. The students’ main concerns over the past few years have been planting sea oats to strengthen our beaches dune system and collecting various forms of trash (mainly plastics) at the beach and estuaries.

In their nomination, Sally Clemens and Sarah Bopp stated, “In the aftermath of Hurricane Matthew, there is no organization more deserving to receive the Beaches Watch 2016 Give Back donation than the Coastal Marine Science Club of Fletcher High School.” Over the past several years, the Coastal Marine Science Club students have spent endless hours on community service projects that have had a positive impact on the most valued asset of the beaches communities: the beach and sand dunes. Led by their passionate and dedicated teacher Kevin Brown, the students have contributed to the quality of life at the beach by removing and analyzing beach trash, monitoring sea levels at the beach, and planting sea oats. “The Give Back donation would ensure the students have the supplies they need for their upcoming projects to support the restoration of the sand dunes,” said Sarah Bopp.

The Beaches Watch annual “Give-Back” donation supports outstanding nonprofit organizations that help enrich the quality of life of beaches residents.  “Beaches Watch is proud to present this ‘Give-Back’ donation to the Fletcher High School Coastal Marine Science Service Club to show our appreciation for all they are doing to enhance the quality of life for our beaches communities.  We hope this donation will help them continue the great work they are doing to protect our sand dunes,” said Beaches Watch President Sandy Golding.