Oct. 2, 2008

BERKELEY - On Saturday, Sept. 20, a group Cal women's water polo players - Remy Champion, Erika Hanson, Laura Wood, Camille Hewko and Kimberly Sanguinetti - participated in California's Annual Coastal Cleanup day.

We went down to the Berkeley Marina area near the UC Aquatic Center to join up with other Cal students and faculty to help clean up the areas near the water. We received trash bags and recycling bags, as well as latex gloves to put the trash in. We got to work cleaning up the rocky port area. Said junior Hewko said, "I liked getting outside and doing something to give back to the community."

We scaled and climbed over all the rocks, and filled up a bunch of bags with plastic bottles, glass, aluminum cans, cigarette butts and rope, as well as the occasional cat mask, scroll or earplug. There was a contest for who could find the most unique piece of trash, but I don't think any of us won.

Champion said that "it was fun being outside and working with everyone to clean up. The litter and trash we picked up is a direct result of the human population, so it's the least we can do to help preserve the habitats of others. Plus we saw a seal, so that was definitely a highlight."

We also had to document and tally all that we picked up so that the Ocean Conservancy group could properly target funds towards certain kinds of legislation to combat the littering that happens in our oceans and on our beaches.

Summing up the day, Hanson noted that "it was fun doing something new, and nice to mix up the Saturday routine. I like the ocean and the beach, so it was just another excuse to be near the elements."

By Remy Champion
Junior
Women's Water Polo