Photo: The participating youth waiting in line to get their collected garbage weighed. Photo: Digital Island.
The St. Maarten Yacht Club Regatta Foundation (SMYCRF) is proud to announce the successful conclusion of its 2024 Annual Beach Clean-up, held at Kim Sha Beach. This year’s event, which took place on February 10, brought together over 65 local children, volunteers, and community members in a collective effort to clean up and preserve one of the island’s most beloved beaches.
The Beach Clean-up started with an enlightening presentation from the Nature Foundation, focusing on the critical issues of plastic pollution and a shark awareness presentation. Armed with gloves, trash bags, and a determination to make a difference, participants of all ages worked diligently to remove debris and plastics from the beach, competing in teams to collect the most trash.
This year, the clean-up efforts resulted in the collection of over 1,224.50 pounds of garbage – an impressive result! The event also featured an interactive quiz hosted by the Nature Foundation that challenged participants to reflect on what they’d learned as they competed for vouchers made possible by sponsors.
The day concluded with a series of fun and engaging sports activities provided by LAB Sports Academy, fostering teamwork and camaraderie among the participants. The event emphasized the importance of environmental conservation through the power of community involvement.
“We are incredibly grateful for the overwhelming support from our sponsors, volunteers, and participants,” said Ferdinand Kopper, the event’s coordinator. “Their dedication to making a difference is what makes the St. Maarten Regatta Beach Clean-up such a success year after year. It’s inspiring to see the community come together to care for our island and ensure a cleaner, healthier environment for future generations.”
The St. Maarten Regatta extends a special thank you to all the sponsors who contributed to this year’s event, including Aqua Mania Adventures, Domino’s Pizza, Heavenly Water, Inspired Selfie, Nature Foundation, The Scuba Shop, Trakx, Tri-Sports and Zee Best. Their generous support made it possible to provide the necessary materials for the clean-up, educational content, and rewards for the participants.
As the SMYCRF looks forward to next year’s event, they are reminded of the importance of ongoing environmental education and community engagement in tackling the challenges of marine pollution. The St. Maarten Regatta Beach Clean-up is just one of the many ways they contribute to a sustainable future for St. Maarten and our planet.
