Three days after Tropical Storm Bertha passed by the area, Santa Rosa County 4-H youth and volunteers teamed up with UF/IFAS Sea Grant Agent Thomas Derbes to remove 158 pounds of marine debris from Navarre Beach during a four-mile cleanup effort that stretched to Opal Beach.
Supported in part by the Guy Harvey Foundation, the cleanup allowed participants to help restore the coastline while learning about the impacts storms have on Florida’s coastal environment.
Among the items collected were a discarded fishing pole and a tangled mass of monofilament fishing line with four attached fishing lures. Participants also safely returned several stranded starfish to the Gulf and relocated a Lightning Whelk egg case to a safer area of the beach after the storm had displaced it.
“Cleaning up after a storm isn’t just about picking up trash,” said Prudence Caskey, Santa Rosa County 4-H Extension Agent. “It’s about helping young people understand how their actions can protect wildlife, preserve our beaches and make a difference in their community. These real-world experiences allow you to directly connect the effects of severe weather, human activity, and coastal ecosystem health.”
During the cleanup, youth learned how marine debris, particularly abandoned fishing gear known as “ghost gear,” can threaten sea turtles, shorebirds, dolphins and other marine life. They also observed firsthand how storms can reshape coastlines, displace wildlife and carry litter long distances before it washes ashore.
Santa Rosa County 4-H regularly provides hands-on learning experiences that encourage youth to develop leadership skills while serving their communities. The Navarre Beach cleanup allowed participants to put those lessons into action by improving one of Santa Rosa County’s most treasured natural resources.
For more information on joining or starting a 4-H club, contact Santa Rosa County 4-H at 850-623-3868 or visit http://santarosa.ifas.ufl.edu/
About Santa Rosa County 4-H
Santa Rosa County 4-H is a youth development program that provides hands-on educational experiences in leadership, citizenship, and life skills. Through programs like archery, 4-H empowers young people to develop confidence, responsibility, and teamwork.
