Students and parents from several homeschool pods removed an estimated two to three truckloads of garbage from Mandahl Bay on St. Thomas during a cleanup event organized by the Good Leaf Forest Pod, a nature-based homeschool program.
The event lasted approximately two hours and covered the entire beach area. In addition to collecting trash, participants used data collection sheets to record the types of litter found, including plastic bottles, glass beverage containers, food wrappers, and other common items.
The cleanup was led by Ella Chandler, lead educator for the Good Leaf Forest Pod, which serves kindergarten and first-grade students. Supporting the effort were middle school pod guides Adam Quandt and Trecia Berry, and pod coordinator Sarah Haynes. Multiple homeschool pods participated, including students in kindergarten through eighth grade.
Mandahl Bay was selected for two primary reasons, according to Chandler. First, the site contains a mangrove ecosystem that students have been studying through the “Mangroves in the Classroom” program, a yearlong curriculum. Second, Chandler had observed a noticeable increase in trash at the bay since a DPNR-led cleanup in November of the previous year. Chandler holds a background in biology and sustainable development and is a frequent visitor to Mandahl Bay for birding.
She noted that the mangroves serve several ecological functions, including acting as nursery grounds for fish, sequestering carbon, providing wildlife habitat, and buffering coastlines against storm surge. However, the root systems of the mangroves also trap debris. Mandahl Bay is a public space used for fishing, camping, boating, birding, paddleboarding, surfing, and other recreational activities. Chandler noted that the area remains a public green space as a result of past community advocacy against development.
The cleanup incorporated two levels of data collection sheets, designed to accommodate different age groups. Younger students practiced tallying and counting. Older students will use the collected data to graph and identify waste trends. According to Chandler, the most commonly tracked categories were plastic and glass beverage bottles and food wrappers, which were among the most frequently found items. Unusual items recovered included an iPad, a crockpot, a Blockbuster membership card, and a ketchup packet estimated to be from the 1980s. Chandler stated that data collection serves multiple purposes, including identifying waste trends, informing policy decisions, and encouraging accountability at both the community and individual levels.
Adam Quandt, a middle school pod guide who has organized cleanups for over 25 years, added that data collection supports citizen science and demonstrates the connection between math, science, and real-world environmental issues. “Having data helps get government support and funding to help support environmental projects,” said Quandt.
At the conclusion of the cleanup, students participated in a reflection session and made personal pledges to reduce waste and protect the environment. One student, Viggo (age 8), offered the following statement: “Don’t litter. Pick up trash. When you see it, or even better, don’t even get the thing that would become trash. Don’t need, don’t use.”
According to Quandt, the group plans to make the cleanup a recurring event, with at least two cleanups per year. The next event is scheduled for Coast Week in September, with additional cleanups planned for Earth Day and potentially throughout the year. Chandler noted that the group may rotate locations or partner with additional organizations to cover more areas. She also stated that individual trips to the beach can serve as informal cleanup opportunities.
