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Stream Cleanup and Art Project

2012 Arlington, Virginia, USA

After visiting Four Mile Run, Swanson Middle School sixth graders decided they wanted to address the problem of trash evident in and around the stream. Beyond just picking it up for proper disposal, the students wanted to reach the community and educate others on how trash, particularly plastic, negatively impacts aquatic life.

After conducting a litter clean-up at Bluemont Park and nearby streets, the students used the material they collected to make “trashworks” artwork to raise awareness, arranging with the school to display these works at the main office entrance. Their project was a finalist in the Caring for Our Watershed contest, and required no funding to implement.