Press Release 6-12-00
Shoreline Expedition
Five of the seven students from the sixth grade Suttons Bay Montessori class have chosen to walk the shoreline of Leelanau County for an extended graduation campout and to pick up trash to "beautify the shoreline" remarked Hilary Chapman. They are accompanied by Ken Scott and began walking immediately after their graduation ceremony on Friday at 3:30 pm from Greilickville. Along with the walking, they are committed to beach clean-up which has been very time consuming due to the amount of trash bags filled(20 so far), plus tires(9 so far) and boat items that must be hauled to the road for pick up by parents of the group.
Waste Management has provided trash bags and a dumpster free of charge which is nearly full after only three days. The group has been camping at homes of friends on or near the lakeshore. The reception from folks met along the way has been warm and wonderful. Parents are supplying food and transportation and are in close contact with the group thanks to cell phones donated by NPI Wireless and CellularOne.
On Monday the group will meet up with the all school Montessori campout at Leelanau State Park until Tuesday. At noon on Tuesday the group will continue south along the west coast of Leelanau County. The trip was planned with a twelve mile +/- per day expectation in order to complete the 100-mile coastline in eight days. Due to the amount of time taken for the trash pick-up the students have come up with a "credit system" of one half-mile credit per full trash bag or tire. This way they can meet their destination camp site for each day. Spirits are high; there are no complaints even in the 90-degree plus walk Saturday on the rocks surrounding Stony Point. Gail Robinson, founder of Montessori Elementary, walked with the group the first day. Other parents have joined the group for part of the day. A plan was made to help out the Watershed Initiative by plotting storm water run-off but due to equipment malfunction the group was not able to do it. The students are seeking pledges to cover miscellaneous expenses and to make a sixth grade gift to their school. The children participating are: Hilary Chapman, Anna Livingston, Todd Mikowski, Ellen Posner, and Trevor Scott.
by Judy Livingston
or