Nicodemus Wilderness Project -- Global Registry of Apprentice Ecologists

I've always loved my community and its beautiful beaches. I live on the shore so going down to the beach to find fish or play in the sand has always been one of my joys in life. As I started high school, however, I learned that there is more to a beach than fish.
Erosion is a big threat facing our beaches worldwide. With erosion, the sand on the beach face will go out to sea, leaving nothing. One way locals have been trying to stop this force is through plants, specifically American Beach Grass.
This grass has special characteristics that make it ideal to trap windblown sand and create dunes. Dunes protect the beach from erosion and are the first line of defense when a storm hits.
My project involved working with the East Lyme Trust Organization, the University of Connecticut, and the CT Sea Grant in order to monitor new beach grass plantings and see how they helped create dunes along Niantic Beach Bay located in Niantic Connecticut.
I was out on the beach, every other weekend, collecting data on the grass, the surroundings, and the slope of the dunes. Every time I was out there, I always thought to myself, This work will help the next generation, my generation, of conservationists.
My findings were conclusive, that within a year the beachgrass will create dunes with a greater slope. With the data I helped collect, beach grass will continue to be planted along the beach to create more dunes for protection.
I love how my volunteer work paid off in the long run. The simple joy I had of just knowing that I'm making a difference is all I could have ever asked for from this project.