Earlier this year, Scouting America announced a new nationwide service initiative that could have a tremendous impact here in Central Illinois. All it will take is community awareness and a few organizations willing to put the power of Scouting service to work to benefit everyone. Keep reading to find out how.

The initiative is called Scouting for Clean Waterways. Launched on Earth Day (April 22), it aims to clean up millions of tons of plastic and other man-made trash that end up in our waterways every year. I’m talking about plastic shopping bags, water bottles, packaging, toys, invisible microplastics, trash bags, and more. This human debris endangers fish and wildlife, disrupts habitats, and imposes economic costs that we all pay.

The fact that the Illinois River (not to mention the Mackinaw River, Spoon River, Clinton Lake, Lake Bloomington, Cedar Creek, I & M Canal, and dozens of other waterways) runs right through the heart of the W. D. Boyce Council makes this an effort every community in the area can embrace.

Scouts have been challenged to organize cleanup efforts with their own troop, pack, or crew, or work toward the same goal with another unit. Clean water and conservation advocates can get in on the act by partnering with units on clean-up events. It could be a one-day event or an ongoing effort that uses the willing hands and enthusiasm of Scouts to make a difference.

Here is what Scouts are being asked to do:

• Cut down on their use of disposable plastics in your everyday life. We could all stand to do this.
• Participate in a cleanup project near a river, canal, lake, stream, swamp, beach, or other waterway. If there is no body of water nearby, any trash pickup project will help!
• With the supervision of a trusted adult, share details of the project on social media using the hashtag #CleanWaterScouts.
• Make sure an adult leader logs the details of the cleanup on the Debris Tracker app from the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration: debristracker.org

Of course, there is even a patch for Scouts to earn. But beyond that, Scouts can enjoy the satisfaction of knowing that they have done something positive for our planet. It doesn’t get much bigger than that!

If you are part of an organization whose mission is to conserve our natural resources and wildlife for future generations — or you are just a concerned citizen — I challenge you to take action and become a partner in Scouting for Clean Waterways. Over the years, national service initiatives like this helped win World War II, fed hungry families in America, and helped sustain the environment. Add the community service projects of thousands of Eagle Scouts every year, and you can see how “helping other people at all times” helps us all.

Learn more about Scouting for Clean Waterways at www.scouting.org/outdoor-programs/scouting-clean-waterways. When you’re ready to take action, contact W. D. Boyce Council Field Director, Ian Lamb, at [email protected] to partner with a local Scouting unit.

Scout On!

Scott Fishel wears several hats in Scouting, including a longtime association with Troop 178 in Morton. You can contact him at [email protected]. Find a Scout unit in your community at beascout.org.