ADOPT-A-DUNE

June 1, 2024

By ZOFIA CHMIELEWSKA

Broward Sierra Group-Junior Team

On a beautiful sunny morning, a group of twenty-five volunteers could be observed digging holes in the sand at a Hollywood beach. All hands were occupied, as they harmoniously worked together; some had shovels in hand, others could be seen struggling to get the water hose to extend sufficiently far. A hundred and fifty sea oats waiting to be planted surrounded the group, but the number decreased with each hole dug and filled. Upon further inspection, it could be noted that the volunteers worked in teams of five. Two were responsible for creating the holes, one could be seen rushing to each new hole, with hands covered in the water-absorbing black ash. Meanwhile, another volunteer would be sprinkling in tiny beads of fertilizer, and yet another would be snatching a sea oat to then house in the newly dug hole.

Every volunteer, including myself, Anagha, and other Sierra Club and Junior Team members, arrived with one mission in mind: restoring Florida’s dunes. Florida’s dunes are indispensable; they protect shorelines from erosion and provide a natural barrier that can help mitigate adverse effects of storms. Unfortunately, these dunes have become scarce in South Florida as urban development has continually spread closer to the ocean. Currently, many estates sit right by or on the beach, their ocean-front view completely unobscured, due to the lack of dunes. The inhabitants of these properties love the beautiful views, and as Lee Gottlieb who led the group told us, they often have no idea that this trend has negative consequences. Continued efforts to educate the community about the importance of dunes are imperative. Ultimately, I feel that I learned so much about the integral role dunes play in preserving our coastlines from partaking in this project.
 

Junior Team News...

This year, five of our extraordinarily dedicated active Broward Sierra Group-Junior Team members have graduated from high school and are off to further their education in college.

Leila Murray    Angelina Garcia    Amber Sarch    Hanna Neugaard    Hyatt Talpur
 

Junior Team "Proclamation"

The Broward Sierra Group - Junior Team was founded nearly a year ago and since then they have made incredible progress in environmental advocacy, outreach, and education.

To acknowledge their efforts, Broward County Vice Mayor Beam Furr granted the Team a proclamation naming June 4, 2024, as Broward Sierra Group-Junior Team Day.

At the Broward County Government Building, the Team was awarded the proclamation which was then read by Vice Mayor Furr. The Chair, Anagha Iyer, then delivered a few remarks thanking the Commissioners and the Team for making this work possible.

“It is students on the Junior Team that are making waves in the environmentalist movement and truly making a difference” Iyer said. The Broward Sierra Group’s Junior Team is extremely grateful to have received this recognition and is excited to continue doing amazing things in Broward County.

Outings Trip to the Bonnet House
Saturday April 20, 2024

– Anagha Iyer, Broward Sierra Group - Junior Team’s Chair

The purpose of the Broward Sierra Group’s outings is to educate both members and non-members of the importance of natural preserves. Up to this point, many outings were extremely far away, and inaccessible to younger members who can’t drive; however, youth are a critical audience for such outings as they will be the ones protecting our earth in the future.

Thus, Jordan Holaday, Broward Sierra Group’s Outing Chair, decided to host an outing at Ft. Lauderdale’s Bonnet House, a historic museum and garden reminiscent of Florida's wildlife before urban sprawl. This joint outing between the Broward Sierra Group members and its Junior Team counterparts allowed both groups to experience a wonderful tour around the property.

The Bonnet House tour guide first showed us around the actual house itself. Home to prominent artist Frederic Clay Bartlett, the Bonnet House contained many of his paintings and artworks. One amazing sight was the walls themselves which were built of seashells and natural materials. The Group then walked around the garden and lake and got the chance to observe the beautiful nature preserve that the Bonnet House contains.

The Group made their way across the street to Hugh Taylor Birch State Park for lunch. Adrienne Barmann, Outings Leader gave an in-depth analysis of the importance of outings like this one. She also discussed the Right to Clean Water, inspiring the Junior Team to act in their own communities.