Written by Elisa Li (Class of 2031) and Sherry Wu (Class or 2030) 
Photos by Alysha Seng (Class of 2028) and Selene Luong (Class of 2027)

On September 19th, 2026, we participated in IGDVS’s annual Russian River Clean Up. Before heading to the cleanup site, we received tie-dyed shirts and enjoyed some delicious pastries. We were excited to help make a difference, but we were by how much litter was scattered across the sidewalk.

As we began cleaning, we noticed discarded bags, plastic bottles, cigarette butts, and countless tiny pieces of plastic. Some had already begun to break down, making them even harder to pick up. Within the first hour, we had already filled almost three trash bags! Among the strangest things we found was a high heel lying beside the road.

This experience made us realize how much waste people leave behind and how long some trash takes to break down. We learned that even though picking up one piece of litter may seem like a small and insignificant action, thousands of small actions can create a meaningful difference.

The Russian River Cleanup reminded us that protecting our planet does not always require a huge effort. Even sometimes as simple as picking up litter or throwing our trash away properly can help create a cleaner and healthier world. We left the cleanup feeling more aware of our responsibility to protect the environment and inspired to make a difference through small actions.