Over the past year, Casey Sokolovic, the
16 year old founder of Help them L.A.S.T. – Love A Sea Turtle has played a key
role in bringing the Stow It-Don’t Throw It Project to the coast of North
Carolina in an effort to protect sea turtles, and other marine wildlife from
fishing line entanglement, while teaching students about the importance of
marine debris prevention. Help them L.A.S.T. is an organization dedicated to
preserving the world’s sea turtle population, inspiring youth to become
involved, and provides free outdoor STEM-focused summer camps for local Boys
& Girls Clubs.
Casey has incorporated the Stow It-Don’t Throw It Project into her educational
outreach work around sea turtles, and makes presentations to students of all
ages in North Carolina
Since the beginning of 2013, Casey has
involved Boys & Girls Club members, high school and college students, summer campers, and diverse group of youth and adult volunteers in the assembly
and distribution of over 4,000 personal-sized fishing line recycling bins! She’s
also worked with local tennis clubs to help collect and repurpose tennis ball
containers for use in this effort. Additionally, Casey has worked with local
Dick’s Sporting Goods Stores, Walmart stores, and dive shops, as well as
environmental organizations, to distribute these recycling bins to anglers and
boaters.
Casey and the volunteers she works with
insert sustainable seafood guides into the completed recycling bins to remind
those who receive them of sustainable seafood choices available and options to
avoid because of overfishing. Additionally, students write notes and draw
pictures that are included with the bins explaining their purpose and the importance
of fishing line recycling.
We’re greatly appreciative of the
fantastic work of Casey and the youth and adults who have assisted with her
efforts! Keep up the great work!
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