Service Project of the Year 2019 Regional Finalist, Glenn B.

Glenn B.’s Service Project was titled, the Chesapeake Bay Oyster Restoration Project. Glenn worked with the Chesapeake Bay Foundation to construct oyster cages, attend and present at seminars to engage prospective oyster gardeners to farm oysters, grow, and then return the fully-grown oysters to reefs maintained by the Foundation. Oysters returned to the reef by Glenn’s project filter 2.5 million gallons of water daily to help restore the Chesapeake Bay as a part of the Foundation’s goal to plant 10 billion oysters by 2025.

Glenn oversaw the construction of 64 oyster cages, training additional boys to offer presentations on the Foundation’s mission. He also held round-up and collections events to gather 1-year-old oysters from the gardeners and plant them onto sanctuary oyster reefs, where they will continue to live and aid in cleaning the water in the Chesapeake Bay.

Glenn states, “Probably the greatest challenge that the earth and the human species are facing is the threat of pollution and of climate change and this is something that I am very passionate about. One area in particular that interested me was that of the pollution of the waterways and the oceans and so it was only natural that I partnered with the Chesapeake Bay Foundation to sponsor my project. I think that actively working to restore ecosystems and the environment is one of the most crucial things that we can be doing now to help, and I feel that projects like mine are effective not only because they are directly beneficial, but also because they provide a physical and quantitative result and allow people to get involved and engaged, which is something that I believe is very important.”

Congratulations, Glenn and we wish you well in National competition!