Third graders from Ivy Academy's Skillern Elementary School, along with staff and community volunteers, on Saturday gathered at the TWRA boat ramp on Armstrong Road in Soddy Daisy for a cleanup effort. The group began by collecting trash in and around the boat ramp area, then launched into the water to clean the shoreline between Pine Harbor and Shady Grove Marina—one of the area's most popular boating spots.
Among the debris they removed were fishing gear, plastic bottles, water toys, and even a large floating platform. The students were enthusiastic about making a difference, though many were saddened by the sheer volume of waste.
Angie Markum, founder and CEO of Ivy Academy's Skillern Elementary School, shared, “Skillern Elementary and Ivy Academy have a longstanding tradition of community service, especially in preserving the cleanliness of our local trails and waterways.”