Young Volunteers Clean Pompano Beach in Youth Service Day

Children traded their screens for sand buckets this past Saturday, transforming Pompano Beach one piece of litter at a time.

Heart of the Hive and Reef Boys brought together young volunteers for a youth-focused beach cleanup that turned environmental action into an adventure. Students walked the shoreline collecting trash while learning what it means to care for their community.

The event targeted kids specifically, giving them hands-on experience in protecting the places they love. Organizers wanted children to see themselves as environmental stewards, not just visitors to the beach.

"We just want to show them how life is supposed to be," said Nakiyah Dawkins, director of Heart of the Hive. "It's more about mentorship and the influence."

She emphasized getting kids outside and active rather than staying home. The cleanup gave children a chance to make a real difference while enjoying fresh air and teamwork.

Marissa Merlano of Reef Boys brought her own passion for ocean protection to the event. She sees early engagement as crucial for building the next generation of environmental advocates.

"It feels really good to come clean the beach," Merlano said. "I think it's really important to get kids in on this and to care about the ocean and protecting the beach."

The Ripple Effect

This cleanup represents more than just removing trash from one beach. When children learn environmental responsibility young, they carry those values into adulthood and share them with friends and family.

The partnership between Heart of the Hive and Reef Boys shows how community organizations can multiply their impact by working together. Their combined effort created an experience that taught responsibility, teamwork, and pride in protecting shared spaces.

These young volunteers are learning that caring for the environment doesn't require grand gestures. Sometimes it starts with a simple Saturday morning, a pair of gloves, and a willingness to pick up what others left behind.

The children who walked Pompano Beach this weekend didn't just clean up trash—they practiced becoming the kind of citizens who make communities better.