In partnership with the San Marco Preservation Society, students from Bolles’ Environmental and Riverdogs clubs rolled up their sleeves to clean up the city’s and Bolles’ most valuable natural resource – the St. Johns River. The students helped joined SMPS in its efforts to clean up the riverbanks at sites throughout San Marco during the 19^th Annual St. Johns River Cleanup on March 22.

The event was sponsored by Keep Jacksonville Beautiful, the City of Jacksonville and the St. Johns Riverkeeper. The citywide event included 70 site locations, including those in the San Marco area. It marked the first time San Marco Preservation Society had participated as a neighborhood in the cleanup’s 19-year history.

Andrew Dickson, Bolles English teacher and Parks Chair with SMPS, helped coordinate the initiative with the Riverkeeper and City of Jacksonville. He helped find site captains for seven locations around parks and waterways in the San Marco area. Site captains included Dickson, Bolles journalism teacher Anna Jacobson, and several residents including Bolles parent, Holly Kobrin. More Bulldog muscle came from the MacIntyre, Kobrin and Parker families who extended the reach of the cleanup beyond what originally was planned.

With the added Bolles club, parent and volunteer assistance, the cleanup efforts yielded about 40 bags of trash, according to Dickson.

“We are grateful to all and happy with the outcome, and we are hoping for expanded participation and territory next year,” he said.