Cordova residents might have noticed a new fixture at Sunset Beach in recent weeks.
That’s because the local Girl Scout chapter installed a fire ring on Sunset Beach on Sept. 27, in an effort to raise awareness about refuse left behind after pallet fires.
Sunset Beach, also colloquially known around town as “Stoner’s Beach,” is a small gravel and stone beach located along the north shore of Lake Eyak. The beach is one of the only beach areas outside of Nirvana Park that is easily accessible by Power Creek Road, and as such is a popular spot for skipping rocks, swimming, and beach fires.
Local Cordovans first voiced concerns about the state of the beach this spring on Facebook, several people posting photos of broken glass and loose nails that had been accumulating on the beach. Many beach fires in the area are made with used pallet wood and, when burned down, result in leftover nails and other hardware. Posts and comments about the beach included safety concerns about people stepping on nails, general distaste over the visual appeal of the area, and the need for a responsible entity to enforce conduct.
Krysta Williams, leader of local Girl Scout Troop 148, says that she and co-leader Malani Towle helped the squad get involved in the issue after the girls had completed a badge program related to environmental stewardship. The program, called the Outdoor Journey, leads scouts through a series of badge activities and requirements that teach young girls about the value of the outdoors. The troop spent time learning about general wilderness ethics and camping skills, as well as environmental science to earn the three badges necessary to complete the program. Williams says that after the Journey program the girls then had the opportunity to move onto a larger, more organized Bronze Award project.
“After talking about habitats, the Delta, and Leave No Trace … the girls decided they wanted to do something to help with the environment for their project,” she said.
The current public conversation about the litter at Sunset Beach inspired the troop to address how beach-goers could better care for the area. During an initial clean-up of the beach, the troop leaders were amazed at just how much hardware they found – filling several 5 gallon buckets. According to Williams, in a one-foot square area the troops counted as many as 23 nails.
The Girl Scouts Bronze Award is a part of the larger focus within the Take Action Program that encourages local chapters to get involved in meaningful ways within their communities through service projects.
“In order for this to be a project of that level, it has to be more than just a one-time thing and have further reaching effects,” Williams said. “We realized that this was a place for the girls to work on that.”
Williams and Towel believed permissions were needed in order to make a bigger impact at the beach, so they contacted various entities for guidance including the City of Cordova, the Native Village of Eyak and the U.S. Forest Service (USFS). Williams says the girls showed a level of patience and maturity throughout the process she feels goes beyond what a typical project entails.
“We’re all proud, it was a lot more logistical organization than we had initially anticipated,” she said. “They all participated and raised funds and went to the partner meetings to make their voices heard.”
And the troops’ work provided real results.
The girls placed a permanent fire ring on Sunset Beach to contain pallet fires, as well as an informational sign that the USFS and CRWP helped design. Design staff at CRWP collaborated with the troop to incorporate their personal artwork into the sign, and the organization made up the difference in cost it took to order and place the final product after initial fundraising. In addition, the USFS helped with the labor and logistics of placing a fire ring in the area with the troop. Peterson’s welding donated the square steel fire ring after being contacted about an initial quote for cost.
Williams says the benefits of the project reach farther than just a cleaner beach for the community. She says she and Towel noticed personal growth and maturity among the group throughout the course of their efforts as well.
“They learned new skills and got out of their comfort zone,” she said. “One of the things I was most impressed with was, after they enjoyed the first fire in the ring, they sat around the edge of the ring holding hands and they each shared something about what they learned without being prompted by us.”
Williams says that she would like to see the ring used and the area respected for its natural beauty in the future.
“The girls really hope that folks will use the gorgeous fire ring that’s out there now for pallet fires,” she said.
