TuftsRecycles! Staff Retreat: Beach Clean-Up in Winthrop

by Alexandra Minter
Last weekend, the TuftsRecycles! crew ventured out to Winthrop for a splendid morning and afternoon, dedicated to both building as a team while taking part in an important cause. After a week of agony of not knowing the top secret location of our retreat, the team was pleasantly surprised to find ourselves on Yirrell Beach in Winthrop. We spent our trip there learning about each other with fun trivia games and continued these throughout our cleanup extravaganza in small groups.

Throughout the day, we came across an endangered species of shore birds called Piping Plovers. The people of Winthrop have gone to extreme measures to help ensure the safety of these adorable tiny birds which only breed in North America. Across Yirrell Beach, these birds have begun nesting, and their babies were seen scurrying across the sand, blending in with their surroundings.

The team was also surprised with a guest appearance by Dawn Quirk, our previous supervisor and recycling extraordinaire, and her husband, Chris. After a morning of cleaning and discussion, we gathered to sort our findings, which included way too many cans and a surprising amount of forgotten towels. After a photo op, we headed over to Dawn’s beautiful seaside abode and dined on some delicious food, discovering our tan lines left on our skin after a morning in the sun.

Stay tuned to our summer adventures as we continue to operate throughout the season on new projects!