Portsmouth students study microplastics, look for solutions in ‘Camp Answer’

VIRGINIA BEACH — Armed with magnifying glasses and small jars, about a dozen Portsmouth middle schoolers dug into the sand Wednesday at the Oceanfront. Squatting, they used the jars to collect samples and dump them into plastic bags, where they could spread out the sand and examine it. Those collecting water samples ran into the ocean with their bottles.

The students were looking for microplastics as part of the weeklong Camp Answer environmental science program. The camp allows students to study a community problem and develop solutions. This year, they were studying littering.

“This is a camp that brings out thinkers and doers,” said Monique Taylor, who has taught Camp Answer for four years.

Taylor takes students to sites and on neighborhood walks to track litter and check for microplastics — tiny bits of plastic that result from degraded plastic items such as bottles. They can be harmful to wildlife and aquatic animals. The students use an app — Marine Debris Tracker — to log the litter. They bring samples back to the classroom to check them under a microscope.

One of the biggest hits is when they check food from fast food locations.

“Once they’ve seen it — oh boy, the spark is now here,” she said.

Malik Jones, 12, said as he pulled apart a chicken nugget under a microscope and saw strings of microplastics inside. He had one word for the discovery: “Disgusting.”

Studies have found that microplastics can get into processed food through conveyor belts, packaging or workers’ clothes. The Churchland Middle School student said he feels motivated to encourage people to stop littering.

Waters Middle School student Alisia Staton, 13, signed up for the camp so she could do something productive during the summer. Alisia enjoyed the experiments and contributing to a solution by picking up trash during their neighborhood walks.

The students have made a poster showcasing their findings, which will be featured on the division’s website and used to help spread awareness about the impact of littering on the environment.

The camp has also sparked longer-term interest, including for Daijha Riddick, a sophomore at Chesapeake’s Western Branch. Riddick attended Camp Answer when she was a middle schooler in Portsmouth and she now, after graduation, wants a career as a water quality specialist. She came back this year as a volunteer.

“I see myself in them,” she said.

During camp, students also made reusable lunch bags from beeswax to minimize their use of disposable plastic sandwich bags. Janae Washington, a 13-year-old at Churchland Middle School, said the activity helped her understand the importance of using alternative materials. She looks forward to sharing the idea with her friends and family.

Nour Habib, nour.habib@virginiamedia.com