Busy busy busy…..

This month has been super busy and it doesn’t look like next month is going to lighten up. I’m not complaining, I LOVE it. I love being able to raise more and more awareness for our great planet, for our waterways and our wildlife.

I was able to visit Yellowstone National Park as well as Grand Teton National Park and be immersed in wildlife and nature and it was such a beautiful time! Moose, Bear, Wolves, and Bison were all on my list and I saw all of them.

Ella & I, as The Cleanup Kids, were honored to be named in the top 25 for the prestigious Gloria Barron Prize for young heroes. When we hear if being just nominated for these awards, it confirms we are making a difference and our voices are being heard.

The same day, we also learned we are finalists for the GoBlue awards with the Loggerhead Marine Center in Florida. Ella & I have both been there and researched sea turtles and have even done full videos on turtles if you want to check it out in our YouTube channel.

I also have some other things in the works that I can’t say yet but it’s turning out to be an exciting year and I am so thankful for the support of my parents as well as the people who have given so much to help me learn and grow and pursue ocean and river conservation.

I know I’m just a kid, but we can make a difference! We can and WILL change the world!

Sammie Smiles Podcast

I did my first podcast interview and it happens to be with my friend and fellow Prudential spirit of community award winner. Go check it out and let m know what you think!

YouTube: https://youtu.be/AdQOySpgonQ

Apple podcast

https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/sammie-smiles/id1536338801?i=1000527870083

 

Spotify

https://open.spotify.com/episode/1FLq6bNiINA6982pEIdjQY?si=Vwiw5gqMTSqyRS5mnShZEA&dl_branch=1

President’s Volunteer Service Award.

I was shocked and surprised to be a recipient of this prestigious award. Volunteering, cleaning our planet of pollution is what makes me feel accomplished and I don’t do it for the awards or accolades but this one will be framed and I am proud of it. Just remember, anyone can make a difference!

Mananalu Water!

This article is from Mananula which is owned by Jason Mamoa who played Aquaman and is such an amazing strong voice for saving our oceans. It’s such an honor to be highlighted by such an amazing company!

https://www.mananalu.com/blogs/news/how-one-11-year-old-is-cleaning-up-our-oceans-from-tennessee

Prudential Spirit of Community Awards!

I was named as a state honoree for the state of Tennessee. Each state had 1 honoree for high school level and 1 for middle school level from each state. After a long weekend of zoom calls and meeting other state honorees, they named 10 national honorees. There were some amazing youth doing wonderful things and I was happy to be among those 100 kids recognized but my weekend got even more amazing when I was named one the top 10!!!!

Check out the link below! This is such an amazing honor and I am more than thrilled but humbled to represent Tennessee in the best way!

https://spirit.prudential.com/honoree/2021/cash-daniels

EARTH WEEK!

It’s already been a super busy week… well, month for me, but I have so many exciting new things coming and new announcements this week and next week and I can’t wait to share!

It’s not always the cleanest and most delightful work but after so much dirty work, the things I’ve been working on have been fun, and super special. Ella and I (AKA The Cleanup Kids) have been working on filmmaking and some other new ventures that pushed us out of our comfort zones but it’s been worth it. He’s a quick sneak peak at a new short video we did to quickly explain who we are.

Sharks!!

Today, I swam with sharks! That’s right! I’m 11, and I swam with sharks with the amazing Jim Abernethy! It was amazing to see lemon sharks and some bull sharks and guess what?! Nobody was bitten or attacked! You know why? Sharks aren’t mindless eating machines. Sharks are actually afraid of people and are shy. Jim has gotten to know them over decades and loves them so much. These beautiful creatures need protected and loved. They need to be appreciated for what they are. Amazing, gorgeous, strong, but vulnerable animals.

Let’s all help save sharks together! what can you do if you don’t live near the ocean? Don’t eat shark! Limited your single use plastics when you can. Check your ingredients list in cosmetics, cat/dog food and don’t buy things that contain squalene.

Youth Ocean Conservation Summit

I was so excited to be able to present about my grant and progress over the last year. I have invested time and a lot of energy to help save the Tennessee River.

The Tennessee River is the most polluted with microplastics than any other river in the world tested to date. I believe some of these microplastics are from fishing line and monofilament because w shave huge fishing tournaments here which generate millions of dollars. This also means fishing line waste while anglers are busy and the broken line gets tossed in the trash.

I’ve started monofilament recycling and now have 10 receptacles placed along the river.

I can’t wait to see what next year brings and how I can further my projects.

The Cleanup Kids

Ella & I have been working super hard creating exciting new videos all about education, and conservation issues affecting our world and us kids.

We know we can make a difference and have some cool new content coming soon so check us out in YouTube at The Cleanup Kids

https://m.youtube.com/channel/UCC52zJPDinx41io-QrPLO7Q