Pollution is a continuing problem even in our local area. Litter often accumulates in places that we don’t see day to day. As part of our commitment to community service, Mrs. Yuska and Ms. Peterson’s Seventh Grade students spent the day cleaning trash from the Avalon Area of the Patapsco Valley State Park trail and waterway. The Patapsco River is part of the Chesapeake Bay watershed and pollution ultimately ends up in the bay. Despite students removing dozens of bags of trash, Park Rangers informed them that the amount of trash that was found today was only a fraction of what would have been found over the peak park months in the summer. The students also learned about some common invasive species, such as the Emerald Ash Borer and Japanese Stilt Grass, that are found around the park.