SOMBA K'E/YELLOWKNIFE - One Grade 8 and one Grade 6 class from St Joseph's Middle School hit the Frame Lake Trail on Monday morning, armed with garbage bags and gloves.

Students from St Joseph's Middle School took part in a shoreline cleanup around Frame Lake on Monday morning. From left, Gillian Woldum, Jayda Hawkins, Evan Lamouelle and Brittany Atitikyoak. - Charlotte Hilling/NNSL photo

In all, about 16 bags of trash were collected from along the trail between Ruth Inch Memorial Pool and Stanton Territorial Hospital.

How much litter was collected?

"Lots! We had lots of bags, broken glass and cigarette butts," said one student.

Brittany Atitikyoak said, "There were lots of clothes. They were all ripped and all dirty."

She said she would like to take part in similar operations in the future to help the environment.

"We're trying to be the change and help the environment," said Jayda Hawkins.

Teachers Kathy Lovatt and Jennifer Genge volunteered their classes for the project when approached by the school's principal, Gillian Dawe-Taylor.

Following the morning shore cleanup, the kids did a writing activity summarizing the project.

"They were amazed at how much there was out there. They thought it was pretty good they were picking it up," said Kathy Lovatt.

She said the two classes may turn the exercise into letter-writing practice, and write to tell the city about the level of litter behind the hospital.

Lovatt said the kids took away several lessons from the exercise.

They learned, "it's important to take care of the environment; and it seemed like a lot of work, but with everyone pitching in it didn't take much; and things that affect the water can affect us," she said.

She said the shoreline cleanup builds on the school's push for environmentally-sound practices with school yard cleanups and a recycling and composting program already in place.