Upcoming Summit Includes Beach Clean Up

Event holds call for local student video and art entries

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Upcoming Summit Includes Beach Clean Up

Jace Tunnell brings his knowledge on the environental danger of nurdles to the Valley Environmental Summit Oct. 18.
Jace Tunnell brings his knowledge on the environmental danger of nurdles to the Valley Environmental Summit Oct. 18.

The Valley Environmental Coalition hosts its 10th annual Valley Environmental Summit Oct. 18. The event features environmental updates, a trashion show, a video and art contest, and beach clean up.

“Together We Can Positively Impact Our Environment” takes place from 8:30 a.m. – 3:30 p.m. at the Brownsville Events Center. The day features legislative education updates, and environmental topics about the impact of debris in our oceans and waterways. Attendees will also hear from speakers about sustainability of resources and moving towards renewable energy sources. A trashion show is also a feature event, presenting clothing made out of recyclables and other discarded materials.

Luncheon keynote speaker is Jace Tunnel, director at the Mission-Aransas National Estuarine Research Reserve. Tunnel will discuss “nurdles” and their negative and dangerous impact on marine life.  Nurdles are very small pellets of plastic which serve in the manufacturing of plastic products.

Call for entries

The summit is also hosting a video and art contest for Rio Grande Valley students. The video film contest is open to all high school students and the art contest to students pre-K to eighth grade. The themes for this year’s competitions are “Marine Debris” and “Plastic Waste Reduction.”  Winners of both contests will receive cash prizes. Contest entry forms and rules are online. Deadline to enter is Oct. 11. Texas State Representative Eddie Lucio III will be on hand to award the winners of the video film and art contests during the summit.

Beach clean up

This year’s summit will culminate with a beach clean-up at Clayton’s on South Padre Island. The event begins at 8:30 a.m. on Oct. 19. Those wishing to participate must register online.

The Valley Environmental Summit is free; however, seating is limited and requires registration. Registration will remain open until Oct. 13. For more information or to register, visit valleyes.us or call 956-542-2800.

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