By Kai Hugessen
CAS is a well-liked and oft loved program within the El Camino curriculum. Run by Miss Cecilia Montes, CAS has been imparting students with the knowledge and life-skills that students need for years, serving as an introduction to community service, leadership and teamwork.
Some students, however, will take these lessons to heart and become inspired to contribute in their own way, with their own programs under the supervision and planning of CAS. One such student is Galileo Segura of 12th grade. He’s been in the CAS for a year, having started in 11th grade, and the lessons he’s learned have brought him to start something himself.
“It’s called Clean-O” he told me, one summer afternoon when we sat down for a talk. “On short notice, it’s clean up within parts of the ocean, and also sort of sectors of beach”
Clean-O got it’s start when Mr. Segura and his dad were paddle boarding around the beaches of our hometown.
“One day I just figured that since we saw so much trash, I could implement it to the CAS project to help others have an awareness of their surroundings”
The program consists of an early morning cleanup of the local beaches every Sunday. The early start and specific day of the week picked were chosen to have the most impact with their work. He cited Fridays and Saturdays as being the days where the most “fun stuff” happens, indicating that the morning after these notoriously touristy days was the best time to make a clean sweep.
Another striking strategy comes from the very source of inspiration. Paddleboards are Clean-O’s tool of choice when it comes to moving around Cabo’s grand bay quickly. The program covers many beaches, and this ingenious solution gets participants around quickly.
But who exactly can participate?
“Right now, we’re only taking in students from 11th grade and 12th grade. Anyone in that position is allowed to apply. Obviously, external factors like people who want to help or see us work on this project might be encouraged or feel obliged to help as well”
All in all, Clean-O is a great example of ingenuity, service and selflessness that El Camino loves to exemplify. Mr. Segura’s actions and commitment can serve as a model for anyone else trying to contribute to Camino and the greater Cabo community.