Started beach cleanup group at the age of 10, teen now wins 2026 Barron Prize

Maxson said the decision to start Trash Turtles came from seeing rubbish being pushed towards the sea (Photo: Surfrider) At 10, Caymus 'CO' Maxson noticed something wrong on a beach in Madeira Beach, Florida. In February 2020, she saw beach trash being raked towards the water’s edge. She realised that the incoming tide could carry the waste into the sea and decided to act.Maxson soon started Trash Turtles, a youth-focused environmental nonprofit with the mission to 'Save the planet one piece of trash at a time'. Over the next six years, the organisation grew from a small effort on one beach into a network involved in beach cleanups, youth leadership and environmental campaigns.According to Surfrider Foundation, Trash Turtles has now hosted more than 50 beach cleanups and removed more than six tons of trash and marine debris. It has also cleaned more than 300 miles of beaches and collected more than 75,000 cigarette butts, which were recycled through TerraCycle. The organisation has also raised $8,000 to fund three water refill stations at local schools.Maxson’s work has now received national recognition. She was named among the 2026 winners of the Gloria Barron Prize for Young Hero...